Retirement means starting a new chapter of your life, one that gives you the freedom to create your own story, as you decide exactly how you want to spend your time. While retirement may not be part of your immediate plans, there are advantages to giving some thought as to what retirement looks like for … Read more
Rising interest rates are almost always portrayed as bad news, by the media and by politicians of all persuasions. But a rise in rates cuts both ways. Higher interest rates are a worry for people with home loans and borrowers generally. But they are good news for older Australians who depend on income from bank … Read more
As the end of the financial year approaches, now is a good time to check your super and see what you could do to boost your retirement nest egg. What’s more, you could potentially reduce your tax bill at the same time. There are a handful of positive changes to super due to start next … Read more
Stay up to date with what’s happened in Australian markets over the past month. Cost of living pressures, inflation and interest rates were major concerns in the lead-up to the May federal election. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) lifted the cash rate for the first time in over 11 years from 0.1% to … Read more
This time of year, people’s thoughts start turning to their tax return, but it can also be a good time to set things up so you don’t pay more tax than required next financial year. Simply talking to your employer about setting up an arrangement to “sacrifice” some of your pre-tax salary could potentially lower … Read more
Succession planning can be difficult at the best of times without dealing with the added pressures farmers have recently faced with droughts, fires and floods. And that’s why it is even more important to plan early and get it right when you are on the land. You are not just dealing with a business, but … Read more
The phrase ‘no man is an island’ is from a poem written by John Donne and expresses the idea that humans need to be part of a community to thrive. That’s certainly true, by nature we are social creatures and connection is a core human need. So why do so many of us feel alone … Read more
Stay up to date with what’s happened in Australian markets over the past month. The economic event that overshadowed all others in April was the increase in inflation. The release of the March quarter Consumer Price Index (CPI) showed inflation up 2.1% in the quarter and 5.1% on an annual basis. This was the biggest … Read more
Trying to time investment markets is difficult if not impossible at the best of times, let alone now. The war in Ukraine, rising inflation and interest rates and an upcoming federal election have all added to market uncertainty and volatility. At times like these investors may be tempted to retreat to the ‘’safety” of cash, … Read more
There is a saying ‘a fool and his money are often parted’ but with scammers becoming ever more devious and sophisticated in their methods, it pays for everyone to be aware of the latest tricks being employed. According to Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) data, last year was the worst year on record for … Read more
With all eyes on the Federal Budget and balancing the nation’s books, it’s a good time to review your personal balance sheet. If it’s not as healthy as you would like, perhaps it’s time to do a little budget repair of your own. Just as governments need to set policy objectives and budget for future … Read more
Stay up to date with what’s happened in Australian markets over the past month. The war in Ukraine added a major new source of uncertainty to the local and global economic outlook in March. Inflationary pressure continued as global economies recover from the pandemic and as crude oil prices surged due to economic sanctions against … Read more
