Budgeting for a holiday or saving for a deposit? Even the best budget can unravel if the right tools are not in place. In this article, we look beyond the basics and focus more on what it takes to stick to your budget. Here are five tips to help you stick to your budget. 1. … Read more
With the double whammy of cost of living and mortgage interest rate rises, it’s no wonder many mortgage holders, and those saving to buy their first property, are feeling anxious about meeting their repayments or savings goals. The best way to check, is to stress test your household budget and mortgage repayment capacity. Your reality … Read more
– why investors need to be aware of the psychology of investing Dr Shane Oliver – Head of Investment Strategy and Chief Economist, AMP Capital Introduction Up until the 1980s the dominant theory was that financial markets were efficient – in other words all relevant information was reflected in asset prices in a rational manner. … Read more
You might feel emotionally ready to retire but you’ll want to make sure you’re financially ready too. Here are some of the big points to consider. Socialising with mates, enjoying leisurely activities and indulging in the odd trip away are all things that have likely crossed your mind when thinking about how you’ll spend retirement. … Read more
Investing on behalf of your children can give them a great financial head start in life. And the earlier you can begin, the higher the potential financial rewards for them in the longer term. The combination of regular ongoing contributions and compounding investment returns can add up to a decent chunk of money for buying … Read more
As we get older, most of us want to remain independent and in our own home for as long as possible, but this can be challenging without some help with household tasks and personal care. Recognising this, the government runs a Home Care Packages program where approved aged care service providers work with individuals to … Read more
How your super is taxed differs depending on your age, contributions and other factors, so it’s important to understand the different tax implications that could apply to your nest egg. Super can be a tax-effective way of saving for retirement. Generally, money invested in super is taxed at a lower rate than your personal income … Read more
Staying the course, and not being distracted by short-term market events, is just as important in retirement as it is at any other time. Retiring from work shouldn’t necessarily equate to retiring from managing your investment portfolio. In fact, taking an active role in your investments during retirement will ensure you have the best chance … Read more
Planning is the key to successful investing. Creating a plan will help you find investments that fit your investing time frame and risk tolerance, to help you reach your financial goals sooner. 1. Review your finances Before you invest, review your financial situation. Write down what you owe (your debts) and what you own (your … Read more
While it’s difficult to be the best investor in the world, we can all actively avoid being a ‘bad investor’ by learning from history and staying the course. Extended periods of market volatility regularly spark discussions around great investors and the traits that qualify folks to be included in that category. This is probably because, … Read more
Elder abuse was already an issue across the world, however, the pandemic has exacerbated the issue – with more and more people feeling a financial and emotional burden over the last three years. It is estimated that one in six older people have experienced some form of elder abuse over the last 12 months and financial abuse … Read more
See the average super balance for your age group, so you can get an idea of how your super savings compare. Your super balance will most likely play a big part in how comfortably you live in retirement. But depending on how far off retirement is for you, it might be difficult to gauge whether … Read more
