What are “returns”? You’ve heard people brag about the great “returns” they may be earning, but there is more than meets the eye when it comes to talking about returns. Just as the word suggests, returns are what comes back to you from your investments or savings. So if you’ve put money in the bank, your returns will include the interest you’ve earned over and above the money you invested. Total returns If you have successfully …
The blended family balancing act When one family becomes two – or more – financial stress can multiply too. Get expert tips from CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional Fran Hughes about how blended families can work together on a straightforward and fair approach to managing money. Whatever your marital status, your 40s can be a challenging time financially. Growing kids are costing more, especially if you have to factor in school fees. And on the other side of the equation, …
Putting yourself first when planning for retirement You know when you’re on a plane about to take off and the cabin crew is demonstrating the safety procedures? They always say affix your own oxygen mask before trying to help anybody else attach theirs – children included. Research from the National Seniors Survey for 2017 has found that it is no longer a priority for many older Australians to leave an inheritance for their kids. With growing concerns …
Accountant or Planner – which do I need? When it comes to sorting out money matters, where do you go to seek professional help? Can an accountant take care of your finances or should you be speaking to a financial planner? Discover more about the difference between these two support services and how you can benefit from both. Seeing an accountant is something that’s routine for most Australians. After all, lodging a tax return is …
Life cover – do you even have it? If you have family, dependents or debt, life insurance might be important, but one in four Aussies don’t know whether they have it. If you die and your life is insured, your beneficiaries receive a lump sum pay-out. This money can be the difference between the people who matter most to you enjoying a decent lifestyle or facing a financial struggle, yet one in four Australians aren’t …
Why it pays to contribute to your partner’s super If your other half is a stay-at-home parent, working part-time or out of work, adding to their super could benefit you both financially. If your spouse (husband, wife, de facto or same-sex partner) is a low-income earner or not working at the moment, chances are they’re accumulating little or no super at all to fund their retirement. The good news is, if you want to help …
How Australians save money Of those who make a savings resolution, 85% have a specific target in mind.(1) Average savings target is $11,234(1). Top 3 savings goals(1) 53% holiday 46% rainy day fund 40% buy or renovate a home. Other top money goals(2) Build wealth for retirement Pay off debts Set up a budget Get debts under control Invest in shares, bonds or commodities Buy an investment property. Top reasons people break financial resolutions(1) …
The power of financial planning As father to his two beautiful children, a 21 month-old son and a new baby daughter, Dante De Gori has a whole new perspective on his priorities in life. Here he talks about how he’s preparing for the future and just how important a financial plan is to achieving important goals for him and his family. A different lens on life Two years ago Dante De Gori took on …
Personal debt – maybe the mortgage isn’t so bad Household debt in Australia is high but more of us are taking a sensible approach to debt management. Nationally, our household debt ratio is nudging 200%. On paper it means we owe twice as much in debt as we bring home in our pay packets each year. It sounds like an alarming figure but as 74% of all households have some level of debt, the reality …
What’s debt consolidation and do I need it? Stuck with a post-Christmas spending hangover? Debt consolidation could be a solution, but tread carefully: there are no easy fixes. Debt consolidation involves taking all your monthly debts – for example, from your credit cards, store cards, mortgage, car and other loans and so on – and rolling them into a single low interest rate loan. If you are rolling all your debt, including high interest rate …
