How Much Superannuation is enough?

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 …

Weekly Market Update 22 November 2019

Weekly Market Update 22 November 2019 Investment markets and key developments over the past week Most share markets fell over the last week as uncertainty about whether the US and China will agree a Phase One trade deal ramped up amidst a range of conflicting reports. This comes at a time when markets are vulnerable to a consolidation or correction after strong gains since early October has left investor sentiment at elevated levels. Australian shares got …

Weekly Market Update 15 November 2019

Weekly Market Update 15 November 2019 Investment markets and key developments over the past week The past week saw some cautiousness creep back into share markets with increased uncertainty about a US/China trade deal coming at a time when major share markets had become a bit vulnerable to a pull back after a run of good gains since early October. US shares managed to rise slightly but Eurozone and Japanese shares fell slightly, and Chinese shares …

Boost savings with compound interest

Boost savings with compound interest If your goal is to save for the future, or perhaps start putting away for your children’s education – then unless you plan on putting your savings under your mattress, the sooner you start the better. That’s because you could be missing out on earning compound interest along the way that could make a stark difference to the overall amount you save. The difference between simple interest and compound interest …

Weekly Market Update 8 November 2019

Weekly Market Update 8 November 2019 Investment markets and key developments over the past week The past week saw most share markets push higher on the back of positive news regarding US/China trade talks, benign economic data and some optimism that global growth will pick up, with the US share market making it to a new record high. Australian shares benefitted from the positive global led by strong gains in resources, IT and consumer discretionary …

Resist today, Relax tomorrow.

Resist today, Relax tomorrow. Can you recite the last line of Gone with the Wind? If not, you’ll find the answer at the end of this article. If you scrolled down straight away, you might be too keen for your own good. We’ve all heard that patience is a virtue, and it can even save you money. For people figuring out how to fund the lifestyle they’d like in retirement, now’s a good time to remember the …

Weekly Market Update 1 November 2019

Weekly Market Update 1 November 2019 Investment markets and key developments over the past week The past week saw US shares push to new record highs helped by good earnings results and Fed easing, but other share markets were soft not helped by mixed news on US/China trade talks and still soft global economic data. Increasing talk that the RBA may be done cutting saw the Australian share market fall led lower by financials, consumer and …

High times for low interest rates

High times for low interest rates With mortgage rates at their lowest since the days of black and white TV, this might be the right time to make a serious dent in your home loan. Lower rates mean any money you have in the bank could be earning less interest. But if you have a variable home loan rate and your lender passes on the cut, you’ll pay off more of your loan faster just …

Weekly Market Update 25 October 2019

Weekly Market Update 25 October 2019 Investment markets and key developments over the past week The past week saw most major share markets push higher helped by generally good US earnings reports, benign geopolitical news and optimism that global recession will be avoided. Australian shares benefitted from the positive global lead with strong gains in resources, utilities, consumer discretionary, health and property stocks. Bond yields rose in the US but fell slightly elsewhere. Commodity prices …