Grow your super in the new year Making an extra voluntary contribution now might improve your lifestyle once you retire. A new year’s as good a time as any to make plans. How about a gift to your future self by maximising your retirement contributions? It’s not as far-fetched or self-absorbed as it might seem. If you think of this as investing in your future self or your loved ones, it could make good sense. …
Staying (Financially) well as the years go by Our financial priorities tend to change as we move through life The good news from AMP’s 2018 Financial Wellness Indexi is that only 7% of Australian retirees aged 65 or over report being stressed about money. So if you’re feeling the pinch earlier in life there is light at the end of the tunnel. Let’s take a closer look at how your financial wellness is likely to change …
Rebooting for retirement As retirement comes into view, it’s time to imagine a new you for the post-work age. You remember your first day at school, your first job, your first home. And now your final pay check is in sight. That’s quite an achievement. As with other big life events, retirement triggers choices that shape your future. It’s time to take stock and reboot your life. It makes sense to make sure you’re ready …
5 saving graces of giftmas Gift giving is one of life’s joys, until the credit card bill comes through. Here are five ways to maximise the love without blowing your budget. According to a recent Financial Planning Association of Australia reporti, 85% of us find more joy in giving gifts to others than in getting them ourselves. Though we love the sound of ripping wrapping paper, almost three quarters of us don’t budget for gifts. …
Weekly Market Update 13 December 2019 Investment markets and key developments over the past week The past week saw good news on the geopolitical front with the US and China reaching a Phase 1 trade deal, Congressional agreement on the USMCA (NAFTA replacement), Congress averting another US Government shutdown from December 20 and the Conservatives on track for a big majority in the UK’s election. This pushed most global share markets higher, with the exception of …
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 …
Weekly Market Update 6 December 2019 Investment markets and key developments over the past week Share markets were mixed over the last week with falls in the US and Europe on trade war fears and mixed economic data, but Japanese shares rose on fiscal stimulus plans and Chinese shares rose too. The Australian share market fell back from record highs taking its lead from the declines in US shares and worries about global trade but with …
Superannuation Changes Learn more about the latest super reforms and what they could mean for you. Putting Members’ Interests First legislation Putting Members’ Interests First (PMIF) law was passed in September 2019. It aims to prevent certain people being charged for insurance inside their super that they may not need. The PMIF law affects: members with a super balance under $6,000 new members aged under 25 People with a super balance under $6,000 Under the …
Weekly Market Update 29 November 2019 Investment markets and key developments over the past week Share markets rose over the last week helped by optimism regarding a US/China trade deal and mostly okay economic data with US shares reaching a new record high. Australian shares also broke out to a new record high helped by the positive global lead with strong gains in telcos, health, energy and IT stocks offsetting more constrained increases in financials with …
How Much Superannuation is enough? When you plan for retirement you will probably develop a financial plan intended to increase the amount you have for retirement. If you are on an average wage of about $85,000 p.a. before tax, you’ll need to save about 15 to 20 times that amount for retirement – about $1.3 to $1.7 million at today’s prices. You’re probably nowhere near that. There are other ways of estimating what you may …
