Getting to the heart of the matter
The Heart Foundation has just completed its annual Heart Week event. It’s an opportunity to shine a light on the prevalence of heart disease in the community and what can be done to reduce the risks and achieve a more successful recovery.
The window of opportunity looms
There is no better time than the end of financial year to make a review of your financial situation to see what openings you can take advantage of to further your financial goals.
Budget super changes
The 2016/17 Federal Budget contained some major superannuation changes, including changes to concessional contribution limits and tax savings.
Market update: Winter 2016
Australian shares bounced back hard in March. Those sectors that had been punished the most in January, benefited the most in the subsequent whipsaw rally.
Enjoy the benefits of volunteering
Retirement is a time to put your feet up and enjoy life, but many people will still have a desire to keep their minds and talents engaged. Volunteering is a great way to do this. A multitude of options The opportunities to use your time, talents and labour can be found in a vast variety of situations and organisations. As a starting […]
Women and superannuation: Tips for success
The average Australian woman retires with around half the superannuation balance of the average man. This is because women earn less than men and they’re more likely to have a career break to raise children.
Demystifying the aged care maze
The rules and costs involved in the aged care system can seem a daunting prospect to deal with, so if you are negotiating the system now or are planning ahead for the future this summary may be a good starting point.
One guarantee you should always insist on
These days the word ‘guarantee’ is often flaunted about frivolously. It’s a mandatory inclusion on T.V. informercials and ‘guaranteed or your money back’ is pervasive on the products we see on our supermarket shelves. When the product in question is a mass produced consumer item, a guarantee is hardly a huge risk for the marketer. In the case of personal insurance, however, it takes on […]
Monthly market review: February 2016
The RBA left the official cash rate on hold at 2% for the 9th successive time at its 2nd of March meeting. The central bank last took action with 0.5% worth of cuts in the first half of last year.
Life changing checkpoints
While no two people will ever have exactly the same life experience, there are key events in life that can have a profound effect on our priorities and financial situation and our financial success depends on planning proactively around them.
Market update: Autumn 2016
Cash and bonds As widely anticipated, the US Federal Reserve finally moved off zero and increased cash interest rates by 0.25% in its last meeting of 2015 held just before Christmas. A number of market commentators now view this as a mistake with no signs of inflationary pressures, financial market dislocation and data showing the US economy barely grew […]
Keeping your brain healthy
Taking care of our brain health can make a difference in how well it functions well into old age and can help combat degenerative brain disorders that are increasingly prevalent.
Part-time work in retirement
Retirement is a goal we all look forward to, but many of us like the idea of continuing to work part-time in retirement as a way of keeping stimulated and socially connected, as well as supplementing income.
Make sure your super passes into the right hands
Your super can potentially be your biggest asset, so it is vital to make sure it benefits the right people if you were to pass on prematurely.
Market update: Summer 2015
Cash There have been a series of small increases in some lending rates for housing, as banks seek to bolster their capital following recent changes in capital requirements. This is good for the banks, the additional capital makes them more secure, but it is being paid for by consumers. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) remains on hold with official […]
Fighting melanoma in the sunburnt country
It can start as a seemingly innocuous spot on the skin, but can quickly develop into one of the most aggressive and potentially deadly diseases. Melanoma affects more Australians per capita than any other country in the world.
Follow these five health essentials
Form some healthy habits around these five essentials and reap the benefits of better health.
How to choose a retirement village
If you or someone you care about is considering making the move to a retirement village, there are a range of issues to examine and compare in order to make a sound choice of village to meet your needs. Here are some of the more important ones to keep in mind.
Get savvy to save on life cover
While most people recognise the value of life insurance, no one likes to pay more than absolutely necessary for cover. Fortunately there are ways that you may be able to reduce net costs without compromising on security.
Don’t gamble on financial advice
Ever had the temptation to jump on the web whenever you get an unusual pain to try to ‘self-diagnose’ what it might be? A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing.
Market update: Spring 2015
The recent financial gyrations in Greece and China have received a lot of exposure in the media and one could be forgiven for thinking that ‘the end is nigh’.
Reverse parenting: When is the right time?
There are often signs that an ageing parent is having challenges with day-to-day life. Sometimes, through pride and because they don’t want to be a burden, they will try to minimise these issues.
Hobbies can help you heal
Coping with life’s stresses can often benefit from keeping the mind active and creative and many people are now finding that taking up a hobby can be therapeutic. In days gone by pursuits such as sewing and woodwork were more of a necessity than a pastime, but did they make people happier? These days computers and TV’s take up our leisure time and […]
Ensuring financial freedom if major disability strikes
Believe it or not, premature death may not be the worst that can happen to your family financially. A permanent medical condition that stops you from ever earning income again can result in even greater financial challenges. Fortunately, there is an answer. Most people have at least a rough idea of the financial impact that the death of a breadwinner may cause. Mortgage, living […]
The hidden dangers of an unplanned estate
While most of us are aware of the importance of making a Will, there are other estate issues that may not be so obvious and can have dramatic consequences on family security. It’s not just for the wealthy – all families need to plan for financial, legal, medical and child care decision making to ensure their wishes are carried out accurately. Estate planning may […]
How to decide where to invest
There are a number of things to consider when you are deciding where to invest – whether it be property, shares, cash or something else. Troy explains the basics including goals, diversification, asset classes, cash flow and capital growth.
Market update: Winter 2015
Cash Following the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) decision to cut the official interest rate to 2.25% in February, they did so again in May to a record low of 2%. Financial markets, however, are expecting additional rate cuts in the coming months. The only question appears to be how far the RBA will cut further in this cycle, given the […]
Why is goal setting so important?
Goal setting helps motivate us to make decisions and take action to achieve the things we want out of life, including financial independence. Watch Troy explain why goal setting is so important.
What’s more important – achieving investment returns or achieving goals?
Have you ever focused so much on your investments and the returns they’re generating, that you’ve lost sight of why you’re investing in the first place? Don’t forget, it’s all about your goals.
End of financial year tips
Tax time is upon us once more and as our thoughts turn to getting our paperwork in order, it makes a lot of sense to review some of your other financial affairs for the year ahead too. Here’s a quick checklist to get you started. Refresh your goals Goals are what drives any financial plan, so it is important to review them annually. […]
6 steps for setting and achieving goals
Goal setting is a really important part of achieving the things in life you want to achieve. It may seem like a simple thing to do, and there are many different techniques out there. Today, I thought I’d share my method. It’s simple, fast and helps me focus on the things that are most important. […]
It’s not about what you earn
I’ve had many people say to me, they think they can’t go to see a financial adviser because they don’t have $100,000 or more to invest. My opinion is that you have to start somewhere. We have clients who earn a lot, and we have clients who earn only a little. And what we often […]
Gramping gets families together
The pace of modern life is making it increasingly difficult for all generations within families to get together to enjoy each other’s company. One idea that many families are finding as the answer to this issue is to go ‘gramping’. Gramping simply involves having the three generations in a family going off to a camping location where they can rekindle family relationships and […]
