2017 has been kind to investors As we head towards the end of 2017, it’s worth taking a look at how investment markets have fared over the year. It turns out we’ve enjoyed a pretty good 12 months – especially if you haven’t had a significant chunk of your wealth tied up in cash. The last 12 months have been steady on a number of financial fronts. Even the official cash rate has remained …
Planning is the key to making it financially If you’ve paid off your home, have a healthy stash of super and take an overseas holiday each year, you’ve made it financially. That’s the view of many Australians according to recent research. A study by comparison site Finder found paying off the mortgage is the financial milestone 74% of Australians value most. Having enough in super to retire comfortably comes a close second for 59% of …
Gut instinct is no match for expert advice By Paul Clitheroe 6 February 2017 One of the marvelous aspects of living in the digital age is the ready availability of information. It’s a far cry from the days when we often made decisions based on a hunch, and that’s just as well. Research by broking group Mortgage Choice confirms that one in three Australians have regretted a financial decision based on gut instinct. When it …
Home equity – the $500 billion resource for seniors The latest round of figures showing rising home values in almost all our state capitals highlights how many Australian retirees could have a valuable resource at their fingertips. Older Australians, who may not have enjoyed the benefits of employer-paid super for their entire working life, can face the prospect of a lean retirement. However, one area where over-50s often have an advantage over their younger counterparts …
Easing the strain for the sandwich generation By Paul Clitheroe AM The 2015 Intergenerational Report (IGR) confirmed that the majority of us can expect to live longer than people in previous eras, but it’s the so-called ‘sandwich generation’ who may feel the squeeze financially. The sandwich generation are those baby-boomers, usually aged in their fifties and sixties, who are caught between caring for elderly parents and supporting adult children who may be studying or …
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 …
A bump in the road, then a new start Taking stock of how your life’s travelling at the start of a new year is a great idea but you might feel more urgency if you’ve recently come to the end of a serious, long term relationship or gone through a divorce. What’s next, you want to know. How do you rebuild your life, is your financial outlook positive, what happens if you find a new …
