You can’t set realistic financial goals and savings targets without knowing how much money you have at your disposal. If you don’t already track your income and spending, then take an annual snapshot as you go through your records to prepare your annual tax return. Deduct your total spending from total income and what’s left [...]
The Federal Government has turned the spending tap back on, signalling the end of the revenue drought since the GFC and the end of the mining investment boom. Australia is in a much stronger economic position than it was a year ago, but question marks remain over the sustainability of new spending promises and whether business [...]
Thinking about the unthinkable When asked, most people say the thing they value most is family. Yet when it comes to insurance many of us cover our car and our home but overlook our most important assets – our life, our ability to earn an income and the wellbeing of the people who depend on [...]
Australians buying their first home or downsizing in retirement are about to receive a helping hand thanks to new superannuation rules which come into effect on July 1. From that date, first home buyers will be able to contribute up to $30,000 into their super fund towards a home deposit while downsizers can put up [...]
Investors had plenty to smile about in 2017, despite a world of worries on the geopolitical stage from the Middle East to North Korea and the South China Sea. The global economy continued its steady improvement and financial markets produced some excellent returns. Australia’s economy grew by 2.8% in the year to September, marking 26 [...]
Much is made of the way that social media makes it easier to connect with friends and family you don’t see often. There’s a reason that Facebook’s tagline is the somewhat emotive: ‘...helps you connect and share with the people in your life’. Proponents of digital communications platforms say that accessibility and human-centred design means [...]
There are three types of insurance you can hold inside super: life, total and permanent disability (TPD) and income protection insurance. Many super funds automatically insure their members and will provide a (relatively small) payout if, for example, they die or suffer a debilitating accident. But the level of default cover is likely to fall [...]
Most of the top 200 ASX-listed companies have now announced their results for the 2017 financial year and the overall report card is good. According to CommSec, 90 per cent of companies reporting full-year results turned a profit while 91 per cent paid a dividend. Earnings were up a combined 67 per cent on [...]
Housing affordability continues to be a major concern in Australia and not just for would-be first home buyers. It also affects pre-retirees forced to work longer to repay bigger mortgages and older Australians unable to downsize from large family homes due to a lack of affordable options. The latest 2016 Census revealed a gradual decline [...]
It seems as though every year, as people gear up for tax time, there’s a new type of fraud or cyber attack that crops up. Scammers apparently just love taking advantage of how busy people are, and how badly people want to do the right thing when it comes to dealing with government authorities like [...]
