Finite resources, and the need to consider the impact of the climate in fulfilling needs from water, food and energy supply, has opened opportunities for companies to offer alternative or sustainable solutions. Investing based on climate or environmental concerns is a growing space, and typically factored in the broader sphere of sustainable investments. Environmental and [...]
Australians are living longer and if you hang up your work boots at, say, age 65 and live to age 90, you need to plan for the possibility of a quarter of a century in retirement. That’s a wonderful thought! But will your money last the distance Understanding your current financial position A good starting [...]
There is no doubt that interest in responsible investments is growing. Not only in Australia but globally, investors are increasingly interested in how a company makes its money not simply how much it makes. Whilst some investors may focus on the longer-term viability of a company and its behavior, others may hold particular values they [...]
Financial discussions during divorce tend to focus on dividing assets and cash, but managing your insurance is an area which can make a big difference for you and your family. Over 40% of Australian marriages fail, with nearly half of these involving families with young children1. While insurance protection may have been something that both [...]
In the 2017 Federal Budget, the Government announced a proposal which is designed to encourage older Australians to free up housing stock and access equity in their home for their needs. The legislation for this proposal was introduced into Parliament on 7 September 2017 and is now law. These new measures allow a person aged 65 or older [...]
In 2010, Wendy was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, an incurable and debilitating condition that changed her life overnight. At the time of her diagnosis, Wendy, then 47, was loving life, enjoying peak career success working for a pharmaceutical company, and a newfound romance with David, a lovely man she had met six months earlier. At first, Wendy [...]
You probably have a good idea of who you’d like to give your hard-earned assets when you’re gone. Making a will can help ensure your assets are distributed the way you want. Many people see making a will as something to do when they have children or other dependents to worry about. After all, they [...]
Australia’s household debt is among the highest in the world and rising, thanks largely to worsening housing affordability and plentiful consumer credit. So how do we measure up and should we be worried? Most global comparisons measure total household debt as a percentage of net income. At last count, Australia’s household debt to income was [...]
In investment terms, “diversification” refers to the process of allocating your savings in a way that reduces your exposure to any one particular asset, asset class or risk. In turn, diversification can lead to a reduction in the overall level of risk or volatility associated with your investment portfolio. Of course, the old adage [...]
Australians buying their first home or downsizing in retirement are about to receive a helping hand thanks to new superannuation rules which come into effect on July 1. From that date, first home buyers will be able to contribute up to $30,000 into their super fund towards a home deposit while downsizers can put up [...]
