Super – know your rights

Super – know your rights Unpaid super isn’t something to be taken lightly. No matter who you work for, it’s their responsibility to make payments to you under the super guarantee. Find out more about how much super you should be getting, how often and what to do if there’s a problem. Rescuing your super – unclaimed or unpaid There’s a staggering amount of superannuation that may never find its way to the people who …

Five charts to keep an eye on regarding the global economy

Five charts to keep an eye on regarding the global economy Key points Whether a recession is imminent or not in the US, and more broadly globally, is critically important in terms of whether a major bear market in shares is on the way.   Five key global charts to watch in getting a handle on whether a major downturn is on the way are: global business conditions PMIs; global inflation; the US yield curve; …

The latest on Brexit and Italy

The latest on Brexit and Italy   Europe has once again become a source of concern for investors this year, with Brexit and Italy’s new populist government the latest causes of volatility amid fears they could threaten the European Union. But investors need to put those concerns around Italy and Brexit in context. In 2016, a non-compulsory referendum of the British people voted in favour of leaving the EU. Britain is now in the process …

Get goal savvy

Get goal savvy No matter what your financial and lifestyle goals may be, here are some proven techniques for setting yourself up to succeed in reaching them. Write your goals down, and review regularly CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional Brendan Burrows of PSK Financial Services in Sydney says financial goals “need to be specific, clear and measurable. If this formula is not followed, the goal loses its relevance, and you may never know if you have actually …

Weekly Market Update 21 September 2018

Weekly Market Update 21 September 2018 Investment markets and key developments over the past week The past week saw “risk on” with the latest escalation in the US/China trade conflict being less than feared and reports that China is planning cuts to its import tariffs. This saw shares rally, bond yields rise, commodity prices gain, the US dollar fall and the Australian dollar rise. While the Australian share market participated in the global share market …

Finding your disappearing dollars

Finding your disappearing dollars Do you earn a decent salary but still find it hard to live within your means or save? If your strategy is to save what is left in your bank account at the end of the month, you probably won’t have any savings at all. Invariably there is nothing left at the end of the month, so this is not really a strategy. We talk to two CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professionals about …

Insider’s guide to invisible money

Insider’s guide to invisible money If you feel like you’ll never keep up with your tech-savvy kids, don’t despair. One of the most important tech topics they need to learn about is spending money in a digital world. Find out just how much kids are getting to grips with invisible money and get some talking points to help the whole family keep up with the move towards a cashless society. Technology use is a common …

Taking your first step towards financial freedom (video)

Taking your first step towards financial freedom (video)  You might think that financial planners solve money problems. Financial planning is about so much more than this. It’s about bringing your dreams to life, identifying your life goals, hopes and dreams – and putting in place a financial plan to get you there. Here, Jen explains how meeting a financial adviser made her feel like she had taken the first steps to future financial stability …

Should your investment journey start with property?

Should your investment journey start with property? When you’re priced out of owning a home in your neighbourhood, is property investing a good solution for growing your wealth? Will renting for the rest of your life cost more and make you more vulnerable? We talked to CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional Rebecca Fergusson, financial planner at Main Street Financial Solutions, about the pros and cons of property investing as a strategy for securing your financial future. …

How to max your tax refund

How to max your tax refund Expecting a refund from your 2017/18 tax return? 77 out of 100 Aussies are likely to get one and many could already have plans to spend it. If you’re one of them, find out how to treat yourself right with your windfall and be better off for good. For most of us, tax refunds rarely come as a complete surprise. In fact, sometimes we might even be using the …