Why saving is behaving

Why saving is behaving Did you know there are 293 ways to make change for a US dollar, but only 50 for an Australian dollar? Cashiers in America must have jumped for joy when debit cards became the rage. Is your bank taking you for a ride? We all have our own methods of saving money. Some are strict―people who set a budget for the week and won’t buy a fourth glass of shiraz if …

Weekly Market Update 12 July 2019

Weekly Market Update 12 July 2019 Investment markets and key developments over the past week Global share markets were mixed this week. Dovish comments from US Fed Chair Powell confirmed market expectations for rate cuts starting from July boosting US equities but these expectations were tempered by stronger US consumer price data. This week, US shares are up by 0.3% (and hit a record high), European shares are 0.9% lower, Japanese shares fell by 0.5%, Chinese …

When can I access my Super?

When can I access my Super? Superannuation is generally intended to help fund your retirement, but there are instances where you may also be able to withdraw your super savings early, depending on your situation. Here is a high-level summary as to when super may be accessible to you. When you retire (and have reached your preservation age) Typically, you can access your super when you’ve reached your preservation age and you retire. Find your …

Weekly Market Update 5 July 2019

Weekly Market Update 5 July 2019 Investment markets and key developments over the past week Share market rose solidly over the last week buoyed by a bunch of good news including the latest US/China trade war truce, the nomination of Christine Lagarde to head the ECB after Draghi and, in Australia, another rate cut and Parliamentary support for tax cuts. Bond yields continued to fall though on the back of soft economic data with Italian …

9 money mistakes to avoid in retirement

9 money mistakes to avoid in retirement How to keep your finances on track once you leave the workforce When you’ve worked hard all your life to build up your nest egg, the last thing you want to do is fritter it away too quickly. In this article, we look at the common money mistakes people in retirement make, and how you can do your best to avoid them. 1. Not taking control of your …

Weekly Market Update 28 June 2019

Weekly Market Update 28 June 2019 Investment markets and key developments over the past week Global shares slipped over the last week on the back of uncertainty ahead of the Trump/Xi meeting at the G20 and fears that the Fed may not be dovish enough in the face of soft data. Bond yields were flat to down reflecting global uncertainties, expectations for monetary easing and safe haven demand. Oil prices rose on continuing US/Iran tensions and …

Take control of your finances now for the new financial year.

Take control of your finances now for the new financial year. If you set yourself money goals at the start of 2019, the upcoming new financial year is a great time to check if you’re on track. And if you didn’t set any goals – or if you have strayed off track – this is the perfect time to get organised, write a checklist and stick with it! Don’t wait until 1 July to start. …

Weekly Market Update 21 June 2019

Weekly Market Update 21 June 2019 Investment markets and key developments over the past week Share markets pushed higher over the last week as the Fed and the ECB hinted strongly at monetary easing ahead and as it was confirmed that Presidents Trump and Xi will meet on the sidelines of the 28-29 June G20 meeting in Japan. Expectations for monetary easing saw bond yields push even lower with a new record low in Australia. Commodity …

How to save money

How to save money Saving money doesn’t just happen, but these steps could help you to reach your saving goals sooner. How Australians save Research has found that almost three quarters of Australians surveyed save by putting spare money into a savings account, whether they do this themselves or via an automatic transfer. Other popular savings methods include keeping savings money in an account they can’t touch, building up extra savings in their transaction account …

Weekly Market Update 14 June 2019

Weekly Market Update 14 June 2019 Investment markets and key developments over the past week Share markets, rose over the past week with the combination of expectations for rate cuts/policy stimulus and the tariffs being avoided on Mexico offsetting ongoing uncertainty about the US/China trade war and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and Hong Kong. Australian shares made it to an 11 year high led by resources stocks and defensive sectors like healthcare, telcos and …