Five things you need to know about the Australian economy

Five things you need to know about the Australian economy Key points The Australian economy grew solidly over the last year.   While recession remains very unlikely, the combination of a slowing housing cycle, constraints on consumer spending and still subdued business investment will likely see growth slow going forward to around 2.5-3%.   As a result, spare capacity is likely to remain significant, keeping wages growth and inflation low.   We don’t expect the …

How to invest for your kids’ education

How to invest for your kids’ education When kids are starting school, will your finances be ready too? You’ll often have many other financial commitments at this time – your mortgage, family holidays, insurance, grocery bills and more. If you think a fee-paying school could be on the cards, how will you cope with another big bill to pay? We talked to CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional Paul Garner, financial planner and principal at Novo Wealth, …

25 million & growing: What to make of Australia’s pop milestone

25 million & growing: What to make of Australia’s pop milestone On 7 August 2018 the Australian population has edged past the 25 million mark. What could this mean for the future financial wellbeing of everyday Australians? Hear from CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Professional Tony Sandercock of wetalkmoney about the potential impact of a bigger population on finances and retirement outcomes. According to McCrindle Research, the Australian population reached the 25 million mark earlier this month[1]. If you were …

How to buy a home and still have a life

How to buy a home and still have a life With the cost of buying property on the rise, many families and individuals are sacrificing other financial commitments to afford the home they want. So how can you budget for your home without being too frugal in your savings and spending? We talked to CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional Michael Hayward from Capital Partners about getting the balance right between financing a home and other lifestyle goals. …

The wallet challenge: Step 1 – your financial audit

The wallet challenge: Step 1 – your financial audit This 4 part series will get you ready to grow your wealth in the new financial year. Starting with an audit of your current financial position, this checklist will guide you through a review of all your assets – savings, super, properties etc and liabilities – loan payments, insurance policies, bills so you can get a clear picture of where you are at financially and where …

Super – so what?

Super – so what? For some people, super may be the most valuable asset they’ll ever have. So it makes sense to know how much they have and how it’s invested. But it’s very often the case that young people, in particular, see super as being something that’s of low concern. So how can the super industry get young people interested in something they won’t benefit from for years to come? With home ownership rates …

Weekly Market Update 31 August 2018

Weekly Market Update 31 August 2018 Investment markets and key developments over the past week The past week saw most share markets rise helped by US shares pushing further into record territory, but gains were capped by ongoing turmoil in the emerging world (notably Argentina and Turkey) and nervousness ahead of the next round of US tariffs on imports from China. Australian shares also rebounded after being hit by the previous week’s political turmoil. Bond yields …

Wedding planning: Budgeting tips for your big day

Wedding planning: Budgeting tips for your big day With the average Australian wedding costing over $65,000, is it more financially savvy to say ‘I do’ or ‘I don’t’ to a big budget wedding? When it comes to planning a wedding, every couple has their dream day in mind, which often includes extravagant flowers, a swanky venue, custom-made wedding attire, unlimited alcohol, vintage wedding cars and the list goes on. While digging deep into your pockets to …

Your wedding windfall

Your wedding windfall The average Aussie couple are spending around $65k on their big day. By making some smart wedding budget choices you could be investing that money for a better financial future. Let’s take a look at how saving $30k on your wedding could help you out with other lifestyle goals. Online source: Produced by The Financial Financial Planning Association of Australia and published on 15 June 2017.  Original article.  

Market Drawdowns

Market Drawdowns Overview As the profit cycle matures, we are increasingly being asked how long-term investors should best position themselves should the economic backdrop and equity markets become more challenging. As the profit cycle matures, we are increasingly being asked how long-term investors should best position themselves should the economic backdrop and equity markets become more challenging. Key points Markets mark-to-market in the short term and are inefficient in the long run.   The impact …