Key Points The banking system is the main channel through which monetary policy impacts the economy. Higher interest rates over the past year have negatively impacted lending and banking profits which increases bank funding costs and can lead to weaknesses in specific organisations with existing vulnerabilities (like overexposure to lending in a specific industry) which … Read more
It’s not just school leavers who dream of a gap year. Those of us who’ve been working for a decade or two (or more) may also long for a real break from career and commitments. An adult gap year is a chance to reset and to take stock of what’s important to you. There‘s the … Read more
The latest earning season proves that company dividend payouts are choppy. Casting your net wider will help capture broader income returns. If you own shares in one or more listed Australian companies, you may have been keeping an eye on the latest round of corporate earnings announcements. Earnings season is the equivalent of “peak hour” … Read more
Retirement is a phase of life most of us look forward to. It’s a chance to pursue other interests, travel and maybe do some part-time work or volunteering. Thanks to more than 30 years of compulsory superannuation, we are retiring with more savings than previous generations but that also brings its challenges. According to the … Read more
As we age, we may require additional support to maintain our independence and quality of life. For many seniors, this can involve accessing home care services that help with daily tasks like cooking, cleaning, and personal care. One way to access more comprehensive home care services is by applying for a higher level home care … Read more
The Reserve Bank has expressed concerns over how some borrowers on low fixed-rate mortgages will cope once their loan expires. Incremental home loan interest rate hikes have been eating into the household budgets of millions of Australians ever since the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) began lifting its official cash rate in May 2022. This … Read more
Superannuation has dominated recent headlines, with proposed changes announced by Treasurer Jim Chalmers. While the details of these changes still need to be released, it’s worthwhile turning our focus to superannuation balances as we approach the end of financial year. There are lots of different ways to top up your super, but if you want … Read more
It’s fair to say that COVID took a toll on the working habits of Australians. Deep into lockdown and we were all getting slightly frayed around the edges. We knew we were all in this together. But we couldn’t help looking around and comparing our situation with those of friends and family in other walks … Read more
These days, most people hold some form of life insurance in their super account. While this is a welcome safety net, the level of cover held this way is often inadequate. A Rice Warner study back in 2020 found that life cover within superannuation only met about 65-70 per cent of actual need.i With the … Read more
If you’ve had interrupted income, or just haven’t been in a position to put as much into super as you’d like, catch-up concessional contributions may provide an opportunity to top up at a more convenient time. You won’t always be in a position to put money into your super. You might be taking time off … Read more
It’s no secret that scammers are getting more sophisticated. As this is an ever-evolving space, scammers are constantly developing new ways to part you with your hard-earned cash – and they cast their net wide. While it’s easy to think “it will never happen to me”, people who never expected to be victims of scams … Read more
Preparing for loss of capacity or death is vital for SMSF members. It’s important to ensure your trust deed is watertight. There are more than 600,000 self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs) in Australia, managing close to $900 billion of assets on behalf of over a million Australians. Each SMSF’s trust deed is legally required to set … Read more
