Why the $A is likely to fall further and shorting it is good protection against things going wrong globally

Why the $A is likely to fall further and shorting it is good protection against things going wrong globally Key points The downtrend in the $A from 2011 likely has more to go. The $A is near fair value, but the increasing negative interest rate gap to the US & a messy outlook for commodities suggest a fall to $US0.70 by year end. Given the downside risks for the $A and that being short the …

Role-reversal: When parents are relying on you

Role-reversal: When parents are relying on you As your parents get older, your whole family will be facing lots of changes. Supporting them during this time can be challenging, with lots of choices to be made. Get some tips to help you prepare for this role-reversal without it becoming a burden or a cause of family conflict. In the later stages of life, many seniors want to stay independent for as long as possible, but …

Aussie attitudes to finance across the generations

Aussie attitudes to finance across the generations From Gen Y to Gen X to the Boomers, are attitudes to finance really that different between the generations? “Young people don’t understand the value of working hard and saving for the future.” “Baby Boomers are ruining our chance to buy a home.” People of all ages will express opinions about the older or younger generations, but are we actually any different in our attitudes to finance? The …

Home sweet home: Your guide to the FHSSS

Home sweet home: Your guide to the FHSSS The First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS) came into effect on 1 July, and the property market has started cooling, so could the time have come for first-home buyers to make their move? CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional Jeremy Chiel from Stonehouse Group shares some insights into the challenges and solutions facing younger people when it comes to home ownership. Housing affordability has been in and out of the headlines, …

What two investing insights would you give your 20-year-old self?

What two investing insights would you give your 20-year-old self?   Hamish Douglass, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer, Magellan Asset Management My central advice would be that successful investing is about finding and then owning for the long-term companies that can generate excess returns for years to come. It’s not about looking for stocks that might come into short-term favour on stock markets. The worthwhile companies to own for the long term will …

5 questions to ask your financial planner

5 questions to ask your financial planner Finding the right financial planner for your needs, goals and life stage is essential to help you achieve your financial goals. As a specialist profession, it’s important to check your financial planner is professionally licensed and qualified to provide you with advice. Equally important is the rapport you have with them – it should be comfortable and feel like the right fit from the start. Here are five …

Weekly Market Update 17 August 2018

Weekly Market Update 17 August 2018   Investment markets and key developments over the past week Share markets had a bit of a messy ride over the last week – first falling on worries about Turkey and then bouncing back to varying degrees on news of new US/China trade talks. This saw Australian and US shares up, Japanese shares flat but Eurozone and Chinese shares down. Bond yields were little changed although they are back above …

Sorting out sibling squabbles

  Sorting out sibling squabbles When families clash over money, particularly as parents reach their senior years, there can be many issues to resolve. Hear from CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional James McFall of Yield Financial Planning about how family members can plan for a peaceful transfer of wealth between generations and siblings. Who cares? Nothing is certain except for death and taxes –it’s one of our oldest clichés. Exactly how someone meets their death isn’t certain, but if you’re lucky …

6 ways to navigate your finances in your 40s

6 ways to navigate your finances in your 40s Growing responsibilities and competing priorities can be a feature of your 40s. Strategic wealth advisor Adrian Hanrahan offers his tips for getting ahead in mid-life. Although marriage, mortgage, and young children may have characterised your 30s, your 40s often feature growing responsibilities and ever-competing priorities. Your parents are older, your mortgage is still on foot, children’s education costs are growing, and though retirement may seem a …

How my life changed when I became a carer

How my life changed when I became a carer Writer Ambra Sancin shares how her life changed when she became a carer for her mother. Many Australians will take on caregiver roles at some point in their lives. Mine came three-and-a-half years ago and it’s been challenging (but ultimately rewarding) on a number of levels. At 90, mum had a number of medical conditions including hypertension, atrial fibrillation (irregular heart beat), macular degeneration – as …