Money worries and your mental health | Money & Life

Money worries and your mental health Worrying about your finances can take a real toll on your mental health. With many people experiencing financial stress this year, we look at what you can do to improve your financial (and mental) wellbeing. It’s been a trying time for many people, with our collective mental health taking a toll as the COVID-19 pandemic rolls on. The Melbourne Institute says one-in-three Australians are now reporting financial stress, while one-in-five are …

How to give your finances a health check | Money & Life

How to give your finances a health check How healthy are your finances? Isn’t it time you put your own financial wellbeing front and centre? You can take control of your financial future quickly and easily, with a simple financial health check. Just like your physical health, it’s worth giving your finances a check-up once in a while. Over time, unhealthy spending habits can creep in, threatening to derail your progress. Here’s how to give …

Planning for the financial care of a special needs child | Money & Life

Planning for the financial care of a special needs child Caring for a child with special needs can place an extra financial burden on families. We speak to CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Jane Campbell about some of the challenges and solutions families might consider. As any parent will tell you, raising a child is an incredibly rewarding experience. But for parents of children with special needs, there is often the added challenge of extra expenses and reduced …

Tax deductible donations: Get the most out of giving back | Money & Life

Tax deductible donations: Get the most out of giving back Giving to charity can be a great way to help others and give your tax return a boost, but not all donations are tax deductible. Here’s what you need to know about making a tax deductible donation. Donating to a charity or cause you care about is a win-win for both you and the charity. Charities rely on the generosity of donors to help them …

Realising your goals through financial planning (video)

Realising your goals through financial planning (video)  You might think that financial planners solve money problems. Financial planning is about so much more than this. It’s about bringing your dreams to life, identifying your life goals, hopes and dreams – and putting in place a financial plan to get your there. Here Isobella explains how meeting a financial adviser made her feel like she could focus on the future. If you have a question you’d …

How to max your tax refund

How to max your tax refund Expecting a refund from your 2017/18 tax return? 77 out of 100 Aussies are likely to get one and many could already have plans to spend it. If you’re one of them, find out how to treat yourself right with your windfall and be better off for good. For most of us, tax refunds rarely come as a complete surprise. In fact, sometimes we might even be using the …

What is financial planning?

What is financial planning? Regardless of your age, life stage or wage, a financial planner can work with you to reach your financial and life goals, whether short-term or long-term. This article offers an introduction to what financial planning is, how it works, and how it can benefit you. What is financial planning? Financial planning is about developing strategies to help you manage your financial affairs and meet your life goals – and the first …

5 ways to set your kids up for financial success

5 ways to set your kids up for financial success As we move towards a cashless society, how do we teach children that money comes from hard work and good financial management and not some magic money pot in the sky? “In a world of credit cards and online banking, actual physical money is becoming an alien concept for today’s young. From their perspective, a quick tap of the plastic is all it takes to …

Women and wealth creation: Closing the gap through financial planning

Women and wealth creation: Closing the gap through financial planning With the gender pay gap still prevalent today, women often face an uphill battle to stay ahead of the game financially. The financial disparity is further compounded when women take time out from full-time work to care for family, sacrificing superannuation and wages along the way. While we each do our part for the gender imbalance to improve, investing in a financial plan is an …

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 …