Before you say ‘I do’, talk about your finances with your partner. Not getting married, but in a relationship? See relationships and money for useful tips. If COVID-19 has impacted your wedding plans, the ACCC’s explains your rights when it comes to cancellations and refunds. Manage the wedding whirlwind The average Australian wedding costs $36,000. According to a Moneysmart survey, 82% of... View Article
A balancing act Billed as a Budget for families with a focus on relieving short-term cost of living pressures, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg’s fourth Budget also has one eye firmly on the federal election in May. At the same time, the government is relying on rising commodity prices and a forecast lift in wages as unemployment heads towards a 50-year low... View Article
After weeks of escalating tension and US statements that Russia will attack, Ukraine is now under invasion. As the world watches on while the tragedy of war unfolds, what will the impact on financial markets be? Russia’s military action in Ukraine is first and foremost a human tragedy. Many lives will be lost, and people’s homes, livelihoods, and families destroyed.... View Article
Buying your first home is always a big step, but with property prices rising faster than pay packets taking that first step seems more challenging than ever. National house prices rose 20 per cent in the year to September, the fastest growth since 1989. Higher prices have also fanned out from capital cities to the regions, as city folk discover... View Article
After a difficult year of COVID disruptions and uncertainty, the summer holidays can’t come quickly enough. It’s a chance to refresh and reflect on the year that was and hopefully set some goals for year ahead. Yet this year more than most, many of us may feel that our personal and financial priorities have shifted depending on our experience of... View Article
There are no prizes for guessing what dominated the economic landscape in 2021. For the second year running, the pandemic was the focus for policy makers, markets, businesses, and individuals alike. The year began with hopes that the rollout of vaccines around the globe would stem the spread of COVID-19 and allow economies to reopen. Instead, most countries were hit... View Article
When the coronavirus pandemic hit financial markets in March 2020, almost 40 per cent was wiped off the value of shares in less than a month.i Understandably, many investors hit the panic button and switched to cash or withdrew savings from superannuation. With the benefit of hindsight, some people may be regretting acting in haste. Although for others, accessing their super... View Article
When it comes to setting financial priorities, medium-term goals often suffer from middle child syndrome, not taken as seriously as the oldest or indulged as much as the youngest. The serious long-term goal of saving for retirement gets lots of attention, and rightly so. It’s super important. And next year’s trip to Bali will be so much fun, even if... View Article
With tax cuts and stimulus payments on the way, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg is urging us to open our wallets and spend to kick start the national economy. But if your personal balance sheet could do with a kick along, then saving and investing what you can, also makes sense. One positive from this COVID-19 induced recession, is that it has... View Article
After successfully navigating our initial response to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) health crisis, backed up with $285 billion in government support to individuals and businesses to keep the economy ticking over, thoughts are turning to how to get the economy back on its feet. It’s a huge task, but Australia is better placed than most countries. Pre-pandemic, our Federal Budget was... View Article