Fears of a resurgence in inflation has been the big topic of conversation among bond and share market commentators lately, which may come as a surprise to many given that our rate of inflation is just 1.1 per cent. Yet despite market rumblings, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) appears quite comfortable about the outlook….
After a year when the average superannuation balance fell slightly or, at best, moved sideways, the summer holidays could be a good opportunity to think about ways to rebuild your savings while being mindful of tax. With the Reserve Bank reducing interest rates to record lows and not anticipating a rise until 2024, it’s more…
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…
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…
