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Hats off to working parents!
December 7, 2015
According to the Australian Institute of Family Studies, the number of parents who work is far greater than a few decades ago. Not so long ago in 1983, the number of parents who both worked full time was just 17%. The most recent Australian Census shows that in 2009 it had increased to 25%1. Given...Read More
Will my kids ever leave home?
December 7, 2015
If you were expecting to have the house to yourself once your kids reached a certain age, you may have to adjust your expectations. Because for Generation Y—or millenials as they’re often called—moving out is not the rite-of-passage it once was. In 2011, around 29% of young adults aged 18-34 years lived without a partner...Read More
What exactly is income protection insurance and do I need it?
December 7, 2015
For some people, income protection insurance might be the answer. So what is income protection insurance? Income protection insurance (or temporary incapacity or salary continuance insurance) provides cover if you can’t work due to illness or injury. It generally pays up to 75% of your monthly income for your chosen benefit period to help you...Read More
Get ready for the first year of retirement
November 9, 2015
Will you be a honeymooner, a go-getter or a relaxer? The first year of retirement is one of transition in which you will need to adjust to major changes that can bring big rewards. Some of the changes may include preparing mentally for the shift to not working full-time, adjusting to not getting a regular...Read More
If you’ve always thought property prices only go up…
September 25, 2015
With so much emphasis on property in the media, it can be difficult to sort fact from fiction. But before investing in any type of asset―including property―it pays to consider the pros and cons, and any commonly held misconceptions. Here we bust 3 property myths. Myth 1: Prices always go up Believing that property always...Read More
Going undercover
August 19, 2015
First the good news. Millions of Australians gain their life and disability insurance as well as income-protection insurance through their super funds’ default cover. And the level of that default cover tends to be much more adequate than a decade ago. Now the not-so-good news. It can be a costly mistake to assume that your...Read More
Understanding lender’s mortgage insurance
August 16, 2015
You’re looking for the house of your dreams or maybe you’ve already found it. It’s an exciting time but it can be daunting when it comes to arranging finance and meeting all the upfront and ongoing costs, such as lender’s mortgage insurance. How lender’s mortgage insurance works When it comes to arranging a home loan, if...Read More
If you were born in 1950, for example, your average life expectancy is 87 years old (if female) and 84 years old (if male)1. Looking more into the future, it is predicted that by 2055 people will be living almost ten years longer than this still2. So the simple approach to life of studying, working...Read More
If the time comes for you to retire and your partner is still working—or vice versa—it’s a matter of anticipating the natural changes ahead and then balancing and planning so both your needs can be met. Understanding differences The age you retire may depend on the work you do, your employment arrangements, your health or...Read More
If you can’t get into property…
July 9, 2015
Buying a home has been hailed for generations as an essential part of the Australian dream. But with house prices increasing faster than earnings, getting into the property market seems more like an impossible dream for first home buyers. You may even be better off renting in the meantime before attempting to get into the...Read More