As the real estate market begins to bloom with opportunities for homebuyers, for those who wish to buy in the next few months understanding the distinctions between pre-qualification and pre-approval for a home loan can be pivotal in securing your dream home. If you are starting out on your journey to buy a home, one … Read more
Buying a house is exciting and life changing. It all starts with saving for the deposit. Find out how much you’ll need to save and get tips to help you save faster. 1. Find out how much you need for a house deposit Before you start building a deposit, work out how much you can … Read more
A critical illness or serious injury can make it difficult to continue to work. Trauma insurance can help support you and your family at this time and pay for medical and rehabilitation costs. What trauma insurance covers Trauma insurance, also called ‘critical illness’ or ‘recovery insurance’ pays a lump sum amount if you suffer a critical … Read more
What it means to combine finances Even if you have a strong relationship, there are some important details to consider before joining finances. Money Smart’s guide to relationships and money makes some key points: If your partner defaults on a joint loan, you may have to pay for the whole amount – even after your relationship … Read more
Key points: The aged care system in Australia has three main pillars — home care, residential aged care, and retirement villages If you can’t afford aged care services, the Government will help pay for the services you need There are other services that provide allied health and wellness supports Examples of care at home could be extra … Read more
Many Australians expect an inheritance, but their parents may have a different view. Around one in two Australians have received or expect to inherit money or property, either from their parents or others. That’s one of the key findings from Vanguard’s 2024 How Australia Retires research, but it shouldn’t come as a great surprise. Over the coming … Read more
These three common mistakes are easy to avoid. Making them could be costly. Sharp downturns on global financial markets are always unsettling. Recently and largely in response to growing fears that the United States is heading into a recession, share markets fell heavily before rebounding. Share markets may remain volatile over the short term. But … Read more
Think of your finances like your home: how its foundations are built and maintained determines its ability to stand strong for years to come. Money expert Helen Baker shares how you can get your finances in tip-top shape. Most of us are feeling the pinch from the cost of living crisis: essentials like housing, groceries, and energy … Read more
A ‘transition to retirement’ (TTR) strategy lets you access some of your super and keep working. Setting this up can be complicated, so contact your super fund or financial adviser for advice. How transition to retirement works If you’ve reached your preservation age (aged 60) and still working, you can use a TTR strategy to: supplement your … Read more
Retiring without a mortgage has a large positive impact on retirement confidence. For decades the “Great Australian Dream” has been the general desire by most Australians just to own a home. But that dream has morphed over time. These days it’s not just about owning a home but having the mortgage paid off either before … Read more
While the Federal Government’s recent announcement about providing some relief for those with student debt is anticipated to help those with student loans, debt can hold you back financially, so let’s look at some ways to free yourself if debt is becoming a burden. Debt can be a real drag on your financial goals, getting … Read more
Tips for saving money Being a good saver has plenty of advantages beyond your short-term financial goals. It can be the difference between keeping your head above water during difficult financial times and being in financial hardship. Here are our tips to help you become a better saver. 1. Set a savings goal Saving is … Read more
