When members of a long-established couple are contemplating divorce or permanent separation, there’s more than the emotional toll to take into account. Ensure you are aware of the potential financial consequences before making this life-changing decision. Dividing assets Couples in their fifties, sixties, or older are likely to have accumulated...
It’s understandable, in today’s tough housing market, that you want to give your children a leg up onto the first rung of the homeowning ladder. But before you do, stop to consider how it’s going to affect your own financial situation in your later years. That doesn’t make you selfish,...
The idea of downsizing can be very appealing to empty-nesters. There will be less cleaning, gardening and maintenance, more time for hobbies and travel, and the icing on the cake comes if you can use the cash surplus you created to give your super a significant tax-effective boost. But is...
When Mike died suddenly and unexpectedly Sally, his wife of over 30 years, was overcome not just with grief, but also with panic. Not only did she lose her best friend and soul mate, Mike had always been the family money manager. While Sally knew they were financially comfortable, in...
The opinion of many people towards debt can be best summed up in the often quoted line from Shakespeare, ‘neither a borrower nor a lender be.’ Yet others will embrace debt as one of the most important tools in their investment arsenal. Of course, successful debt management comes down to...
If you don’t feel prepared for retirement, you’re not alone. Retirement preparedness doesn’t just mean having enough money to leave work but includes emotional challenges like your sense of self and what your future might look like. Set yourself up for a rewarding retirement by meeting the following common challenges,...
You may be one of many Australians who make an interest-free loan to the federal government every year. That’s because, when you receive a tax refund, you’re not getting free money. All that’s happening is that cash which is rightfully yours is being returned, somewhat late. So it makes sense...
We’ve all seen media reports about ordinary Australians losing their entire savings after responding to a phone, email or mail offer that was impossible to resist. While some people may be naïve, scammers are also getting smarter. Financial stings have become a serious threat to Australian consumers and businesses. According...
A year before retirement, Tess’s superannuation plan was on track, and she was imagining her post-work life. With savings of $34,000 at the bank, she was looking to park it somewhere it could earn better interest while rates were rising. Considering herself reasonably savvy with money, she began investigating her...
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