Small businesses across the country will be looking for ways to reduce costs amid cost of living and rising price pressures. Economic challenges are expected to continue into the 2024 financial year, from inflation and supply chain lags to higher interest rates and reduced consumer spending. Businesses will need to keep a close eye on … Read more
It’s a challenging time for household finances right now. Interest rates are rising as the Reserve Bank of Australia increases the cash rate to put the brakes on inflation, and flat wage growth means household incomes have not been keeping pace with cost-of-living increases. The best way to deal with uncertain times, is to be … Read more
An understanding of the risk and return characteristics of various asset classes is vital to the portfolio construction process. When constructing a portfolio, having an asset allocation that encompasses a wide range of different investments is an important factor for long-term investment success. But as the number of investment products and variations available to investors … Read more
If you are looking to buy property in the near future there are a lot of numbers you’ll be keeping track of – how much deposit you are saving for, how much you can borrow, how much to allow for closing costs, a figure for your total overall budget, as well as how much your … Read more
We all approach decision making in our own way, making a multitude of decisions every day: ‘Should I hit snooze again on the alarm?,’ ‘Do I take the train to work, or do I drive,’ ‘What should we have for dinner?’ In fact, researchers estimate that the average adult makes 35,000 decisions every day.i While … Read more
In the same way finding a balanced lifestyle is conducive to good health, finding balance in an investment portfolio gives investors the healthiest chance of achieving their long-term goals. Having a diversified mix of assets is essential because it mitigates market volatility and reduces portfolio risk. This is because the best performing asset one year … Read more
For the first time in years, the amount needed to save for a deposit is decreasing as housing values across most of Australia decline. While this sounds like good news if you’re saving for a deposit, cost of living increases means aspiring homeowners may not be able to divert as much money to a deposit … Read more
If you stay with the default super fund provided by your employer there’s a chance you’ll miss out on thousands in super. It makes sense to take a close look at your current super fund and consider whether your money could be working harder elsewhere. If you still have many years to go until you … Read more
When markets fall, it’s natural to want to take action to prevent further losses. Doing so however can do more harm than good. Here’s why timing the market to buy low and sell high is not as easy as it sounds. If you’re invested in the financial markets and also keeping up with the news, … Read more
Everyone saves money differently. From setting aside a portion of your pay, to choosing the right account, here are some tips on how to be a better saver and reach your financial goals. Have a savings goal and budget It’s much easier to be a good saver if you have a goal in mind. It … Read more
Retirement means starting a new chapter of your life, one that gives you the freedom to create your own story, as you decide exactly how you want to spend your time. While retirement may not be part of your immediate plans, there are advantages to giving some thought as to what retirement looks like for … Read more
You may have heard it said, “No risk, no reward.” But did you know that time can actually decrease your risk while increasing your reward? Investing: Risky business? When some people think of investing, they focus on the potential for great rewards—the possibility of picking a winning share that will increase in value over time. … Read more
