By Alexandra Cain This content is produced by the Good Weekend in commercial partnership with MLC. Superannuation strategies differ depending on age and circumstances. Take an individual approach to secure a solid retirement balance, as guided by these industry experts. We know that women have much lower super balances than men. How can we redress the balance? Research … Read more
Lenders use your credit score (or credit rating) to decide whether to give you credit or lend you money. Knowing this can help you negotiate better deals, or understand why a lender rejected you. Your credit score is based on personal and financial information about you that’s kept in your credit report. You can access … Read more
Unsure about whether to lock down your interest rate for a period with a fixed rate home loan, or take your chances with a variable rate home loan? It’s a decision everyone faces – from first-home buyers right through to investors – at various points in a loan’s life. The choice can cause anxiety and … Read more
Don’t leave your business succession to chance – exit on your own terms. It may seem extraordinary but, according to a KPMG report, more than half of Australian family businesses don’t have an exit strategy in place for their current managing director or CEO1. Perhaps you think you don’t need a formal succession strategy because … Read more
You may be able to take your superannuation as a lump sum payment when you retire. This is usually tax-free from age 60. How a superannuation lump sum works Depending on your fund’s rules, you may be able to withdraw some or all of your superannuation (super) as a lump sum. If so, you can … Read more
What comes to mind when you think of fitness? For many of us, it’s treadmills, weights, or maybe even those dreaded burpees – things that keep our bodies moving and strong. But fitness also applies to our minds, jobs, families, communities, and finances, all of which play important roles in our overall health and well-being. … Read more
If you’re someone who follows the news closely, you’ve probably come across coverage about cryptocurrencies, especially Bitcoin, the first and best-known cryptocurrency. There’re been quite a few stories of people claiming to have become wealthy from cryptocurrency investing. There’s a family in the Netherlands that sold everything to bet all they have on Bitcoin!1 What’s … Read more
We often don’t like to think of our mortality, but it’s a fact of life. The best way to take care of your business, family and loved ones in the event that you are no longer here is by putting in place a solid plan, writes Melisa Sloan, author of Legacy, and an Estate Planning Lawyer. … Read more
By Tony Kaye, Senior Personal Finance Writer, Vanguard Australia Australian interest rates aren’t likely to be rising in the near future. That was the continued message from the Reserve Bank of Australia this month when it announced it was keeping the official cash rate at a record low 0.1 per cent for the tenth month … Read more
When you retire and meet a condition of release, one of the ways you can access your income is via a regular income stream. This approach enables you to choose how much you withdraw and how often. The money that remains in your account is also invested so your savings can continue to grow and … Read more
‘Passive income’ – the term conjures up images of long days relaxing on a beach free of financial worries because your investments are generating enough for you to enjoy life without needing a job. Maybe the term ‘replacement income’ is more accurate as it gives the idea of working towards eventually replacing the income you … Read more
By Tony Kaye, Senior Personal Finance Writer, Vanguard Australia After strong gains over most of this year, September proved to be a rocky month for global stock markets. The broader Australian market fell more than 2 per cent over the month, while the United States market suffered a fall of almost 5 per cent. That … Read more
