For some, the thought of a mid-life crisis may bring to mind quirky Steve Carell comedies like Crazy Stupid Love or The 40-Year-Old Virgin. But if you or a loved one are actually going through something that resembles one, you probably have fewer reasons to chuckle. A mid-life crisis is a transition where you might start to question…
Be suspicious of anyone that offers you easy money. Scammers are skilled at convincing you that the investment is real, the returns are high and the risks are low. But there’s always a catch. How to spot an investment scam There are three main types of investment scams: The investment offer is completely fake. The…
Women are entering retirement with significantly less superannuation and personal savings than men – leading to a growing class of women living out their golden years in poverty. We explore how the gender pay gap is adding to this growing epidemic. While most people have heard of the ‘gender pay gap’ (GPG), many of us…
Your 60s are the time in which you’re most likely to retire – according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, of the Aussies who are planning their retirement, the average age they intend to retire is 65.5 years. But just because you’re getting close to retirement age, doesn’t mean you can afford to stop being…
What does investing sustainably mean? Investing sustainably, also known as ESG investing, is a growing trend within Australia. ESG stands for Environmental, Social and Governance, and represents the non-financial factors that define how responsible an investment is -and therefore how risky or appealing a prospect is to an investor. Examples of ESG criteria might include:…
Like most people, no doubt you have seen the headlines surrounding the case of missing person Melissa Caddick. The issues surrounding Ms Caddick’s disappearance and the business where it is alleged she was using millions of dollars of clients money to fund her lavish lifestyle are still under investigation. This case is a timely reminder to anyone…
We keep seeing the B word. Global markets have risen to record highs since the sharp falls we saw last March. Large technology stocks have had a particularly strong run. So, are we in bubble territory? And what, if anything, can investors do about it? To a hushed audience, the sage central banker adjusted his…
After spending their working life building retirement savings, many retirees are often reluctant to eat into their “nest egg” too quickly. This is understandable, given that we are living longer than previous generations and may need to pay for aged care and health costs later in life. But this cautious approach also means many retirees…
Whether it’s through inheritance or marriage breakdown, women often come into large sums of money. Sadly, this sudden wealth is frequently accompanied by a need to be generous to other family members when really, we should be focusing on our own financial security and independence. “Women are over-represented in poverty statistics” While no adult should…
It’s an uncomfortable truth, knowing that one day we will pass away. No-one likes to think about the distress it will cause their loved ones or what kind of burden they’ll be left with. That’s why death is often considered a taboo topic of conversation, along with money and politics. When you pass away, hospitals…
