It’s been a long time coming, but up to 630,000 retirees could soon enjoy a small but welcome increase in their Age Pension payments following a cut in deeming rates used for the pension income test. Under the Age Pension income test, you are ‘deemed’ to earn a certain rate of interest on your savings [...]
For the first time in years, the planets seem to be aligning for homebuyers and property investors. Interest rates are falling, property prices largely appear to be stabilising and constraints on bank mortgage lending have been relaxed. In July, home values recorded zero growth nationally, with signs the housing conditions are stabilising. Most tellingly, prices [...]
The Reserve Bank’s decision to cut official interest rates is good news for anyone with a mortgage or hoping to buy their first home, but presents a challenge for savers. Whatever your personal situation, the question now is how to make the most of falling rates. In case you missed it, on June 4 [...]
Most of us dream of the day we can stop working and start ticking off our bucket list. Whether you dream of cruising Alaska, watching the sun rise over Uluru, improving your golf handicap or spending time with the grandkids, superannuation is likely to be a major source of your retirement income. The question is, [...]
As expected, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg signalled sweeping tax cuts and major infrastructure spending if the Coalition wins the upcoming federal election, widely expected to be held in May. This largesse is made possible as the Budget heads towards surplus for the first time in 12 years. The following is a summary of the major measures [...]
Superannuation is a long-term financial relationship. It begins with our first job, grows during our working life and hopefully supports us through our old age. We have outlined below a few steps to help you maximise your superannuation. The first step is to check how much money you have in super and whether you have [...]
Despite falling prices, housing affordability remains an issue, especially for first home buyers in Sydney and Melbourne where home values have soared in recent years. The median home value in Sydney is $855,287, almost twice as much as Hobart ($437,254) and more than twice the regional average ($368,366). But prices are only part of the [...]
More recently, three of the big four banks and many smaller lenders have lifted mortgage interest rates due to the increased cost of funding. Lenders source much of their funding from overseas markets where interest rates are rising, unlike here where the cash rate remains at an historically low 1.5 per cent. This raises the [...]
When it comes to personal finances and ways to build your wealth it seems that everyone has an opinion – and a preferred pathway for wealth accrual. From your mate down the pub who likes to share his stock market tips to your friend at work who has a constant stream of ‘get rich quick’ [...]
If you have a mortgage this is likely to be your biggest monthly expense so it’s a good idea to check your progress at least once a year. Why not use some of the savings you’ve identified and increase your repayments to save interest? If your mortgage has a redraw facility you could use this [...]
