Giving your portfolio a caffeine inspired boost

With interest rates likely to fall this year, borrowers could invest some or all of their mortgage repayment savings. Inflation may be coming off its high, but the retail price of coffee isn’t likely to lose any monetary steam. Depending on where you buy, the average cost across Australia of a regular-size takeaway cup of … Read more

Life in retirement keeps getting more expensive

The latest rise in the Age Pension rate still falls short of what many people may need to have a modest lifestyle in retirement. Around 2.58 million Australians received a 1.78% government Age Pension payment boost on March 20 as part of Centrelink’s twice-yearly indexation review. They included the 1.76 million people who receive a … Read more

Credit card balance transfers

A credit card balance transfer is when you move the amount you owe (the balance) to another credit card. The new interest rate on the balance you transfer may be either 0% or a special low rate for a limited time. If you can pay off the balance you transfer within that time, you may … Read more

Where do you put your money when you’re in between investments?

When you think of an investor, what image springs to mind? For many of us it’s a driven day trader, running on adrenalin, hunched over multiple screens, and buying and selling shares frenetically for marginal gains. There certainly are some full-time professional investors out there, sweating every trade. But the reality is, investors come in all shapes and sizes. … Read more

Memory loss, dementia and your money

Memory loss can make it difficult to stay in control of your money. Things like checking bank statements or investments, or paying bills may become challenging. If you’re starting to struggle, it’s time to put some safeguards in place. A few simple steps will help you and your loved ones protect your money and prepare … Read more

Planning financially for a career break

A pause in super contributions can have long-lasting effects. Here’s how to plan ahead for super breaks. There’s a host of reasons why people take career breaks. Having and raising children, or taking an extended holiday or sabbatical, are the most common reasons. Vanguard’s 2023 How Australia Retires study, based on a survey of more than 1,800 … Read more