For every action there is a reaction. And while we’re not criticising the government’s policy response to COVID-19, we recognise that such intervention often has unintended consequences. Take lower interest rates for instance. Central banks intended to make the cost of investment cheaper and be stimulatory. Instead, Australian households borrowed more money to buy bigger…
The recent sell-off on global sharemarkets due to the economic impact of COVID-19 has highlighted the risks of depending too heavily on a single asset class. Even before the current crisis, the ATO was concerned about a minority of self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs) with up to 90 per cent of their money in a single…
Hugh recently chatted with Matt Johnson of The New Daily to give some frank advice on mortgages Excerpt below — Centaur Financial Services managing director Hugh Robertson said it was unsurprising more of his clients asked about refinancing since Australia’s coronavirus lockdown began. “When times get bad, we want to look at where all our…
The COVID-19 pandemic has shifted our day-to-day lives in a dramatic way. One of the biggest changes to come from this period, was a transition to working from home for many people. On top of this adjustment, parents had the additional challenge of monitoring remote schooling for their children. Social interactions were severely reduced and…
It always takes some planning to get your finances in order for the end of financial year, and this year may look a little different, come June 30. The COVID-19 pandemic may have impacted your circumstances and therefore your situation could be looking different to normal. Perhaps you have been working from home, your wages…
We’ve all read internet fake news and passed down family stories about common retirement “rules of thumb”. Google the word “retirement” and you’ll get 748,000,000 results in 0.65 seconds. It’s no wonder there’s so much confusion. There’s rarely a one-size-fits-all solution to planning for retirement. So, don’t buy into the hype, stick to the fundamentals…
At a time of uncertainty about the economy, not to mention unexpected social isolation, people are rethinking their personal and financial priorities. Whether you are spending less by necessity or because you are living more simply at home, this could be a good time to reassess your spending and review your household budget. Our spending…
Hugh sat down for a chat with Noel Lord, Head of Retail Sales and Channel Development at MetLife Australia to discusses how COVID-19 has impacted the way he and his team work and engage with customers. “Good morning everybody, and welcome to the MetLife podcast series. My name’s Noel Lord, and my guest this morning…
Hugh recently chatted with Matt Johnson of The New Daily to weigh in on the redraw v offset account saga. Excerpt below — Centaur Financial Services managing director and financial adviser Hugh Robertson said the saga highlighted the low levels of financial literacy around both options. “If you talk to the majority of people, they…
Have you ever gone through a major life event that forced you to start again? For some, it’s a scary time filled with change, anxiety and confusion. But it doesn’t have to be that way. You’re human and starting over is not something you have to do alone. That’s what bouncing back is all about….
The Morrison Government’s mind-bogglingly large support packages to get Australians through the COVID-19 shutdown have dominated headlines, and rightly so. Only months ago, the Australian economy was in relatively good shape and headed for a Budget surplus. It’s not just the Government that has swung into action. Behind the scenes, the Reserve Bank of Australia…
The federal government has been releasing details of financial support available to Australians who have lost income due the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. A huge number of us have been affected in some way and many have been left feeling stressed and confused about what to do to keep afloat. Although concern about…
“In the rush to return to normal, use this time to consider which parts of normal are worth rushing back to…” Many people around us have been using this time to consider the kind of world they hope to live in. The values they wish to see and the aspects they hope to leave behind….
Have you received an unexpected email or text asking you to ‘confirm’ personal details by clicking on a link or opening an attachment? It could be an attempt to steal your information for financial gain. Identity theft is on the rise, so it’s important to know how to protect yourself. It’s hard to believe people…
Global economic activity has grounded to a halt, prompting fears the world is in for a re-run of The Great Depression. While there might be similar scenes, the parallels are not as strong as you may think. Without a doubt, countries worldwide are in for sharp, deep recessions as they rightly sacrifice economic growth in…
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