So why not try taking a break from spending this spring. If you can tighten your belt over the spring months, it could help you save for the upcoming Christmas expenses. Here are some creative ways to cut your spending. Get smarter with your spending Negotiate on your utility bills It’s a competitive market, with […]
Have you spoken with a financial adviser recently? It pays to be aware that if you receive a government age pension and set up or make changes to an account-based pension after 1 January 2015, you may be worse off. You have limited time to work out whether reviewing or setting-up an account-based pension before […]
Some of my friends in their 30s have set up an SMSF. I don’t have a large super balance but want control. Is it worth it? If you’re under 55 and thinking about setting up a self-managed super fund (SMSF) you’re not alone. SMSFs are being established by younger Australians in a shift in the […]
According to research[1], the average renovation goes over budget by nearly $3,000 due to unexpected material and labour costs. But that’s not all. The same research shows that the average renovation takes 58% longer than expected. If you’re renovating an investment property, extra time could also mean more time without a tenant, and less rental […]
When I left work in 2007 the ASX was around 6500 and I’m still waiting to recoup my initial investment. We didn’t go into recession, our interest rates are at record lows, unemployment is manageable and we have a triple AAA rating. So why has the Australian market been wobbling around like a drunken sailor […]
An impossible dream? The thought of buying a home can be exciting and daunting. The deposit amount and ongoing interest charges can really add up, making home ownership seem out-of-reach—especially in today’s housing market. It’s no wonder many potential home buyers are asking whether they’d be better off renting. The good news is renting and […]
The decision around whether to get some home help or move to where you or a loved one can get support and care is never an easy one. But from 1 July changes to the aged care system should give individuals and families a clearer understanding of the choices they have and the cost of […]
Selling shares when prices have tumbled or buying a house at the height of a property boom only to dispose of it when the market falls are among the financial set-backs that can happen to anyone on the road to retirement. Everyone makes mistakes during their investment lifetime; the trick is to avoid them when […]
One of the big swings in thinking around investment management relates to the perceived importance of asset allocation, ie the relative exposure to asset classes like global shares, Asian shares, Australian shares, bonds, unlisted property and cash. Through the long strong secular bull market that went from 1982 through to 2000 (or up to 2007 […]
A person’s home is their castle and any equity in it is the owner’s to use as they wish. But the large amount of untapped wealth that is tied up in homes around the country has not gone unnoticed by the Government and others. Two high profile reports as referred to below have raised the […]
