Stay up to date with what’s happened in the Australian economy and markets over the past month. China’s plans to kickstart its economy after the pandemic shutdown have been dominating the news this month and will have worldwide implications, not the least for Australia. Australian shares were up nearly 8% in January while US stocks … Read more
Retirement is a phase of life most of us look forward to. It’s a chance to pursue other interests, travel and maybe do some part-time work or volunteering. Thanks to more than 30 years of compulsory superannuation, we are retiring with more savings than previous generations but that also brings its challenges. According to the … Read more
It has been an eventful couple of years for first-home buyers from booming property prices to rising interest rates. Cooling market conditions and a reduction in borrowing power means many frustrated purchasers need to pivot their property plans. Despite a widespread dwelling price correction – down –3.5% nationally for the quarter to 30 November – … Read more
Inflation dominated the economic landscape The year began optimistically, as we finally began to emerge from Covid restrictions. Russia threw a curve ball that reverberated around the world and suddenly people who hadn’t given a thought to the Reserve Bank were eagerly waiting for its monthly interest rate announcements. 2022 was the year of rising … Read more
It’s not just school leavers who dream of a gap year. Those of us who’ve been working for a decade or two (or more) may also long for a real break from career and commitments. An adult gap year is a chance to reset and to take stock of what’s important to you. There‘s the … Read more
“At the end of the day, we are accountable to ourselves – our success is a result of what we do” – Catherine Pulsifer It can be both empowering and a little uncomfortable to think that we are responsible for our successes – and failures. Being willing to accept the consequences of our actions, choices … Read more
Holidays should be blissful periods where you can do exactly what you want – usually involving relaxing and enjoying time with loved ones. However, it’s not uncommon to come back even more tense than ever and feeling like you need another vacation after what should have been a lovely break. Here are some ways to … Read more
The festive season is a magical time of year but it’s also a time when it’s easy for your spending to go off the rails. One of the main ways spending can get out of hand at this time of year is when you purchase using buy-now-pay-later (BPNL). Just like any form of credit BPNL … Read more
Quarterly Property Update It took the Reserve Bank just seven months to move the official cash rate from an historic low of 0.10% in April to 2.85% by November. The last time the RBA sent the rate up by 2.75% it took more than six years. Therefore, it isn’t any wonder why home values are … Read more
Sustainable investing isn’t new and is becoming more mainstream. From climate change to gender diversity, more people are aligning their money with their values. In 2021, Australia’s sustainable investment market increased 20 per cent to a record $1.5 trillion. The Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA) 2022 benchmark report found sustainable investments represents 43 per cent … Read more
