All aboard – The popularity of cruising continues to rise

  All aboard – The popularity of cruising continues to rise Pulling into the sparkling waters of Sydney Harbour has to be one of the highlights of any cruise, and it seems Australians agree – according to industry experts it’s predicted that one million Australians1 will hit the high seas next year. The growth in the Australian cruise industry shows no sign of slowing down – rising by an average of 20 per cent each …

Pressed for time?

Pressed for time? When it comes to achieving work-life balance, many Australian families aim to strike the balance between time and money. If you dream of living your ideal life and achieving that elusive balance between spending time at work and being with your family, you’re not alone. These days, finding time to do it all can be challenging. In fact, around 40% of women and 30% of men report feeling often or always rushed …

Doing it with date-onomics

  Doing it with date-onomics Just as you wouldn’t invest money blindly, dabbling in the online dating market also calls for clear-sighted strategies to avoid risky prospects. While listening to your heart rather than your head may feel harmless enough behind a computer screen, critical thinkers are thought to be more likely to avoid poor romantic “investments”. Help with online dating Online dating is not just for young digital natives, it has been taken up …

Retirement rolls around faster than you think

New research shows one in three Australians think retirement is too far away to plan for. That’s a big mistake. Retirement rolls around faster than you think. Take it from me, the day when you’re ready to hang up your work boots is likely to roll around far more quickly than you anticipate, and it pays to be prepared.  If you think time passes more quickly as you get older, you’re absolutely right. It turns out …

Ways to grow your Super, Value of Advice and More

Ways to grow your Super, Value of Advice and More 1. Five ways to grow your super Are you looking for ways to boost your super account balance? Watch our video (3.01) and hear how Greg Elias, an AMP Client Adviser, explain five ways his client could grow their super to save for a comfortable retirement. He discusses five ways to grow super: 1. Bring together all your super accounts 2. Choose your super fund …

Jump retirement hurdles with a coach

Jump retirement hurdles with a coach Retirement is a life event that many of us long for, dreaming of the day we don’t ‘have’ to work anymore and we can finally achieve the ‘financial freedom’ we have saved for. But it can also mean a period of adjustment as we settle into a new version of our life. This can sometimes bring with it feelings of anxiety, unsure of what we will actually ‘do’ or …

Make working later in life work for you

  Make working later in life work for you Tips for taking a freestyle approach to work and retirement The relationship between work and retirement is changing. Nowadays we expect a lot more from our later years than previous generations—we’re no longer satisfied with treading water and we want to go freestyle. But with the pension qualification age increasing, people living longer and concerns about whether we have enough money in our super, we may …

Tips for success in a competitive job market

Tips for success in a competitive job market The AMP.NATSEM report highlights challenges for young Australians starting their careers. If you’re finding it hard to get started in your chosen career—or your kids are doing it tough—you’re not alone. Many other young Australians are in the same boat, with a high proportion of young people working in part-time hospitality and retail jobs, even when they have uni degrees. The latest AMP.NATSEM reporti shows that demographic, …

Women are building financial intelligence

Women are building financial intelligence International Women’s Day on 8 March encourages us to aim for parity for women. On average, Australian women are paid 17.1% less than meni. They also tend to spend more time away from paid work to have children and care for loved ones which impacts their income, savings and superannuation. The good news is things are improving. Women are building financial intelligence. Women are closing the gap Women have come a …

Ready, set… auction!

  Ready, set… auction! Bidding for a property at auction can be stressful but you can reduce the stress involved. Before you consider bidding use our tips to make sure you’re prepared and know what to expect. Step 1: Work out the costs Working out how much you can afford to repay on a home loan plus all the associated costs of buying a property—like stamp duty―is the first step. Of course, buying at auction …