February seemed full of bad news in Australia with layoffs coming from various companies including Toyota, Alcoa and Qantas, unemployment rising to 6% and very poor business investment intentions. And yet, the share market rose 4.2% last month and has had two good years and December quarter GDP growth even perked up a bit. So […]
Myth 1 – Super is a type of investment. Wrong. Super is a tax-effective way to save for your retirement. Within super you can invest in different types of investments—or asset classes—with different levels of risk and return. Myth 2 – I have no control over my super. Wrong. Super is your money and, while […]
It’s always the same. You’ve hit it too hard over the festive season and come New Year’s Day you feel like a wreck. The physical hangover is the easy bit—pop a vitamin, brew a strong pot of coffee and get some rest. But it’s the emotional and financial hangover that can take longer to shift. […]
What’s behind the increasing hope about the recovery in non-mining sector growth? The mining boom has largely run its course and there’s been a lot of uncertainty about what that means for the Australian economy, with some predicting a recession. Fortunately, the Reserve Bank has cut interest rates quite aggressively, leading to a pick-up in […]
The recent bushfires in New South Wales have had a devastating effect, with insurance losses so far estimated at more than $183 million.[1] While loss of life has fortunately been minimal, many people have suffered the loss of their home and priceless memories. By 2020, the annual cost of bushfires is estimated to rise to […]
Today’s modern family is almost unrecognisable from traditional households, according to the latest AMP.NATSEM report. 1 Life is more complex, family structures are more varied and the challenges of the modern age are placing ever greater pressure on the way we live. Today’s modern family usually starts with a couple living together before marriage, perhaps […]
The government’s MySuper reforms take effect from 1 January 2014. If you haven’t made an active investment choice about where to invest your retirement savings, your employer will be required to pay your super contributions into a MySuper offering from 1 January 2014. What’s MySuper about? Currently, when you join a super fund, you can […]
For many people managing finances, especially debt, is always on their ‘things to do list’, but never really done.
This video explains the steps involved in developing your financial plan.
This video help explain borrowing within a Self Managed Super Fund.