Go for Gold
The Olympic Games always provides a platform to marvel at what humans are capable of, as the athletes competing strive to be the fastest, the strongest or just the best, to win gold. While this year may be a little different, the Games still give us the opportunity to be inspired by the remarkable performances of the athletes as they compete.
The passion and discipline in perfecting their craft has propelled these athletes to elite level, so it’s not surprising that many have also found success outside the sporting arena by transferring this focus to new endeavours.
So how can we apply the same determination and focus to achieving success in our everyday lives?
Salary packaging - worth the sacrifice?
Is salary sacrificing for you?
The Value of Advice
An analysis of the "Value of Advice" report comes up with some interesting and surprising facts.
Christmas Message
We are closing in on saying goodbye to 2020 so it is a good time to reflect back on this year and look forward to 2021.
The value of financial advice
This year has been a year like no other with constant change and unpredictability so is it a good time to consider approaching a financial planner and who do you choose?
Futureproof your Family
Life has a habit of throwing us curve balls. Every day in Australia 18 families lose a working parent and a chunk of their future income. That's a strong argument for protecting your loved ones with adequate life insurance.
Understanding your wants (and needs) in retirement
From golfing, to holidays, to spending more time with the grandkids, everyone’s retirement goals are different. It may sound obvious but before thinking how to spend your retirement money, considering your desired outcomes is the first step in deciding what you should do.
As financial planners, we spend considerable time understanding our clients’ objectives and order of priorities before answering the question of “how should I invest?”.
Investing With A Conscience
With ongoing media discussion about climate change & global warming, you might think that Ethical Investing is new to the world of investments. Not so… Ethical Investing is an investment approach which takes into account considerations other than solely the financial return potential of particular investments. An ethical investment might include, for instance, a decision to avoid investing in certain sectors such as...
Is that a driverless car in the fast lane?
Life as we knew it in the 80s and 90s is now ancient history. Today, digital devices in Australia have made the way we communicate, socialise, work and behave just about unrecognisable.
The fact is Aussies are so screen-obsessed that we’re walking and texting, talking and browsing, eating and researching, reading and driving—all at the same time...
Thinking about managing your own super?
There’s a lot to consider when it comes to managing a self managed super fund (SMSF). Setting up a compliant fund and managing your investments takes time and can give you the freedom to have more control over your future. Of course acting as a trustee of an SMSF comes with specific responsibilities. Your SMSF must remain...
Are grandparents giving too much?
For many Australian families the arrow of intergenerational help is pointing in a new direction. Not so long ago, it was the norm for adult children to lend a financial helping hand to their ageing parents. These days, the support is more likely to flow downwards, and grandparents are increasingly likely to provide financial support to their children – and even grandchildren...
The Magic Number: How much is enough in retirement
“How much do I need to retire?” The burning question for many soon-to-be retirees, and as financial planners, the most common question we get asked.
Unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to retirement funding.
The dollar amount we need to retire comfortably is based on a number of variables specific to your needs, so your “magic number” can and will be quite different to someone else’s...
Is 30 too young to be saving for your retirement?
Retirement planning in your 30s is admittedly not something most early 30-somethings think about. But as we move forward and begin to settle down it’s natural to start thinking beyond the here and now.
Your 30s puts you in a unique position from a retirement planning standpoint. By the time you've reached 35, most of us know what we want out of life: where we want to live and our career goals. After working for more than ten years, shockingly retirement isn’t too far away.
3 Tips to Manage Financial Matters in the Last Half of 2015
The new financial year is upon us and some of you may be feeling like nothing is going to plan.
At the beginning of this year, many economists predicted the share market racing past 6000 and interest rates rising. Property was supposed to cool down as unemployment rose. As we now know, these predictions didn’t quite reflect real market situations.
Why accumulating wealth doesn’t always mean buying property
When people start thinking about investing, the first question they ask is “what investment should I buy?” quickly followed by “shouldn’t I buy an investment property?” As the property market continues to heat up, the race to buy an investment property is on. But before rushing into the property market stop and consider the following.
Some of this money could be yours
AUSTRALIANS spend 1.5 hours a day immersed in social media yet half the population has never taken five minutes to conduct a lost super search, new findings show.
Who are the winners and losers from Joe Hockey's second budget?
Last year it was all about belt tightening, have to pay more for essential services and a budget emergency. This year it is encouraging small business to spend up big to kick start the economy and giving families more assistance with childcare...
Five ways to think about risk
If life is comfortable, let's be honest – change/risk won't be on the menu. For many of us, change is the equivalent of taking risks, which explains why so many dislike or fear change. Is stepping into the unknown and taking a risk desirable? It makes good financial sense to ask for specialist advice when it comes to money. Rest easy knowing that you’re not alone. Let us support you every step of the way.
Margin lending can lead to capital loss
The danger in times like these is that investors start thinking they'll last forever. If you've been late to the party or looking to turbocharge your returns, you might consider borrowing to buy shares by taking out a margin loan.