For the most part, paying off your mortgage quicker makes sound financial sense. But there are times where it may be wise to put extra money towards a different goal: Paying off ‘bad’ debt first Paying off ‘bad’ debt first – some debts, such as a personal loan or credit cards, have a higher interest … Read more
A helpful guide to understanding the basics of super. Superannuation, commonly known as ‘super’, is money set aside while you’re working so you’ll have money for retirement. Your money is put into a fund, where it’s invested on your behalf by a trustee, to help you earn returns and grow your savings. The amount of … Read more
Worrying about your finances can take a real toll on your mental health. With many people experiencing financial stress, we look at what you can do to improve your financial (and mental) wellbeing. According to the Melbourne Institute, one-in-three Australians are now reporting financial stress, while one-in-five are feeling ‘mental distress’. The Melbourne Institute also found … Read more
While you may have been putting off the money talk with your partner, matters of the bank account are very important. In fact, discussing your finances with a long or short-term partner, can save you uncomfortable conversations down the track, especially when you start to manage money together. While you don’t necessarily need to know … Read more
Losses to imposter bond investment scams have nearly tripled in the first half of this year with consumers losing over $20 million to these sophisticated scams. Imposter bond scams usually impersonate real financial companies or banks and claim to offer government/Treasury bonds or fixed term deposits. People often fall victim to them after searching online … Read more
People who have been financially stressed in the past are often able to recover through changes to their behaviour and mindset. Here are some suggestions of things you could do which may help you to improve how you feel financially. Create a budget that works for you When it comes to creating a budget, try … Read more
Key points Share markets remain under pressure from high inflation, rising rates and bond yields and the rising risk of recession and the threat that poses to company profits. With the rising risk of global recession, global and Australian shares are at high risk of further falls in the short term. However, it’s not all … Read more
You may have heard about socially responsible investing – or possibly sustainable investing. Whatever the name, here’s what it means in practice. We spend a large part of our lifetime saving for retirement, with around 10 per cent of our pay packet heading straight for our superannuation fund. It’s little wonder then that we take … Read more
It’s impossible to ignore the issue of climate change in 2022. And certainly, if you’re invested in the markets, you wouldn’t want to. One reason to pay close attention could be that you hope to invest in line with your beliefs and values, supporting those carbon-reduction and environmentally sustainable practices and solutions that will help … Read more
Australians lost a record amount of more than $2 billion to scams in 2021, despite government, law enforcement, and the private sector disrupting more scam activity than ever before, the ACCC’s latest Targeting Scams report reveals. The report compiles data from Scamwatch, ReportCyber, major banks and money remitters, and other government agencies, and is based … Read more