What is diversification?

What is diversification? Diversifying your investments will reduce their risks and volatility, but what does it involve? Often described as “not putting all your eggs in one basket”, diversification is crucial to reducing the volatility of investing. It’s about spreading your risks. We know that the markets for different asset classes – such as bonds, shares, property or infrastructure – can go up and down for many reasons, but they usually don’t move in exactly the same way. While one market …

Investment 101: what are your options?

Investment 101: what are your options? Nobody has a crystal ball to look into the future, but it’s important to have a general understanding of how investing works so you can build your assets for financial security. And it doesn’t hurt to know your options and be aware of potential associated risks and returns. Investment 101: what are your options? Risky business You may have heard the term “risk” mentioned when it comes to investing, but …

What are managed funds?

What are managed funds? You’ve probably heard friends or family say they have invested in managed funds, but what are these, how do they work and are they right for you? What is a managed fund? A managed fund is run by a professional fund manager, who pools together money from individual investors to invest in assets. There are many types of managed funds. Each will have a specific investment objective, usually focused on different asset …

Is it better to buy an investment property or home first?

Is it better to buy an investment property or home first? There’s a lot to consider when buying an investment property or home, especially for the first time. Have you been saving for a long time and feel ready to get into the property market? Maybe you’re considering buying a home to live in or investing in a property you can rent out to somebody else. Either way, it’s worth knowing some more about both …

What is an asset class?

What is an asset class? If you are starting to invest, you are sure to come across the term “asset class”. Don’t panic! You’ve probably heard of the different asset classes under their real names: cash, bonds, property and shares. An asset class is simply a group of investments that share similar characteristics, behave similarly in the market and are subject to the same rules and regulations. Most importantly, each asset class comes with different …

The lowdown on rentvesting

The lowdown on rentvesting It’s been a hot topic for the media in the wake of our property boom. But is rentvesting really a magic bullet for securing your financial future? Find out if this rent-for-life and get rich strategy is all it’s cracked up to be. When dinner party discussions get around to the subject of getting rich, property investing is bound to come up. Thanks to a sustained boom in property prices in Australia[1], real …

Has the housing bubble burst?

Has the housing bubble burst? In some states the property market is up, while in others it’s down – if you’re confused by what’s really happening to Australian house prices, read on. Driven by falling markets in Sydney and Melbourne, national house prices fell 0.1% in May, according to figures from property analytics group Core Logic. For the year from 31 May 2017 to 31 May 2018, prices were down 0.4% marking the first annual fall …

Retirement and your mental health

Retirement and your mental health It can be hard to stay engaged and keep a positive outlook in retirement, but advances in technology can help enormously. For example, if you are interested in volunteering, websites such as Good Company can instantly put you in touch with hundreds of opportunities, charities and individual projects. Or other options such as renting out a spare room on Airbnb or driving for Uber will not only contribute to keeping you more connected, you can also …

What are “returns”?

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 …

Will you be renting in retirement?

Will you be renting in retirement? Is owning your home the best option for your senior years? Discover why renting in retirement could be on the rise and explore some advantages of being a tenant in later life. Being secure in a home you own is usually part of the picture – and costs – of life in retirement. In fact, Retirement Standard figures published by the Association of Superannuation Funds Australia (ASFA) are based on the assumption …