Are you cheating on your partner – with money?

Are you cheating on your partner – with money? Financial “infidelity” can be just as destructive as the more traditional kind. Discover just what financial infidelity might look like in your relationship and what to do if you find you’ve been lied to – or need to confess.       Lying about money is on the rise What hurts more – having your partner hide another relationship from you, or lie about how much money …

Econosights – Five Global Risks to Watch

Econosights – Five Global Risks to Watch The global economic upswing is expected to remain in place for now which is good news for growth assets. But there are still plenty of downside risks to the growth outlook. We explore five key areas we are watching. Introduction We remain positive around the outlook for the global economy over the next year. But there are still numerous downside risks to growth that could cause issues for …

Retirement and your mental health

Retirement and your mental health It can be hard to stay engaged and keep a positive outlook in retirement, but advances in technology can help enormously. For example, if you are interested in volunteering, websites such as Good Company can instantly put you in touch with hundreds of opportunities, charities and individual projects. Or other options such as renting out a spare room on Airbnb or driving for Uber will not only contribute to keeping you more connected, you can also …

Weekly Market Update 25 May 2018

Weekly Market Update 25 May 2018 Investment markets and key developments over the past week The past week has again seen geopolitical issues dominate with renewed trade worries out of the US, the cancellation of the North Korean summit and rising angst around the formation of a populist coalition government in Italy. Despite this US shares managed a slight rise but Eurozone, Japanese, Chinese and Australian shares fell. Bond yields continued to blow out in Italy …

Watch out for tax scams

Watch out for tax scams The end of the financial year will likely bring the usual wave of scams. Here’s what to look for. The Federal Budget is behind us, and amid the celebrations over tax cuts (around $500 annually for low to middle income earners if proposals are legislated), now is the time to be mindful of scammers pretending to be from government bodies – especially the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). In some cases, scam victims …

What to expect from a financial planner (Video)

What to expect from a financial planner (Video)  What to expect from a financial planner So you’re meeting with a planner. What can you expect to share and learn about your finances during your experience? Find out in our short video about what to expect. Not sure whether you’ve reached that life stage where you need support and advice from a financial planner? Discover 5 good reasons you might have for seeking financial advice. And if …

5 reasons to save for retirement

5 reasons to save for retirement Saving for retirement might not seem important, especially when there’s the super guarantee and aged pension to fall back on. But employer contributions and government benefits may not keep you as comfortable in later life as you’d like. Here are 5 reasons to make saving for your super a priority in the coming year.  Whether you’re near retirement or not, it’s important to get your head round what to …

Retirement the top priority for advised clients

 Retirement the top priority for advised clients A poll of financial advisers in the AMP network, the largest in Australia, has found that achieving a good retirement is by far the most important goal for their clients. Almost 50 per cent of advisers said their clients were focused on retirement, well ahead of other common goals for which people sought financial advice. The second top priority for clients, at 13 per cent, was simplifying …

All gain, no shame: What to expect from a financial planner

All gain, no shame: What to expect from a financial planner So you’re a busy couple building careers and a better future for a young family. Getting professional financial advice might seem like something you’re not ready for yet. But what if seeing a planner could bring you wealth and peace of mind without distracting you from important goals? We all make mistakes with money from time to time. And most of us wish we …

Is your home underinsured?

Is your home underinsured? Cold weather and faulty appliances can be a dangerous combination in winter – especially if your home is underinsured. As we head into winter, now is the time to check your home heating appliances – and your home and contents cover. The cooler months typically see an uptick in home insurance claims with a rise of up to 47% in colder states like New South Wales though Victoria leads the country …