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Are you prepared for changes to the Age Pension assets test?
October 17, 2016
With revisions to the Age Pension assets test just around the corner, it’s important to understand how the changes could impact you, particularly with part-pension thresholds somewhat tighter than initially projected. These thresholds are the value of assets you can own (excluding your home) before you lose eligibility for the Age Pension. Who the changes...Read More
Should I take my super as a lump sum?
October 12, 2016
You’ve probably spent much of your working life accumulating super. So, when the time comes, you might be wondering whether you’d be better off taking the money as a lump sum, income stream or both. To help you make an informed decision, we’ve pulled together some info regarding trends in Australia, what options are on...Read More
Ways to be a super woman with your super
October 5, 2016
You may know the intimate details of your household finances, but what about your super balance? Along with the family home, super is often one of your most valuable assets. Yet many women are lagging behind men when it comes to the amount they’ll have saved in super for their retirement. Figures from the Australian...Read More
Are your hobbies ruling your wallet?
September 25, 2016
Whether you love climbing mountains, playing golf or collecting rare artefacts, some hobbies can get very pricy very quickly. Between club memberships, specialised equipment, tournaments and auctions, it’s very easy for your spending to soar. Hobbies are important for a well-balanced life, and can even contribute to mental wellbeing, but unchecked enthusiasm can blow the...Read More
Government pulls back on proposed changes to super
September 19, 2016
The government has announced changes to three key 2016 Federal Budget proposals —the most significant being that it would not go forward with its proposal to introduce a $500,000 lifetime cap on non-concessional (after-tax) super contributions. In a nutshell the new proposals include: From 1 July 2017, the existing annual cap of $180,000 on after-tax...Read More
Property investment seminars – steer clear
July 19, 2016
As humans we seem to instinctively want to find an easy way to make money quickly. Perhaps this explains why property spruikers continue to drum up business. But consumer regulators around Australia are warning about so-called property investment promoters who claim to be ‘wealth creators’ but who are really just in it for themselves. Over...Read More
Self-employed workers lack retirement savings
July 4, 2016
Many self-employed workers run the risk of not having enough savings to enjoy a comfortable lifestyle in retirement, research by the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) has found.1 The industry body highlighted that while super was compulsory for most wage and salary earners, it wasn’t for those who were self-employed, and as a...Read More
British vote to exit the EU: what happens now?
June 27, 2016
British voters have voted in favour of Brexit: the British exit from the European Union (EU). This means that in the coming months, British and European leaders will begin negotiating the terms of Britain’s departure. Britain’s exit will affect the British economy, immigration policy, and lots more. It will take years for the full consequences...Read More
5 things to note about Brexit jitters
June 20, 2016
Core European bond yields have been negative for some time, as the European Central Bank has been aggressively buying bonds as part of its quantitative easing policy. While most of the German yield curve has been negative, German 10-year bond yields turned negative for the first time last night, reflecting uncertainty over the implications of...Read More
What is Delayed Gratification?
June 15, 2016
Many people wonder “What is delayed gratification and how can it help with my finances?” Delayed gratification is when you resist the urge to indulge in an instant reward and instead choose to exercise self-control. In return for this self-control, there is a potentially greater financial reward in the future. The “marshmallow experiment” Instant gratification...Read More