Conventional wisdom used to dictate Australians were better paying off their home loans, and then, once debt-free turning their attention to building up their super. But with interest rates at record lows and many super funds potentially offering a higher rate of return, what’s the right strategy in the current market? One thing to consider […]
Being in debt can really wear you down, both financially and emotionally. Whether it’s a single large credit card balance or multiple loans, store and credit cards owing, getting clear of your debts is going to make a big difference to your financial future. To get started on an effective strategy for saying goodbye to […]
An effective way of building your super savings (and potentially reducing your taxable income) is through salary sacrificing – that is, asking your employer to put some of your before-tax income directly into your super fund. The amount you salary sacrifice is on top of the Super Guarantee (SG) contributions your employer must pay which […]
Super is there to provide you with an income when you stop working and it may provide a tax-effective way to save for your retirement over the long-term. What’s probably more interesting, is in time, your super may become one of your largest assets. We don’t often think about that, but it’s a good reason […]
Scams and cybercrime are booming in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving thousands of people out of pocket. Investment scams in particular have surged, costing victims more than $26,000 on average. What is an investment scam and why are they booming? An investment scam involves being conned into parting with money on […]
It could take months, even years, to clear debt – especially if you used your credit card and you know you’ll be slugged with snowballing compound interest each month you don’t pay it off. Things might get worse if another emergency comes up and you don’t have the means to pay for it. Before […]
While society continues to grapple with the factors driving gender and pay inequity, women are proactively turning to investing more than ever before. And in doing so, they are demonstrating a very competent and sensible approach to building up their wealth outside of superannuation. Each year Equal Pay Day, on a date calculated by the […]
It’s been a trying time for many people, with our collective mental health taking a toll as the COVID-19 pandemic rolls on. The Melbourne Institute says one-in-three Australians are now reporting financial stress, while one-in-five are feeling ‘mental distress’. It’s well known that our financial wellbeing and mental health go hand in hand. Severe […]
Whether you breeze through tax time or dread the extra admin, receiving a tax refund makes the effort worthwhile. For many of us, getting a financial boost will be even more welcome this year, and you might be looking around for the best ways to spend it. Plan how you’ll spend your tax refund […]
Buying insurance through super has many advantages, but you need to make sure you are getting the right cover for your individual needs. In some cases, you may be paying for nothing. Most super funds offer life and total and permanent disability (TPD) insurance to fund members and, in some cases, income protection cover. But […]
