Dealing with debt: finding smarter ways to live with your liabilities Not all debts are created equal, as any good financial planner will tell you. Unsecured debt such as credit card debt – as opposed to a mortgage or car loan – generally has the highest interest rates and if you don’t pay the account off every month you are paying up to 25 per cent extra for anything you purchase with the card. Getting …
Superannuation stumbling blocks What’s stopping you from saving for a retirement you can really look forward to? Take a look at these four common barriers to saving more super and make a plan for having all your goals and financial priorities in order. 1. Enjoying life to the full Living for the moment is something that may come very naturally to you. Perhaps you’ve always been comfortable living month to month on your salary, seizing …
Putting the global “debt bomb” in perspective – seven reasons to be alert but not alarmed Key Points Global debt levels have reached new records. Countries with very high gross debt to GDP include Japan, Belgium, Canada, Portugal and Greece. The main areas of rising debt since the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) have been public debt in developed countries (with more to come in the US) and private debt in emerging countries (and of course …
China’s economy is pretty stable – but what about high debt levels and other risks? Introduction It seems there is constant hand wringing about the risks around the Chinese economy with the common concerns being around unbalanced growth, debt, the property market, the exchange rate and capital flows and a “hard landing”. This angst is understandable to some degree. Rapid growth as China has seen brings questions about its sustainability. And China is now the …
Plan more, worry less Want to make money worries a thing of the past? A new year can be a great time to take control of your finances and enjoy greater peace of mind, now and in the future. New year, more stress Thanks to the post-spending hangover many of us suffer after buying big for the festive season, the new year can start with an unhealthy dose of financial stress. According to a 2017 survey …
The best money blogs and financial advice for 20-somethings Are you a 20-something, a Millennial, a Gen Y or a Gen Next? Actually, it’s a trick question, as they’re all the same thing. Whether you believe such a label applies to you or not, you may think managing your money better isn’t something you should be doing until you’re 30-something and living in your own home with kids. Here we feature some money blogs to …
After the Australian household debt and east coast housing booms – interest rates on hold until 2020 Will Australian interest rates ever go up? While the global economy is seeing its fastest growth in years and the US Federal Reserve has increased rates five times since December 2015 and is on track for more hikes this year, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has now left interest rates on hold for a record 21 months …
The true value of financial advice Does investing in a financial planner really pay off? According to the latest research from Sunsuper you could be thousands of dollars better off when you make choices based on professional financial advice. Plus you’ll take more family holidays, have greater peace of mind and more confidence in your financial decisions. Teaming up with research experts, Core Data, Sunsuper have released The Value of Advice Report. Insights include financial forecasts …
Borrowing money: When and how to do it right We all know getting into debt isn’t really desirable. So are there times when borrowing is justified? And what’s the best approach to keeping repayments within reasonable limits? We spoke to CFP® Sandy Hopps to get expert advice on smart ways to borrow money. Recent reports and statistics show we’re no strangers to debt in Australia. According to OECD data from 2015, Australia is 4th in the world …
What tap-and-go means for our teens A survey of 1100 high school students suggests many are confused about how credit cards work. Are new technologies making it harder for young people to understand what money management is all about? And what can we do about it? Understanding what happens when you spend money on your credit card seems to be something of a blind spot for young people living in the 21st century. When asked how …
