The art of downsizing The kids have finally left home and now you’re rattling around in a house way bigger than you need. If it’s time to think about downsizing, there’s more to it than simply selling one house and buying another. Here are a few things to consider. Tax-free […]
Don’t change for the sake of change I can almost guarantee that I’ll get asked more often during summer if it’s a good idea to switch super funds. The source of this unique research? Barbecues! It appears that one of the most popular topics during these summer social events is […]
Planning Ahead for the “Sandwich Generation” Are you taking care of elderly parents? Do you still have adult children living at home? Do the words ‘meat’ and ‘sandwich’ strike any chords with you? You could be a member of the “Sandwich Generation” without realising it! Sandwich Generation refers to people […]
Does money bring happiness? The short answer is ‘yes’, but only up to a point. People in richer countries are, collectively, happier than people in poor countries. Within countries, people with higher incomes are generally happier than people on low incomes. Surprisingly, once basic living needs are met, the amount […]
Switch and Save When developing a budget, it’s easy to think that you have no control over costs for essential items such as electricity, particularly when every bill seems to be higher than the last. But if you look closely at your energy usage at home and make a few […]
If you are over 50, male, highly educated, financially literate and manage your own super, beware. You’re at a higher risk of being the target (and victim) of organised investment fraud. This isn’t necessarily because your demographic is particularly gullible. Rather, it’s because you’re more likely to control higher levels […]
Amongst the changes made to superannuation effective 1 July 2017 was the welcome and sensible move to give everyone who makes a personal contribution to super the option of claiming a tax deduction for it. Prior to this date, tax deductions on personal contributions could only be claimed by the […]
Investing bears no resemblance to gambling and, unfortunately past ‘form’ seldom provides an indication of future performance. Many investors are tempted to look at the best performing sector over the past year and then switch their investments accordingly. Beware this can be a recipe for disaster. In many cases, last […]
The months seem to fly past in a blink of an eye and although it feels like we were celebrating Christmas just a few months ago, it’s looming on the horizon again – another year gone! Almost every year we see changes to our superannuation system, interest rates, the stock […]
When teaching your children to manage their money you are helping your kids grow into financially savvy adults. You might even learn something about your own money habits along the way. Children see money nearly every day, and as they become old enough to recognise the currency value on coins […]