Insights

Track your spending

Track your spending

Tracking your spending is a way to take control of your money. Knowing where your money goes can help you spend less and save more. 1. Track your spending and expenses First, get a clear view of where your money is going day to day. Choose how long to track

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Tax and super

Tax and super

How much tax you pay on your super contributions and withdrawals depends on: your total super amount your age the type of contribution or withdrawal you make If you inherit someone’s super after they die, the person’s super fund pays you a super death benefit. You may have to pay

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Assessment and eligibility for aged care services

Assessment and eligibility for aged care services

Key points: My Aged Care will be your first point of contact if you are in looking to access Government funded aged care services A RAS or ACAT/S assessment can determine what services will best suit your needs If you are found eligible for government-funded services, you will then be

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5 steps towards a financially fit retirement

5 steps towards a financially fit retirement

If retirement is just around the corner, the current financial climate may make you feel a little uneasy. Watching the markets fluctuate might leave you worrying about whether your superannuation will be enough to see you through. It’s not a time for hasty moves, though. If you are concerned a

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How to plan and stick to your renovation budget

How to plan and stick to your renovation budget

Define your renovation goals Renovations can be an exciting time to re-shape the look and feel of your home, however before you start getting into the details, it’s important take a step back and clarify ‘why’ you’re renovating. For instance: Do you need more space? Is your kitchen too dated?

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Striking a balance in the new financial year

Striking a balance in the new financial year

By doing a few calculations you can easily see if your portfolio is still on track. If you’re someone who likes a good balance in your investing life, now may be a good time to do some calculations. It’s not something you must do, but doing so may give you

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Government payments and allowances

Government payments and allowances

When to declare taxable and tax-free government payments, pensions and allowances in your tax return. What are government payments, pensions and allowances? Australian Government payments, pensions and allowances are income amounts that you receive from a government agency. Commonly these payments are from Services Australia or the Department of Veteran’s

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Portfolios for the risk we may not be imagining

Portfolios for the risk we may not be imagining

Investors have faced a wild ride in 2025. The excitement may not be over. Equity and fixed income markets took less than a month to recover after U.S. tariff announcements in early April sent them reeling, giving investors a valuable opportunity to reexamine their relationship with risk. A healthy relationship

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How to bucket your money and save

How to bucket your money and save

What is bucketing your money? Bucketing is a smart way to manage your money without complicated budgets or spreadsheets. You set up multiple bank accounts called ‘buckets’ and use each one for a specific purpose, like bills, savings or entertainment. Once your buckets are set up, it’s easier to see

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Do you know who gets your super when you die?

Do you know who gets your super when you die?

Do you have a plan for who will receive your super if something happens to you? For many Australians, superannuation is their greatest asset outside the family home. But do you have a plan for who will receive your super if something happens to you? The laws around super death

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How to shift into pension mode

How to shift into pension mode

When and how you can access your super to start an account-based pension. If our working years can be regarded as the time when we aim to build up our superannuation savings, our retirement years can equally be regarded as the time when we aim to spend them. At least

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Forging new bonds – how bonds work

Forging new bonds – how bonds work

Bonds are not usually the flashy upstarts of the investment world with their every move reported, like stocks. But the Trump Administration’s extraordinary refashioning of world trade, with on-again off-again tariffs of eye watering amounts, has put bond markets in a similar position to share markets – in turmoil. So,

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