Blog Articles
Salary sacrifice vs personal contributions to super
If you are an employee, there are two ways in which you can optimise the tax-effectiveness of your additional super contributions. Opt for a salary sacrifice arrangement, whereby your employer makes additional superannuation contributions beyond the compulsory...
Be different today so you can be different tomorrow
Every generation thinks life will be different – and of course, each one is right - but when it comes to planning for the future, while we’re young we have a habit of thinking there is still plenty of time.After all, when you’re in your mid-thirties or even early...
The greatest challenges facing future retirees
Most working Australians aspire to the idea that they’ll reach a point where they can retire debt-free and with enough money in their superannuation fund.Perhaps supplemented by the age pension, to provide them with a comfortable standard of living in retirement. For...
Retire at 65 but don’t retire your money
Australian retirees are facing a ‘double whammy’ when it comes to funding their retirement.On the one hand we, as a nation, are enjoying longer and healthier lives. On the other hand, record low interest rates have slashed the returns on the traditional bedrocks of...
There’s more to shares than numbers on a screen
Whether it’s by direct purchase, via a managed fund or through superannuation, most Australians hold some form of share investment.Many of us are aware that if the numbers in the finance report on the evening news are mostly green that’s good and if they’re red that’s...
How to create savings while paying off debt
Over the past 30 years, Australians' household debt has increased.According to the Reserve Bank of Australia, our household debt-to-income ratio has risen from 70 per cent in the early 1990s to around 190 per cent today. With numbers like this, it's understandable...
Being sensible with Buy Now Pay Later this silly season
Move over debit and credit cards; consumers are flocking to Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) services. Afterpay, Zip Pay and several similar payment solutions allow shoppers to take home their goodies now while paying them off via a few weekly, fortnightly or monthly...
The link between financial stress and mental health
If you’ve ever laid awake at night thinking about your finances you’ll know: financial stress can be debilitating. What you may not be aware of is the strong link between financial stress and mental health. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare,...
Why financial advice may be your best investment
It is commonly assumed that seeking financial advice is for the wealthy, and it only helps the rich become richer, yet financial advice can prove useful to anyone who wishes to better their financial future.Financial advice is like getting a health check-up for your...