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Flexing your financial fitness
December 5, 2022Debt Management & Budgeting
It’s a challenging time for household finances right now. Interest rates are rising as the Reserve Bank of Australia increases the cash rate to put the brakes on inflation, and flat wage growth means household incomes have not been keeping pace with cost-of-living increases. The best way to deal with uncertain times, is to be...Read More
Fighting inflation at the checkout
November 28, 2022Wealth Creation
With the price of iceberg lettuce peaking at an insane $12, and inflation not letting up any time soon, it’s a good time to review what you can do to reduce your food spend. If you’ve been wincing at the total on the register at the check-out recently, you’re not alone. Food prices have spiralled...Read More
Investors and recessions
November 28, 2022Wealth Creation
Despite much talk of rising interest rates and possible recession, here are a few reasons to stay the course and stick to your long-term investment strategy. There has been much discussion of rising interest rates, recent inflation spikes and ongoing market volatility impacting investment and super balances. Add to that the increased chatter about the...Read More
The benefits of reaching your 60s in Australia
November 28, 2022Financial Planning
The upside to getting older is becoming eligible for government benefits that could help lower the cost of living. So it’s the big one. Sixty years old. It’s hard to believe… In a youth-obsessed culture it seems we’re constantly being reminded about the downside of getting older. And it’s true there are some aspects of...Read More
Measuring up the price of shares
November 21, 2022Financial Planning
Share market investment analysts thrive on numbers. So, when you read reports about markets or specific companies being “overvalued” or “undervalued”, you can generally assume there’s been a fair bit of analytical number crunching going on behind the scenes. But how do investment analysts reach their conclusions? Is there a magic formula available that you...Read More
Super contributions – types, limits and benefits
November 21, 2022Superannuation
There are different types of super contributions and different limits for how much you can contribute. Here’s a quick breakdown. Generally, your super savings will build up over the course of your working life as money from your employment income is put into super by yourself, or by your employer under the super guarantee (SG),...Read More
Inflation – what to know and what to do
November 14, 2022Financial Planning
Rising inflation brings about concern for many, but Vanguard's time-tested investment philosophy—and a long-term focus—can help any investor navigate choppy waters. What is inflation? Inflation happens when prices rise and purchasing power decreases. This can be the result of a simultaneous high demand for and low supply of goods and services. Consumers have money and...Read More
Mortgage vs super
November 7, 2022Debt Advice & Mortgages
With interest rates on the rise and investment returns increasingly volatile, Australians with cash to spare may be wondering how to make the most of it. If you have a mortgage, should you make extra repayments or would you be better off in the long run boosting your super? The answer is, it depends. Your...Read More
Until 1 July 2022, if you were aged 67 to 74 and wanted to make voluntary super contribution, you had to meet a work test or get a work test exemption. Under the new rules, individuals under 75 years of age can make or receive personal and salary sacrifice contributions without meeting a work test...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