Who needs a testamentary trust?

Who needs a testamentary trust? The rising cost of living is grabbing all the attention right now as people struggle to pay the increasing prices. But in the meantime, our collective wealth has been growing steadily and is being transferred to the next generation at increasing rates. In fact, the value of inheritances as well as gifts to family and friends has doubled over the past two decades.i A 2021 Productivity Commission report found that …

Fact sheets: Financial planning strategies

Protecting your wealth What is insurance? Insurance is a form of protection – a way to protect yourself, your family and the things you own if something goes wrong. It enables you to replace or repair your assets, whether those assets are your belongings or your capacity to earn income…. Maintaining your income What is transition to retirement? Transition to retirement is a strategy that can help you reduce your working hours while maintaining the …

How financial advice can help

How financial advice can help Even if a person has a small asset base and no funds to invest, the help and guidance of a financial adviser can be valuable. Accumulating wealth is a long-term process. It usually occurs parallel to a person’s professional, private and family life. A good approach can be to have a few key strategies in place so that wealth can grow through life’s journey. It’s perhaps more common to seek financial …

What is a Power of Attorney? | Money & Life

Just as having a Will ensures assets are managed properly when you die, a Power of Attorney allows someone else to look after your finances when you’re unable to. Find out more about what’s involved in having a Power of Attorney and why you’d be wise to have one, just in case. Money & Life team Money & Life contributors draw on their diverse range of experience to present you with insights and guidance that will …

7 Tips to improve your financial wellness

7 Tips to improve your financial wellness What is financial wellness? How you feel, is your wellness. How you feel about your money is your financial wellness. This can be measured by the financial wellness index, which measures a person’s satisfaction with their current and future financial situation. Some days you might feel confident you can meet your needs within the boundaries of your current income, whereas other days you may feel like you don’t …

6 steps to get your money stuff together

6 steps to get your money stuff together If you’re like three out of four Australians, you may have started the year without a proper budget.i Research indicates that over a third of us believe budgeting is too much effort and almost one in five Aussies say budgeting takes too much time.i Here are some easy wins to keep you on the right track for 2019 1. Work out your goals If you don’t know …

What is a Power of Attorney?

What is a Power of Attorney? Just as having a Will ensures assets are managed properly when you die, a Power of Attorney allows someone else to look after your finances when you’re unable to. Phillip Richards, Director of Endorphin Wealth Management explains more about what’s involved in having a Power of Attorney and why you’d be wise to have one, just in case. What is a Power of Attorney? There are different types of Powers of Attorney you …

The four steps to a better retirement

The four steps to a better retirement Today, with Australians living longer and healthier lives, the concept of retirement is much different to what it was only one generation ago. For each retiree, retirement is different. Typically, there are four areas that need to be considered to help you better understand your retirement goals and objectives. The four steps to a better retirement.  These are: Define your retirement vision; Understand your cash flow requirements; Clarify …

5 tips for a stress-free conversation about your Will

5 tips for a stress-free conversation about your Will No one likes unpleasant surprises. Talking about your Will with your family can be stressful, but it can also help to avoid a worse situation when you are gone. Contemplating one’s own death can be hard and in many families, talking about money or inheritances is taboo. Some parents worry that letting their children know how much they stand to inherit may cause a sense of entitlement or …

So you’re… starting a family

So you’re… starting a family Starting a family will bring you plenty of joy, but it will also create many challenges. In addition to possible sleepless nights and changes in your lifestyle, it could also affect you financially. First, there are the costs of raising a child. Research published by the Australian Institute of Family studies in April found the minimum weekly cost of one child in unemployed and low-income families ranges from $140 to $170 a …