Is paying your mortgage off quicker really the best option?
Not so long ago one of the most effective, low risk wealth creation strategies was to use spare savings to pay down a mortgage, either directly or via the well
January 10, 2020
Finances
Work, life, travel – you can do it all!
Michael was twenty-something and eager for adventure when he spotted the advertisement. It read, “Japanese schools seeking English teachers. No experience necessary – we train you.” What followed changed Michael’s
January 6, 2020
Time to reflect
Many people use the Christmas/New Year period to reflect on the year that has just passed, often in a blur, and begin thinking about the future and how to achieve
December 18, 2019
5 ways to benefit from record low interest rates
Interest rates have never been lower, and it’s possible they might fall even further. This creates opportunities for householders and businesses, so how can you best take advantage of low
November 22, 2019
Quarterly Economic Update: July – September 2019
This article summarises the key announcements and important changes to the economy that has occurred over recent months. We touche on interest rate concerns, rising property prices and US-China trade
November 9, 2019
Traps to avoid in retirement – carrying debt into retirement
Increased housing costs and low wage growth are seeing more Australians carry higher levels of debt into retirement. Repaying this debt can place a major drag on retirement cash flows
October 5, 2019
The link between financial stress and mental health
If you’ve ever laid awake at night thinking about your finances you’ll know: financial stress can be debilitating. What you may not be aware of is the strong link between
August 29, 2019
It’s been a volatile time in markets. What should you do?
Times like the present are stressful for investors. No one likes to see their wealth fall and uncertainty seems very high. We don’t have a perfect crystal ball, so from
August 15, 2019
The benefits of investing in yourself
A growing number of Australians are choosing to return to study as mature-age students. Perhaps caught in the hamster-wheel of mortgage and family, furthering their education wasn’t an option when
July 20, 2019
Could a tree-change work for you?
Cleaner air, less traffic, open spaces, lower cost of living…did we mention less traffic? There are any number of reasons to consider a tree change, but if you’re serious about
July 12, 2019
5 small business strategies for kick-starting the financial year
How often do you give your business finances a tidy-up? As another end-of-financial-year rolls by, now is as good a time as any to undertake a bit of housekeeping. The
June 27, 2019
Tax rules do not treat all income equally
Anyone who has completed their own tax return will know that the tax office treats different types of income differently. Bank interest is recorded in one section, dividends from shares
June 20, 2019