What is a term deposit and how does it work? Term deposits offer certainty of return, with a fixed interest rate for a given length of time. Here’s how they work and how they compare with other ways to save. Term deposits are a type of savings account where you commit your money for a fixed period of time. They can be useful when you’re looking for certainty about what interest rate your money will earn. …
Market Update 3 April 2020 Investment markets and key developments over the past week Coronavirus concerns continued to create volatility in investment markets over the past week, but the good news is that it remains both up and down volatility on a day to day basis as opposed to straight down as was the case up until a couple of weeks ago. US, European and Japanese shares gave up some of their gains from the previous …
Market Update 27 March 2020 Investment markets and key developments over the past week After 30% plus falls from their highs earlier this year, share markets had a welcome rebound over the last week. While the number of coronavirus cases continues to soar and economic data beyond China is now starting to show the huge impact from the shutdowns, share markets managed to rebound because a lot of bad news had already been factored in and …
How to retire early Whether you choose or need early retirement, having a plan can give your money the best chance of lasting the distance. Whether lifestyle preferences or circumstances beyond your control are behind your decision to retire early, you’ll need to make a plan to help your retirement savings last, while still enjoying a few of your favourite comforts in life. Here are some retirement planning tips to consider when thinking about retiring …
Under 40 and broke: Why young people need financial advice more than ever With increasing debt and falling home ownership among the under 40s, their financial prospects are less than rosy. If this trend is set to continue, young people are going to be needing financial advice more than ever to help them make the best choices for a secure future. There’s been a lot of talk in recent years about how much better off …
Five important issues to consider before tying the knot Before your big day, much of the financial talk may have been around budgeting for your wedding and planning your honeymoon. But while not nearly as exciting, there’s another vital part of your new partnership that should be considered: your future finances. Finances can be one of the biggest sources of stress and tension in a marriage. However, open communication and careful planning now can help you avoid …
Is this your year to retire? If you’ve got retirement in your sights this year, we’ve got the ultimate checklist to help you retire in style. Discover how to prepare for this exciting new chapter in your life, safe in the knowledge that your finances will be taking care of you. 1. Explore your goals and make plans Enjoying retirement to the full isn’t just a matter of money. It’s just as important to have …
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 …
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 …
Handy hints to create a better budget for you Nearly two out of five Aussies believe budgeting is too much effort, but these quick tips could make it a simpler task. Around 75% of Aussies will be going into 2018 with no specified budget, according to a survey by AMP, which—reality check—is probably going to make achieving financial goals, whether it’s getting out of debt, going on that long-overdue holiday, or saving for something big, a little …
