Blog

Here’s One Thing that all Australians Can Agree to Be Proud of

Here in the land downunder, we are blessed with a very stable economy. That stability is no accident. It is the end result of a lot of thought that has been put into developing institutions and processes that really work.

Student Loans: To Repay or not to Repay?

One of the most common questions we are asked by our younger clients, or the parents of our younger clients, is whether and when to make a voluntary repayment of a Commonwealth Student Loan. Usually, the answer is still no.

How to Save When you are just Getting Started

Different times of life call for different types of financial advice. This week, we start looking at ways to assist young adults in giving themselves the firmest financial footing available.

How’s this for Perfect Timing?

People of a certain age will remember former US Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld describing ‘knowns and unknowns’ way back in 2002. Rumsfeld copped some criticism for what seemed to be a mangling of the English language. But in actual fact, his sentences make perfect sense. And they apply to finance just as well as they apply to global politics.

How to Turn Unknowns into Knowns

Should Mum and Dad be bankers as well?

Recent estimates claim that the ‘Bank of Mum and Dad’ is Australia’s ninth largest lender. Given the state of house prices, this comes as no surprise. Most parents want to help their kids, especially with something as important as buying a home. But it is important that things be done correctly. There is such a thing as ‘the wrong way to help’ when it comes to one generation trying to help another.

Halloween is a good time for… reviewing life insurance!

The best advice anyone ever gave us was to plan our next holiday while still enjoying the current one. There are a bunch of reasons for this. But the main one is that we make the best decisions when we are relaxed and happy.

The Best Time to Think

Would you Like Some Cherries on Top of that Government Payment?

Australia has a generous benefit system, ranging from unemployment benefits to aged and disability pensions. But the cash that the Government provides is not the only way they help. Payment recipients can also claim some additional extras which can also make life a lot easier. And the best news is that sometimes you only need to qualify for a small Government payment in order to access these added extras.

What does a bank know about spending?

Twice a year, Commonwealth benefits are automatically adjusted. In the current high inflation environment, this month’s adjustments are quite substantial.

Pension Payments are Going Up!

Twice a year, Commonwealth benefits are automatically adjusted. In the current high inflation environment, this month’s adjustments are quite substantial.

Wanna Know a Super Secret for Retirement?

What’s the ideal age to retire? We came across some intriguing research recently that shows that people’s ideal retirement age changes as they get closer to actually retiring. And, perhaps surprisingly, the closer we get to leaving work, the more we want to keep working!