Superannuation and divorce | Money & Life

Superannuation and divorce Whatever the age, separation and divorce can be a stressful and painful experience. According to the Australian Institute of Family Studies[1], the divorce rate has been trending down in the 2000s. However, the proportion of couples divorcing who had been married for 20 years and longer has been increasing, with one age group 55-59 doubling over the last two decades. This rising trend is referred to as “grey divorce” or “silver splitters”, …

Should you merge your finances with your partner? | Money & Life

Should you merge your finances with your partner? If you’re in a relationship, it can be tricky to work out when to start sharing income and expenses. Here are a few ways to successfully merge money as a couple. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed many aspects of our daily lives, and romance is no exception. While lengthy separations have led some relationships to end, other couples are choosing to move in together more quickly than …

Market Update 1 October | AMP Capital

Market Update 1 October Investment markets Global shares fell over the past week amidst a long worry list including the US debt ceiling, the impact of power shortages on global inflation and growth and rising bond yields. This saw Australian shares fall too with health, IT and property stocks leading the decline. As a result September lived up to its name of being a bad month for shares with the month seeing US shares down -4.8%, …

Why is Australian housing so expensive and what can be done to improve housing affordability? | AMP Capital

Why is Australian housing so expensive and what can be done to improve housing affordability?   Key Points The key drivers of poor housing affordability and high household debt levels in Australia have been low rates and poor housing supply. Macro prudential controls to slow home lending now look imminent. But this is just a cyclical measure. More fundamental measures to improve housing affordability need to focus on boosting housing supply and decentralising away from …

Market Update 24 September | AMP Capital

Market Update 24 September Investment markets Global shares fell sharply early in the week but then rebounded as fears around China Evergrande receded and the Fed meeting was out of the way. This saw US, European and Chinese shares rise for the week, but Japanese shares fell. Australian shares also fell despite a mid-week rally as the weak iron price weighed on miners which along with falls in financial and property shares more than offset big …

How ‘Buy Now Pay Later’ affects your credit score | Money & Life

How ‘Buy Now Pay Later’ affects your credit score What impact does ‘Buy Now Pay Later’ have on your credit score, particularly for people wanting to secure a home loan? Christopher Zinn explains. In recent years, ‘buy now pay later’ (BNPL) has become an increasingly popular method for consumers looking to purchase goods via installments without resorting to credit cards. These services are often billed as a safer and more convenient  way for consumers to …

How to get help with your bills during COVID-19 | Money & Life

How to get help with your bills during COVID-19 If you’re one of thousands of people who has lost income due to COVID-19, you might be finding it hard to pay your bills. Here are some tips to help you get back on track. As COVID-19 lockdowns continue across much of eastern Australia, many people have once again found themselves out of work. Those working in service industries, and casual workers in particular, are doing …

Correction time? Shares get the wobblies – seven things investors need to keep in mind | AMP Capital

Correction time? Shares get the wobblies – seven things investors need to keep in mind Key Points Share markets have hit the wobbles lately on the back of a long worry list ranging from growth concerns, central bank tapering, the US debt ceiling and fears of about China Evergrande’s problems. Shares may still have more downside as it will take a while to resolve some of these issues. Key things for investors to bear in …

Millennials and money: what does the future hold? | Money & Life

Millennials and money: what does the future hold? With the rising cost of housing, an aging population, climate change and now a pandemic falling squarely on the shoulders of Australia’s millennials, how is this generation faring financially? The first millennials (born between 1981 and 1996) are turning 40 this year. Still, despite more than twenty years in the workforce, it seems their financial wellbeing isn’t guaranteed. A Commonwealth Bank study has found that almost two thirds (61 …

What info is on my credit report and why does it matter?

What info is on my credit report and why does it matter? Your credit report reveals whether you’ve been paying your bills on time and it matters because it could affect your ability to borrow money. If you’ve got a credit card, personal loan, mobile phone plan or utility account, there’s probably a credit reporting agency out there that has a file with your name on it. Credit providers give this information to the credit …