According to CoreLogic, house prices in Australian capital cities declined by 0.5% in August, their fourth fall in a row and a record that stands in stark contrast to their steady gains between June last year and April. Average prices have now fallen 2.5% since that peak; however, the pace of decline has slowed in…
If your New Year’s resolution was to spend less time glued to your phone, you’ve probably found that unexpectedly challenging this year. While the impact of COVID-19 differs from state to state, many of us have experienced social isolation and the call to stay and work from home where possible, resulting in an increase in…
They were startled when Penny dropped to the floor and started doing push-ups while in the coffee queue at the local cafe. You’d be surprised too if you knew her age. Penny just turned 68. It was an impromptu demo for a couple of girlfriends – who were both still frozen from awe and disbelief….
It’s a win-win idea. A parent sells their home to move in with their adult child’s family, providing cash for the deposit or renovations and helping with the mortgage and providing free childcare. In return, there’s companionship, care and physical support for the older person. But sometimes these plans go awry, leaving the elderly parent…
Self-managed super funds (SMSFs) have had a challenging year, with COVID-19 linked market uncertainty affecting income and returns. But SMSF trustees haven’t been sitting on their hands. One of the main reasons people give for wanting to establish an SMSF is to have greater control of their investments and taking control of a difficult situation…
The end of financial year on 30 June is a good time to take stock and get your finances in order. Being prepared, reviewing your super contributions and submitting your return on time are good policies every year, but the shadow of COVID-19 (coronavirus) means many of us face unexpected pressures in a changing economic…
If there’s one good thing to come out of this crisis, it’s that we’ve spent less money over the last 10 weeks. Entertainment, eating out, and overall personal expenses were all down. Quietly, we’re sure you’d agree that the low cost of petrol during self-isolation is quite ironic. On the positive, this disruption has given…
While it can be hard to stay in the market when share prices plummet, now is not the time to panic. The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic has triggered a share market crash, in Australia and internationally. Since 31 December 2019, when the first cases of the new virus were reported in China’s Hubei province, the disease…
There’s no denying the COVID-19 coronavirus is impacting the health and wealth of millions of people across the world. But how is it affecting our happiness and ability to manage our mental wellbeing? Especially when we’re physically cut off from friends, family and other social interactions? A recent report from The Lancet1 says studies have shown…
Do you have a plan to deal with your assets and investments when you pass away? Having your estate planning documents in order is what separates a smooth estate distribution from a legal mess. When you pass, you’d like to think that siblings will be there for each other instead of feuding over your belongings….
