Month: February 2024

Key takeaways Alternative options for homeownerships, such as rent-to-buy schemes, shared equity homeownership, co-living, and kit homes. The key benefits of homeownership, including housing security, financial stability, increased wellbeing, and a stronger sense of community. The landscape of homeownership in Australia has transformed over the years. Escalating property prices, stagnant wage growth, and the high … Read more

If you’re lucky enough to have received a windfall, perhaps an inheritance or a retrenchment payout, your first decision will be what to do with it. Assuming you have decided against a shopping splurge, finding the best place to invest a lump sum is all about the effect on your tax bill and how soon … Read more

Understanding your retirement income options How you organise your retirement income streams can make a huge difference to your quality of life. Here are some options you might want to consider. What will you do with your super when you retire? You have plenty of flexibility as there’s a wide range of options inside and … Read more

Key takeaways Strategies to build your retirement savings, such as well considered budgeting, investment diversification, and taking advantage of super benefits. How to earn passive income in retirement through property, shares, and annuities. Retirement is a significant milestone in life. It should be a time when you can kick back, relax, and enjoy life, but … Read more

Adding to your super You can boost your retirement savings by making voluntary super contributions, such as by: setting up a salary sacrifice arrangement with your employer making personal super contributions (and a non-concessional contribution may make you eligible for the government’s super co-contribution) transferring any super you have in a foreign super fund arranging for your spouse to contribute to your … Read more

Scammers are skilled at tricking you out of your money. Knowing the signs of a scam can help you identify when something doesn’t feel right. Scamwatch, run by the National Anti-Scams Centre (NASC) says: Stop – Don’t give money or personal information to anyone if unsure Think – Ask yourself could the message or call be fake? … Read more

Key takeaways Strategies for fast-tracking your retirement savings nest egg, such as debt elimination, additional super contributions, and targeted investing. How part-time work and delaying receipt of the Age Pension can boost your retirement income. Retirement planning is one of those things that often gets pushed to the back burner. When you’re young, it’s easy … Read more

Overview If your relationship with your spouse ends, you should be aware of what can happen to the super entitlements of you both. The Family Court and super-splitting laws generally enable super interests (accounts in super funds) or super payments (pensions or annuities) to be split by agreement or court order if a relationship breaks … Read more

Bonds can provide a stable source of income and can protect the money you invest. They are considered less risky than growth assets like shares and property, and can help to diversify your investment portfolio. What is a bond When you invest in bonds, you’re lending money to a company or government. In return, you … Read more

Key takeaways Things to be mindful of with retirement planning such as procrastination, underestimating your financial requirements, and failing to update your plans as your circumstances and needs evolve. How to avoid the common pitfalls to help ensure your retirement plans remain on track. Retirement should be a time when we can kick back, relax, … Read more

Give me the main points The most important reason to consider taking out life insurance is to protect your family if you die or become unable to work. There’s a good case for anyone with dependants or people who plan to have dependants to take out life insurance. Life insurance policies can be bought through … Read more

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced proposed changes to address ongoing cost of living pressures with all 13.6 million Australian taxpayers receiving a tax cut from 1 July 2024, compared to the tax they paid in 2023-24.i Now is the time to assess what it means to your hip pocket and what implications it may … Read more