Money worries and your mental health | Money & Life

Money worries and your mental health Worrying about your finances can take a real toll on your mental health. With many people experiencing financial stress this year, we look at what you can do to improve your financial (and mental) wellbeing. It’s been a trying time for many people, with our collective mental health taking a toll as the COVID-19 pandemic rolls on. The Melbourne Institute says one-in-three Australians are now reporting financial stress, while one-in-five are …

Speaking up against financial elder abuse | Money & Life

Speaking up against financial elder abuse Australians from all walks of life are being urged to speak up if they suspect they or someone they know are being subjected to financial elder abuse. Marking World Elder Abuse Awareness Day last month on June 15, Elder Abuse Action Australia (EAAA) urged Australians to understand the red flags for financial elder abuse. These include: Unexplained inability to pay bills; Significant bank withdrawals; Changes to wills; Blocked access …

How to give your finances a health check | Money & Life

How to give your finances a health check How healthy are your finances? Isn’t it time you put your own financial wellbeing front and centre? You can take control of your financial future quickly and easily, with a simple financial health check. Just like your physical health, it’s worth giving your finances a check-up once in a while. Over time, unhealthy spending habits can creep in, threatening to derail your progress. Here’s how to give …

Tax deductible donations: Get the most out of giving back | Money & Life

Tax deductible donations: Get the most out of giving back Giving to charity can be a great way to help others and give your tax return a boost, but not all donations are tax deductible. Here’s what you need to know about making a tax deductible donation. Donating to a charity or cause you care about is a win-win for both you and the charity. Charities rely on the generosity of donors to help them …

Planning for the financial care of a special needs child | Money & Life

Planning for the financial care of a special needs child Caring for a child with special needs can place an extra financial burden on families. We speak to CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Jane Campbell about some of the challenges and solutions families might consider. As any parent will tell you, raising a child is an incredibly rewarding experience. But for parents of children with special needs, there is often the added challenge of extra expenses and reduced …

Tax deductible donations: Get the most out of giving back | Money & Life

Tax deductible donations: Get the most out of giving back Giving to charity can be a great way to help others and give your tax return a boost, but not all donations are tax deductible. Here’s what you need to know about making a tax deductible donation. Donating to a charity or cause you care about is a win-win for both you and the charity. Charities rely on the generosity of donors to help them …

Supporting your kids, without sacrificing your own retirement | Money & Life

Supporting your kids, without sacrificing your own retirement With careful planning, you can give a helping hand to your adult children financially, while still enjoying a comfortable retirement. In the past, wealth was often passed on through an inheritance. But with our longer lifespans, and the higher cost of living (especially housing), the desire to help our kids while we’re alive and well is increasing. If your children are young, you may have twenty or …

The superannuation health check | Money & Life

The superannuation health check Does your super deserve a clean bill of health? Managing your super might seem tricky, but it doesn’t need to be. With a few simple tweaks, you can put the basics in place to last you a lifetime. Here’s how to do a quick and easy health-check on your super. It’s likely that your super will provide much of your income in retirement, so it’s worth spending a little bit of …

Navigating your tax return for 2021 | Money & Life

Navigating your tax return for 2021 Do you want to get more from your tax return this financial year, but you’re not sure where to start? It could be as simple as knowing which tax deductions and offsets you’re eligible for. With the end of financial year fast approaching, you might be hoping to claw back some of your hard earned cash when you lodge your tax return this year. The Australian Taxation Office refunds billions …

What can a financial planner do for me in 2021? | Money & Life

What can a financial planner do for me in 2021? With the ups and downs of the COVID-19 pandemic largely behind us, now’s a great time to revisit your finances. So should you seek the help of a professional financial planner, or can you ‘do it yourself’? Read on to find out what a financial planner can do for you. After a rollercoaster 18-months, the financial shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic are finally receding from …