Seven things you need to know about the Australian property market

The Australian housing market has started the year on a solid note with national home prices up 1.6% over the first three months according to CoreLogic. We had thought the drag of high mortgage rates would get the upper hand again but the supply shortfall is continuing to dominate.

6 things to know about buy now pay later services

6 things to know about buy now pay later services Nearly 85% of financial counsellors in Australia have reported that half, most or all their clients now have some form of buy now pay later debt. Often branded the modern-day layby, buy now pay later services essentially offer the same thing, but you get the product (which could be anything from a new outfit, pub dinner or airline ticket) upfront. Below we explain what you …

How can I make my retirement dream a reality?

How can I make my retirement dream a reality? What does your retirement dream look like – spending time on your hobbies? Seeing the grandkids more often? Maybe pursuing a passion, or travelling? According to AMP financial adviser John Dani, the people who are most content and happy in retirement all have this one thing in common – a well-defined purpose for their golden years. Mr Dani’s worked with hundreds of people over the last …

Many Aussies in the dark about retirement

Many Aussies in the dark about retirement Whether retirement is a long way into the distance, or just peeking over the horizon, recent research1 shows half of us aren’t sure we’ll have enough money to retire when we want, or even how much money we’ll actually need. There’s always been a lot of unknowns when it comes to retirement but throw a global pandemic into the mix, and we’re feeling more uncertainty than ever before. Things …

Tax deductions and working from home during COVID-19 | AMP Capital

Tax deductions and working from home during COVID-19 Did you know that one in three employees claims a tax deduction for work expenses for work done away from their employer’s workplace? With the explosion in the numbers of people now working from home due to COVID-19, the situation has changed significantly. The ATO says that in the past, claims for ‘home office’ expenses were relatively small for work occasionally done at home, such as at …

Borrowing money: When and how to do it right | Money & Life

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 Sandy Hopps CFP® from Strategic Planners 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 – behind Denmark, the …

Super – know your rights

Super – know your rights Unpaid super isn’t something to be taken lightly. No matter who you work for, it’s their responsibility to make payments to you under the super guarantee. Find out more about how much super you should be getting, how often and what to do if there’s a problem. Rescuing your super – unclaimed or unpaid There’s a staggering amount of superannuation that may never find its way to the people who …

4 Things You Should Know Before You Start Budgeting

4 Things You Should Know Before You Start Budgeting With the end of the year nearing, it is almost time up for the New Year resolutions. Most people have either already made their New Year resolutions or are in the process of making or finalizing them. If you have made a resolution for this New Year that you are going to budget your expenses better this year, well then you are in luck. This blog …

Could you own a chunk of $15 billion[1] and not know it yet?

Could you own a chunk of $15 billion[1] and not know it yet? With millions of super accounts waiting for their owners, it’s easy to reclaim your money. Few people would be willing to turn their backs on thousands of hard-earned dollars. Yet when it comes to super money, many people have thousands of missing dollars they don’t know about. More accounts, less money It’s easy for super to get lost. Most of us have …