Four timeless principles for investing success

Investing success can mean different things to different people. Being clear on what success means for you is key to mapping out your plan. Although investing can seem perplexing and complex, success is largely within your control. Having a tailored investment strategy can go a long way to reducing the stress and noise associated with … Read more

Combat cost-of-living hikes and keep saving

Cost of living pressures coupled with rate rises have made it more difficult to save for a home deposit and afford the lifestyle you’ve either become accustomed to or are dreaming of. Budget Direct’s Cost of Living Survey & Statistics 2023 found that despite the living cost index for employee households recording its largest quarterly … Read more

Why many retirees are underspending

After accumulating superannuation savings over multiple decades, many retirees are fearful of spending too much. When it comes to life in retirement, many Australians are probably being more frugal than they need to be. And that’s largely built around a fear of running out of their retirement savings before they die – an outcome that’s … Read more

How to protect your finances after redundancy

Understanding your redundancy payout According to ASIC, a redundancy payout can be made up of any of the following: a severance payment an incentive payment a payment in lieu of notice unused annual leave and long service leave. Regardless of its makeup, in most cases you’ll get a lump sum when you finish your role. The amount … Read more

Understanding the new $3m super tax

The much debated tax on superannuation balances over $3 million is inching closer and those who may be affected should ensure they have considered the implications. Although it is not yet law, the Division 296 tax should be taken into account when it comes to investment strategy and planning, particular in relation to any end-of-financial-year … Read more

Securing your passwords online

We spend a lot of time online and don’t often think about the risks involved. Yet if we are not careful, we can make ourselves vulnerable to criminal activity such as hacking, phishing, and identity theft. The annual Cyber Threat Report announced in 2023 a 23% year-on-year increase in cybercrimes in Australia, amounting to a … Read more

Is it time for bonds to shine?

The backstory To say that it’s been a challenging period for bond investors for the best part of a decade, is not an exaggeration. If we cast our minds back to 2008, the world was in a precarious situation as the Global Financial Crisis took effect. Central bankers were busy thinking of ways to avoid … Read more