Making the most of record low interest rates The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) took the cash rate to a record low of 1% in July, bringing mortgage rates to their lowest level in more than half a century. However, the low cash rate also means your money in the bank could be earning less interest. Why did the RBA cut rates? Rate cuts are a way for the RBA to help stimulate the economy. …
Are young families the most vulnerable as house prices head lower? The long-term rise in Australian home prices has led to a huge inter-generational transfer of wealth from the young to the old. A material reversal in property values will go some way to unwinding this, creating winners and losers amongst the generations. Australia has long had a love affair with home ownership, which is illustrated by the strong growth in residential prices over the …
16 August 2017 How to make the most of investment and economic research In a world where people can be bombarded with information, AMP Capital Head of Investment Strategy and Chief Economist Shane Oliver recommends taking a strategic approach to investing. “If you are to be a successful investor you have to have an investment process,” says Oliver. The trick, he says, is cutting out the noise and sticking to the fundamentals. AMP Capital’s approach …
Make the most of the current super caps Consider John and Jane’s story before new rules limit your super contributions and pension transfer options. John’s aged 65 and Jane is 60—they’re both about to retire. John has super assets totalling $2 million and Jane’s super balance is $300,000. Because neither has made a non-concessional contribution (NCC) recently, the three-year bring-forward rule hasn’t yet been triggered. That means John and Jane have a chance to take …
Managing your debt Debt and Cashflow Management Debt is part of modern life. It can be used to help you reach your goals, but only when you are in control of it, not when it is in control of you. It’s easy to build up little bits of debt here and there that don’t appear to amount to much, but can quickly eat into your cash flow. Common questions to consider Some questions you may …
Having the chance to take a step back for a moment and look at things from a fresh perspective can be a great advantage, especially when it comes to planning your financial future. When it comes to managing your finances; knowing when, where and what to do can be quite daunting and complex. Effectively managing your finances requires a sound knowledge of various strategies available and the latest regulations and this is where a financial …
