The Government’s Age Pension is a regular fortnightly payment designed to provide retirement income support for eligible older Australians. Many Australians are eligible for the Age Pension, and if you’re among them, you could use it to boost your retirement income. Determining whether you are entitled to the Age Pension and to what amount can … Read more
It’s easy to walk into debt, but so much harder to get out of it. You must own your mess and know that your financial reason for living is to pay down your debt, writes Glen James author of Sort Your Money Out & Get Invested. Apathy and debt reduction don’t go hand in hand. You … Read more
The best thing investors can do when markets are volatile is to stay invested. Of course, that’s often easier said than done, especially when market commentators point to a market correction or when your portfolio is down for consecutive days or weeks. For those new to investing, particularly those who jumped into the market when … Read more
The pandemic has changed the way so many of us live, with jobs, travel and lifestyle all transformed during COVID. Now, as we start emerging on the other side, it may be a good idea to check whether these changes have impacted on your life insurance needs. In some cases, you may require more cover … Read more
It is important to understand where this income will come from, how long it will last, and whether your retirement investments are on track, or whether some adjustments need to be made to get you there. Work out how long your super or account-based pension will last There are many variables that come into play … Read more
It’s a common misperception that the greatest determinant of portfolio return variability is your stock selection. Understandably, choosing which ETFs, individual shares, active funds or other securities to invest in is often the most exciting part of portfolio construction for new investors, and of course it remains an important factor. But as Vanguard research shows, … Read more
Key takeaways The Age Pension is a Government benefit paid to eligible Australians to assist them in retirement. If you’re eligible for the Age Pension, the amount you’ll receive depends on your age and residency, income, and the value of your assets. There are strategies available that could help maximise your Age Pension entitlements and … Read more
Even with the varying degree of lockdowns experienced across Australia in 2020 and 2021, the world remains largely at our fingertips. In fact, through the pandemic the use of our phones or computers to organise dinner, groceries, shopping, and workout programs only increased. Technology has undoubtedly enabled greater convenience in our lives. However, it’s important … Read more
It seems like June 30 rolls around quicker every year, so why wait until the last minute to get your personal finances in order? With all the uncertainty and special support measures of the past two years, it’s possible your finances have changed for better, or for worse. So it’s a good idea to ensure … Read more
When purchasing an investment property, there are a number of factors that could increase or reduce your potential return on investment. In this case it’s not just location, location, location. When considering a property for investment purposes, the most important question to ask is ‘will be attractive to tenants?’. But how do you know what … Read more
Central banks are under pressure to rapidly raise interest rates to contain inflation Global inflation has surged over the past year. The prime example is the US consumer price index (CPI) which shows annual inflation at its highest level in the past four decades at 7.5% in January 2022. Europe has also struggled with rising … Read more
If you’re already retired or on your way to retiring, have you been obsessively checking your portfolio balance and dreading the next piece of news that might cause it to dip further? Or have you been keeping up with the news as you usually do, but confident that your portfolio will largely weather the volatility … Read more
