Having an offset account may help you to pay off your home loan faster and save you thousands of dollars in repayments, but how exactly do they work? Are they worth it? Here we explain. What is an offset account? An offset account is an account linked to your home loan that operates like a … Read more
What are interest rates? The interest rate is the amount a borrower pays for borrowing money from a lender, which is why it’s often referred to as the cost of borrowing. Conversely, the interest rate is also the amount earned on money deposited into a bank or financial institution, also known as the rate of … Read more
Find out how to save money every day and make a savings plan to stay on track. Separate and automate your savings An online savings account is a great way to grow your money faster. Unlike a transaction account, you can’t spend money directly from a savings account, so it’s harder to dip into your savings. Automate … Read more
Your next life stage requires careful planning. Here are eight key things you should consider before entering retirement. Retirement is a period of life that many people spend years dreaming about: the chance to finally leave work behind and enjoy much-needed time with family and friends. While it’s natural to be excited about retirement, it’s … Read more
Superannuation (or Super) is a percentage of your income put aside by your employer over your working life to help fund your retirement. It’s a compulsory system in Australia that requires contributions to be made, most commonly, into either an APRA regulated retail or industry superfund (run by a board of trustees) or an ATO … Read more
Here’s a 5-point checklist to ensure your savings account is the one for you. Looking for a good savings account can sometimes be a little like looking for a good partner – the honeymoon period might be important, but so is achieving your happily ever after. While different features will suit different people, here’s a bit … Read more
Teaching good financial habits, such as saving and budgeting, is one of the best ways to prepare children to have a secure financial future. Helping kids establish sound money management skills and strong financial acumen is important, regardless of wealth level. Younger children (under age 11) A great way to begin to teach younger children … Read more
The daily grind of a job working for an over-bearing boss, or is it a family or financial problem, a traumatic life-event, or the fear of getting older can force us to sit down and really think about the meaning of life. Why are we here? What is our purpose? What do we want to … Read more
If you’d like your money to make a difference to the world as well as your future, responsible investing may be for you. Almost 9 in 10 (89%) Australians feel it’s important their financial institution invests responsibly and ethically across the board1. Ethical, social and governance (ESG) investments accounted for $1,281 billion—or 40%—of assets under … Read more
Overview of legislative changes in 2022 Super changes that could affect you from 1 July 2022 A number of changes to the super system could create opportunities for Australians of all ages. Here’s a rundown of what you need to know. Read more. Overview of legislative changes in 2021 Your Future, Your Super reforms come into … Read more
Review your investments regularly to make sure you’re on track to reach your financial goals and you’re comfortable with the investment risks. Find out how to review your investments’ performance and what to do if you’re not getting the returns you expect. Monitor your investments regularly How often you review your investments will depend on: … 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 (between 55 and 60) and still working, you can use a TTR strategy … Read more
