In a world full of financial noise—market forecasts, interest rate speculation, economic headlines—it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and steady the ship by doing… nothing. But as Ursula Boorman, Managing Director of Direct Advisers, puts it: “Inaction feels safe, but it’s often one of the riskiest choices you can make. Let your money work for you—not…
How to develop an estate planning strategy to deal with your assets in the event of your death. Estate planning involves developing a strategy to deal with your assets after you die – the legal instruments and structures, such as a will, you put in place to transfer your assets in the event of death….
Sweeping reforms to aged care are set to begin on 1 November to help improve the quality, transparency and flexibility of care. With more care levels, clearer pricing, and greater control over how your funding is used, the new system aims to better match services to individual needs. Providers will be required to offer detailed cost…
The best time to start planning for retirement is yesterday. But the second-best time? Today. About two-thirds of Australians retire earlier than they anticipated because of unexpected events such as job loss or redundancy, they need to care for a family member, have a sudden illness or injury, problems at work or a partner’s decision…
After a five-year freeze, deeming rates are set to increase on 20 September 2025. For some older Australians, this may not be a welcome change. An increase in deeming rates increases assessable income for Centrelink and Veterans’ Affairs, which may reduce entitlements and/or increase aged care fees. But for many people, the impact may not…
The bad news for savers relying on income returns is set to continue Australia’s underlying level of inflation is continuing to fall, and which paved the way for another official interest rate cut when the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) board met earlier in the month. It was welcome news for borrowers, but not for…
As the chill of winter begins to lift and the warmer months approach, there’s a natural sense of renewal in the air. Just as we might open the windows and shake off the winter dust, it’s also a good time to check in on your mental and physical well-being, especially as we get older, approach…
Take a sec to check Scammers aim to take advantage of weak security and plan on you being distracted with everyday life. To keep yourself safe: Always be aware of what information you share. If a scammer gets your personal information they can use it to access your bank account, sign in to your myGov…
For clients holding older, asset test-exempt superannuation pensions, known as legacy pensions, there are significant changes ahead. These pensions, once popular for their generous Centrelink treatment, have long been difficult to alter without risking unintended financial consequences. But recent government updates have created a window of opportunity, along with a clear warning: don’t move too…
Self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs) have long been associated with older Australians and small business owners looking for greater control over their retirement savings. But recent data suggests the sector is undergoing a quiet transformation. Alongside tax reforms and persistent compliance challenges, younger people are slowly moving into the SMSF space. While 85 per cent of…