Owning your home outright might feel like a far-off dream, especially if you’re grappling with cost-of-living increases – but with a few smart financial strategies, it could become a reality sooner than expected. Paying off your loan faster doesn’t have to mean overhauling your lifestyle or making huge sacrifices. In fact, many people make real … Read more
The number of applications to access super for medical treatments has surged You may have heard or read ads from some dental service providers asserting that you can access your superannuation to pay for dental procedures. It may sound like a great idea to some people, but don’t smile too soon. The Australian Taxation Office … Read more
Risks of entering into a scheme An SMSF is a trust generally run for the sole purpose of providing retirement benefits to its members. Generally, it’s illegal for anyone to benefit from the SMSF outside this arrangement. Individuals are being targeted to start an SMSF for a range of inappropriate and illegal reasons, such as: … Read more
Low interest rates have intensified the search for higher income returns Noted in a recent article, Australian households are now holding record amounts of cash. Reserve Bank data shows the weighted average interest rate being paid on term deposit amounts up to $10,000 held in authorised deposit-taking institutions (ADI) such as banks and credit unions … Read more
Recently, there was an alert about the ASIC Moneysmart website being impersonated. It’s part of a growing – and increasingly sophisticated – trend of scammers targeting reputable, high traffic websites. These days, websites can be very easily set up and look quite professional without much effort, thanks to templates. So, whether you’re visiting the website … Read more
Get the right amount of home insurance and protect yourself from costly surprises. When disaster strikes, the last thing you want to discover is that your insurance doesn’t stretch far enough. Underinsurance is very common in Australia and most people don’t know they are underinsured. And it can leave you significantly out of pocket when … Read more
How to search for unclaimed money Did you know that there is around $2.6 billion in lost shares, bank accounts and life insurance in Australia? Some of it could belong to you, and it’s free and easy to check using the unclaimed money search tool on the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) website. What … Read more
Sweeping reforms to aged care are set to begin on 1 November to help improve the quality, transparency and flexibility of care. With more care levels, clearer pricing, and greater control over how your funding is used, the new system aims to better match services to individual needs. Providers will be required to offer detailed cost … Read more
The federal government has announced updates to its plan to reduce tax concessions on superannuation investment earnings for Australians with balances over $3 million. While the proposal is yet to be legislated, several key changes have been introduced. What’s changing? The revised proposal excludes unrealised capital gains, meaning only realised gains including profits from the … Read more
