Paying your bills in retirement

  Paying your bills in retirement Retirees and those nearing retirement have learned the hard way the importance of holding a portion of their nest egg in low-risk fixed income investments. During the financial crisis cash and bonds not only outperformed shares and property, they helped investors protect their capital and pay the bills.1 Now that interest rates on most term deposits are below four percent 2 and the official cash rate is at record …

Tips & traps of working part-time

Tips & traps of working part-time Can you live the dream? If you’ve ever daydreamed about working less hours, returning to a shorter week after having a baby or reducing your work days before retirement, there’s a lot to consider before making the move to a changed lifestyle. Australia has one of the highest rates of part-time, temporary or self-employed workers in the world (over 35%)1 who earn more per hour than their full-time colleagues. …

Money Saving Secrets For Housewives

Money Saving Secrets For Housewives Become a Financially Savvy Housewife! Housewives usually don’t get the same level of acknowledgement as working women do- and you want to know why? That’s because they don’t earn! Bitter, as it may sound, but you can’t deny the truth. No matter, how much your husband loves you, if you have only added to his financial responsibilities- he might become frustrated.  But there is no need to lose hope! You …

Tips for selling your home

Tips for selling your home How to prepare your property for a successful sale Property is a hot topic. Like most of us, you’ve probably found yourself around the backyard BBQ discussing house prices, interest rates and local demand. But we don’t tend to move that often – more than half of us have been in our present house for over five years.[1] So if you’re selling your house it’s important to get it right. …

The Power of Budgeting

The Power of Budgeting A budget can help you work out what you’re spending money on and when Are you aware you need to change your spending habits, but not sure where to start? A budget can help you get back to basics and work out what’s going where and when. Whatever your plans, a budget can help you to: get more organised with your finances cut down spending in areas you have a tendency …

Help achieve your investment goals with dynamic asset allocation

  Help achieve your investment goals with dynamic asset allocation It goes without saying that the investment landscape has changed dramatically in recent years. Deleveraging has become an ongoing theme; central banks have played a significant role in guiding the economy and extreme swings in investor sentiment have all contributed to market volatility. All this will likely continue to impact the reliability of future investment returns. Investment cycles prevail The fundamental principle underpinning a dynamic …

Grandparents unsung childcare heroes

  Grandparents unsung childcare heroes It’s meant to be a time to kick back and pursue all those interests you put aside while you worked and raised a family. But increasingly, grandparents are being called on to fill the gaps in Australia’s formal childcare system while their adult children go out to work. Grandparents provide a staggering 23 per cent of all childcare to children under 12 in Australia, according to a recent AMP NATSEM …

10 reasons your kids won’t listen to your money advice

10 reasons your kids won’t listen to your money advice …and how you can bring them around Every parent wants the best for their children but kids often won’t listen to the wisdom of your experience, especially when it comes to money. Don’t give up! Here are some of the common beliefs and misconceptions kids have about managing money—and how you could get them to take your advice. Money buys happiness This is one of …

Beyond children: safeguarding the future

  Beyond children: safeguarding the future With your house paid off, the children grown up and your retirement savings on target, you could be lulled into a false sense of security that you no longer need personal insurance. If you or your partner were to die, then little may change in your financial situation. But what would happen if one of your adult children had an accident and needed care for the rest of their …

Could you own a chunk of $15 billion[1] and not know it yet?

Could you own a chunk of $15 billion[1] and not know it yet? With millions of super accounts waiting for their owners, it’s easy to reclaim your money. Few people would be willing to turn their backs on thousands of hard-earned dollars. Yet when it comes to super money, many people have thousands of missing dollars they don’t know about. More accounts, less money It’s easy for super to get lost. Most of us have …