New aged care act: what you need to know
Sweeping reforms to aged care are set to begin on 1 November to help improve the quality, transparency and flexibility of care. With more care levels, clearer pricing, and greater control over how your funding is used, the new system aims to better match services to individual needs. Providers will be required to offer detailed cost […]
Understanding Australian dividend franking credits
A simple guide for investors and pensioners Australia’s latest dividends stream was flowing strongly recently as many listed companies and exchange traded funds (ETFs) collectively paid out income returns directly to their investors. The bulk of those payments were the dividends that were declared in August during the latest company reporting season and related to […]
Cheap school holidays
When school holidays come along, there are plenty of cheap and cheerful things to do. Hanging out at home With some planning and creative thinking, there are ways to keep your kids busy at home. Art and craft Look around the house for things to use for art and craft activities. Anything from making sock […]
SMSF schemes
Risks of entering into a scheme An SMSF is a trust generally run for the sole purpose of providing retirement benefits to its members. Generally, it’s illegal for anyone to benefit from the SMSF outside this arrangement. Individuals are being targeted to start an SMSF for a range of inappropriate and illegal reasons, such as: […]
What the proposed super tax changes could mean for you
The federal government has announced updates to its plan to reduce tax concessions on superannuation investment earnings for Australians with balances over $3 million. While the proposal is yet to be legislated, several key changes have been introduced. What’s changing? The revised proposal excludes unrealised capital gains, meaning only realised gains including profits from the […]
Ways to fast track paying off your mortgage
Owning your home outright might feel like a far-off dream, especially if you’re grappling with cost-of-living increases – but with a few smart financial strategies, it could become a reality sooner than expected. Paying off your loan faster doesn’t have to mean overhauling your lifestyle or making huge sacrifices. In fact, many people make real […]
How much super should I have?
How much super should I have is a common question. But when it comes to how much super (or other savings) you’ll need for retirement there’s no single right number – because everyone’s retirement looks different. It depends what your big costs are likely to be, and what sort of lifestyle you want. No matter […]
The hunt for yield is on again. But not all yields are the same.
Low interest rates have intensified the search for higher income returns Noted in a recent article, Australian households are now holding record amounts of cash. Reserve Bank data shows the weighted average interest rate being paid on term deposit amounts up to $10,000 held in authorised deposit-taking institutions (ADI) such as banks and credit unions […]
How changes to deeming rates could affect your pension payments
What the end to the deeming freeze means for Age Pensioners If you receive the Age Pension, changes that came into effect on 20 September could affect your payments. Deeming rates used by the government to estimate the income pensioners earn from savings and investments have been frozen since May 2020. But recently changed. These […]
Are you a glass-half-full or glass-half-empty investor?
When you think about the markets, do you see promise or peril? Are you the type to believe the glass is half-full, or do you focus on the half that is not there? Your investing outlook can shape your decisions, influence your risk tolerance, and impact your long-term results. But which approach truly works best? […]
