
How to manage rising interest rates
Rising interest rates are almost always portrayed as bad news, by the media and by politicians of all persuasions. But a rise in rates cuts both ways.
Higher interest rates are a worry for people with home loans and borrowers generally. But…

How to calm those market jitters
It’s been a rocky start to the year on world markets but that doesn’t mean you should hit the panic button. Staying the course is generally the best course, but that’s easier said than done when there’s a big market fall.
In January…

US Election: A House Divided
After a tense few days of vote counting, Joe Biden has been elected the 46th President of the US. The larger story, however, is that the US remains a house divided.
Polarisation has been on the march over recent decades, but the Trump-Biden…

Timing the economic reboot
After successfully navigating our initial response to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) health crisis, backed up by $285 billion in government support to individuals and businesses to keep the economy ticking over, our thoughts are turning to how to…

Hold on … bumpy markets ahead
After period of optimism, global investment markets have hit the panic button on fears about the possible economic impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19).
At times like these, it's good to get some perspective.
Australian shares rose 24…

2020 vision for financial fitness
What better year to have your financial health in tip top shape than the one requiring 20/20 vision! The start of any year is always a good time to assess your financial situation and make sure you are on track to achieving your dreams, but…

Deeming rates changes
It has been four years since the deeming rates changed, but the government has responded announcing a rate cut from July 1, 2019. The lower rate reduces by 0.75 per cent and the upper rate by 0.25 per cent. The new rates announced are:
The…

Property owners: What the 2017 Federal Budget means to you
Although this year’s Federal Budget was a far cry from the wide-ranging super and tax reforms proposed in 2016, there were still some inclusions that could affect your financial position. Several of these initiatives apply to current and future…

Changes to super contribution rules on July 1, 2017
Savvy investors are rushing to make voluntary contributions to their superannuation before the new rules come into effect on July 1. Voluntary contributions to some advised funds have risen sharply in November 2016, up 25 per cent on contributions…

Market Update – December 2015
What have been the major economic events of the past few months?
1. United States
News out of the United States in October was dominated by negotiations over a new funding deal for the government and the debt ceiling and the Federal Reserve…

Legislative Threshold Update – 1 January 2016
Post 1 July 2014 rules
Fees and charges for residents who:
first enter a residential aged care facility on or after 1 July 2014, or
first entered residential aged care before 1 July 2014 and subsequently cease to be provided with care…

Market Update – September 2015
Ask most investors and they will readily tell you that since the beginning of August our local share market has experienced some volatile movements (read ‘falls’) and once again questions are being asked about the ‘safety’ of share markets.
What…

Legislative Threshold Update – 1 July 2015
This provides a summary of the fees and charges that apply to home care and residents of residential aged care facilities.

Market Update – June 2015
Market Update: What have been the major economic events of the past few months?