Don’t just invest for your children, invest with them

Don’t just invest for your children, invest with them Investing with your child can help them build a nest egg and improve their financial literacy. Gifting your child with a nest egg of investments is a wonderful idea, and will no doubt give them a kickstart into adulthood. But some experts say we may be approaching this incorrectly; we could be investing with our children, rather than for them, to give them not just money …

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 …

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 …

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. …

The wallet challenge: Step 1 – your financial audit

The wallet challenge: Step 1 – your financial audit This 4 part series will get you ready to grow your wealth in the new financial year. Starting with an audit of your current financial position, this checklist will guide you through a review of all your assets – savings, super, properties etc and liabilities – loan payments, insurance policies, bills so you can get a clear picture of where you are at financially and where …

Minimal vs FOMO: what are young people really up to with their money?

Minimal vs FOMO: what are young people really up to with their money? The spending habits of our younger generation show that experiences mean more to them than buying stuff. So are they better at managing money than their Boomer or Gen X parents? Or is FOMO leading them into the dangers of growing debt? Find out more about money habits of millenials. For some years, retail businesses have been in a tailspin about the …

Why an emergency fund should be your first investment (Video)

Why an emergency fund should be your first investment (Video)  Saving money for a rainy day might not seem like the best start to investing for the future, but it’s actually a very important part of any plan to grow your wealth. Find out how much you need and how it could save you from unwelcome debt and stress in the future. Setup a Financial Safety Net. Online source: Produced by The Financial Financial …

Get social to boost your savings

Get social to boost your savings Want to get on the fast-track to your financial goals? Partner with a money buddy or join a support group and you could find yourself saving more and getting closer to your goals. When you’re making a firm commitment to boosting your savings, getting help doesn’t have to mean cutting up your credit card or keeping away from shopping malls. With support and encouragement from your financial allies, you could …

Your money goals and how to reach them

Your money goals and how to reach them It’s easy to have big ideas about your financial future, but harder to achieve them. As most dieters know, you can follow the best dieting program, but struggle to stick to it. The same is true for your financial goals, whatever they include, and the plan you draw up to achieve them. Even with the best intentions, it’s easy to fall “off the wagon”. Life is full …