Keeping yourself accountable
January 11, 2023
At the end of the day, we are accountable to ourselves – our success is a result of what we do – Catherine Pulsifer It can be both empowering and a little uncomfortable to think that we are responsible for our successes – and failures. Being willing to accept the consequences of our actions, choices…
How to plan a gap year for grown ups
January 11, 2023
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. It does not even need to be a year – just enough of an extended break to reset and to…
2022 Year In Review
January 11, 2023
The year began on an optimistic note, as we finally began to emerge from Covid restrictions. Then Russia threw a curve ball that reverberated around the world and suddenly people who had never given a thought to the Reserve Bank were waiting with bated breath for its monthly interest rate announcements. 2022 was the year…
What to do if interest rates go up
December 2, 2022
Higher interest rates can present unique opportunities for saving and potential portfolio rebalancing. As inflation continues to challenge the economy, it’s likely we’ll see interest rates rise and economic activity slow. However, that doesn’t have to be cause for panic—higher interest rates can present unique opportunities for saving and potential portfolio rebalancing. What do interest…
Market Movements & Economic Review December 2022
December 1, 2022
Stay up to date with what’s happened in the Australian economy and markets over the past month. The big story on the global economic front continues to be inflation, and how high interest rates will go to tame it. In Australia, Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe is watching consumer spending, where higher interest rates are…
Leave your cares at home when you travel
December 1, 2022
Holidays should be blissful periods where you can do exactly what you want – usually involving relaxing and enjoying time with loved ones. However, it’s not uncommon to come back even more tense than ever and feeling like you need another vacation after what should have been a lovely break. Here are some ways to…
Sustainable investing on the rise
December 1, 2022
Sustainable investing is not new, but in recent years it’s moved from the green fringes into the mainstream. From climate change to animal rights and gender diversity, more people are interested in aligning their money with their values. Last year alone, Australia’s sustainable investment market increased 20 per cent to a record $1.5 trillion. According…
Buying shares for kids: a gift that keeps on giving
December 1, 2022
Many parents and grandparents worry about how to help the children in their lives achieve financial independence. But the value of long-term investment can seem like a dry and complicated idea for kids to get their heads around. In fact, many young people would like to know more about money, according to a Young People and…
Celebrating the festive season, the Aussie way
December 1, 2022
If you’ve ever hosted a visitor from overseas at during the festive season you may have seen them a little bemused by the way we celebrate. It’s quite understandable as we do things a little bit differently down under. Christmas in Australia – while fundamentally a religious festival celebrating the birth of Jesus – is…
Market Movements & Economic Review November 2022
November 2, 2022
Stay up to date with what’s happened in the Australian economy and markets over the past month. Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ first Budget was delivered against a backdrop of continuing turmoil on the global economic front. While the UK’s change in leadership and US reports of scaling back interest rate increases were welcomed by financial markets,…
Catching the kindness bug
October 27, 2022
Australians have seen more than their share of tough times over the past few years and there are many stories of how individuals and communities responded to natural disasters and the pandemic with empathy and valuable assistance. Being kind and helping others does not have to be something that we only do in times of…
How to spot and stop financial abuse
October 27, 2022
Until recently, financial abuse was often kept secret, especially where it occurred within the family. Thankfully that’s changing with public awareness campaigns and help becoming more readily available. The emotional and economic damage caused by financial abuse can be far reaching and devastating. A recent Australian report calculates that in 2020 alone, financial abuse victims…
Federal Budget 2022-23: From a tax perspective
October 27, 2022
Quiet on the tax front, for now For once, tax measures took a back seat in a Federal Budget, with the second version for this year being billed as a “solid and sensible Budget suited to the times”. The October 2022 Budget resisted the recent trend to continually tinker with our tax system, but it…
October 2022-23 Federal Budget Analysis
October 26, 2022
Budget October 2022: sign of the times In his first Budget, Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ emphasised the three Rs – responsible budget repair and restrained spending, right for the times. For good measure, resilience also got a mention with spending targeted at building a more modern economy to deal with the challenges ahead. This is the…
The challenges of market timing
October 21, 2022
When markets fall, it’s natural to want to take action to prevent further losses. Doing so however can do more harm than good. Here’s why timing the market to buy low and sell high is not as easy as it sounds. If you’re invested in the financial markets and also keeping up with the news,…
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