One of the hardest decisions for many people – excluding those who want to keep on working – is choosing when to stop. There’s no mandated retirement age as such, although there are prescribed preservation ages when people can legally access all or some of their superannuation funds. Anyone turning 59 on or before 30…
The festive season is a time of joy and celebration but, for some, it can also lead to a financial hangover in the New Year. Overspending on gifts, parties, and decorations can quickly add-up, leaving us with unwanted debt in the New Year. In 2022, Australians spent more than $66.7 billion during the pre-Christmas sales…
Every retirement is unique. Maybe dining out isn’t your thing, but you couldn’t bear to give up your weekly exercise classes. Figuring out how much you can spend in retirement requires planning. And knowing what you can afford to safely spend, based on the savings you have, will also help you to identify any gaps…
Diversification is an investment strategy that lowers your portfolio’s risk and helps you get more stable returns. You diversify by investing your money across different asset classes — such as shares, property, bonds and private equity. Then you diversify across the different options within each asset class. For example, if you buy shares, you buy…
Preparing to retire is emotional and practical. Making a retirement plan can help you manage your finances, and cope better as your life and priorities change. Make a retirement plan Your retirement plan can be simple or detailed. Include: Think about when you want to retire There’s no set age you need to be to…
Life is filled with changes. But with preparation and good advice, you may be able to manage the changes more effectively to minimise the stress. Watching your spouse’s health decline can be difficult and stressful. And if this decline results in a move to aged care, you will both be faced with a lot of…
Taking control of your finances starts with your super. As we battle rising interest rates, cost of living pressures and a general COVID-related economic hangover, it’s fair to say that financial stress is affecting most Australians, regardless of age, background or gender. But the reality is that Australian women are feeling the pinch more than…
Second marriages may present additional financial challenges when balancing day-to-day expenses with implications for aged care funding. You may not share finances equally, but Centrelink/DVA will assess your obligations as if you do. Life is full of ups and downs. You might have been unlucky and lost a spouse but then been lucky to find…
If you’d like your money to make a difference to the world as well as your future, responsible investing may be for you. Almost 9 in 10 (89%) Australians feel it’s important their financial institution invests responsibly and ethically across the board1. Ethical, social and governance (ESG) investments accounted for $1,281 billion, or 40%, of…
The recently released Intergenerational Report highlights trends and impacts over the next 40 years and highlights the significant impact of an ageing population. A major theme in the recent Intergenerational Report was the impact on Australia’s economy and society of an ageing population, which will lead to a rising demand for aged care over the…