In this issue:
- Golden rules of investing
- Transition to retirement – still a smart move
- Turn your passion into your profession
It’s February and while the hot weather continues it’s back to business for most of us, with summer holidays, tennis and cricket over for another year. This is a perfect time to revisit your New Year’s resolutions and put all your good intentions to work for the remainder of 2018.
For the first time in a decade all the world’s top economies are growing. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasts the global economy will expand 3.9 per cent in 2018, the fastest rate in eight years, up from 3.7 per cent last year. US growth is expected to reach 2.9 per cent this year on the back of tax cuts. The Eurozone, Japan and some emerging economies such as Brazil are also tipped to gather steam this year.
The forecast for Australia is unchanged at 2.9 per cent. On the upside, local jobs grew for the 15th straight month in December although the unemployment rate rose from 5.4 per cent to 5.5 per cent as more people entered the market. Retail sales were up 1.2 per cent in November, or 2.9 per cent over 12 months, and consumer confidence remains high. After hitting a 4-year high mid-January, the weekly ANZ/Roy Morgan consumer confidence index dipped 3.3 per cent as a potential NSW rail strike and power blackouts in some states dampened spirits, before lifting 1.3 per cent in the final week to 120.9, well above the long-term average. The Australian dollar rose from US76.5c mid-December to above US81c in January, which no doubt pleased Aussie travellers.
Golden rules of investing
At first glance, investing can seem daunting. So much complex information and so little time to absorb and act on it when you’re busy getting on with life. It’s little wonder that so many of us put it in the too hard basket for longer than is good for our wealth.
The good news is that investing doesn’t need to be hard. The basic rules of investing are surprisingly simple and timeless…Read more
Transition to retirement – still a smart move
They say 60 is the new 40. And while it’s true that today’s over-50s are healthy and active for longer than previous generations, many in this position begin to dream about scaling back their work commitments so they can start ticking off their bucket list. You may want the flexibility to travel more, volunteer or take up a hobby. Perhaps you want…Read more
Turn your passion into your profession
There’s a famous quote, usually attributed to Mark Twain – “Find a job you enjoy doing, and you’ll never have to work a day in your life”. It’s definitely a romantic way to think about one’s profession. There’s no doubt that people who genuinely look forward to going to work and embracing the day’s challenges are happier, more fulfilled, and more successful in terms of their career paths…Read more
