What’s all the noise about loud budgeting?

Loud budgeting is a trend that may have started as a joke but is being embraced by those who want to share their financial goals and priorities and in doing so, also improve their chances of achieving them. It was comedian and writer Lukas Battle who bought the term “loud budgeting” to the world in … Read more

Transitioning into retirement: What you should know

If you’re close to retirement, chances are you’ve already spent time thinking about how to tap into your superannuation when you retire. Broadly speaking, you have a few options when you retire, as long as you’ve reached the minimum ‘preservation age’ when you’re allowed to access your super. If you were born after 1 July … Read more

Investment warnings

If you’re considering investing in something everyone is talking about, do some checks first. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Watch out for investment hype Investment hype is where something is widely promoted and creates a lot of buzz. You may hear about it on social media, in the news, … Read more

Paying for your funeral

If you want to protect your family from your funeral costs, there are ways to pay in advance. Check your options to get the best value for money. What funerals cost Funerals can cost from $4,000 for a basic cremation to around $15,000 for a more elaborate burial. A typical funeral will have these costs: … Read more

Debentures, secured and unsecured notes

Companies use debentures, secured and unsecured notes to raise money from investors. They offer fixed interest payments but returns often depend on risky investments. You could lose all your money if the company or investment fails. How debentures, secured and unsecured notes work Companies set the interest rate on the debentures, secured and unsecured notes … Read more

How to end the financial year on a high note

As the financial year draws to a close, it’s the perfect time to review your financial affairs and set the stage for a successful new financial year. By taking care of essential tasks and implementing strategic planning, you can position yourself for a smooth transition and a strong start for the new financial year. Topping … Read more

The advantages of investing early

You may have heard it said, “No risk, no reward.” But did you know that time can actually decrease your risk while increasing your reward? Investing: Risky business? When some people think of investing, they focus on the potential for great rewards—the possibility of picking a winning share that will increase in value over time. … Read more

Preparing your family trust for EOFY

With less than a month to go before the end of the financial year (EOFY) rolls around, some important tasks need to be completed for family trusts. Discretionary trusts (often called family trusts) are the most common trust used in Australia and are generally created to hold and protect family or business assets. Trustees of … Read more

The Magnificent 7: A cautionary investment tale

As a group, these companies have been riding high. But looks can be deceptive. In the 1960 Western movie The Magnificent Seven, a group of American gunmen help defend a small Mexican village from being pillaged by a gang of ruthless bandits. It was a box-office hit, ultimately leading to three sequel movies, a TV series, a … Read more

Living your best life in retirement

If you’re nearing retirement age, it’s likely you’re wondering if you will have enough saved to give up work and take it easy, particularly as cost-of-living increases hit some of the basic expenses such as energy, insurance, food and health costs. Fortunately, someone has already worked out what you might need. The Association of Superannuation … Read more