Insights

Why you need an emergency fund

Why you need an emergency fund

What is an emergency fund? An emergency fund is a financial safety net, offering you instant access to money when you need to cover the cost of unplanned expenses, like losing a job, unexpected travel or a medical emergency. This involves putting funds aside periodically so you can dip into

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The Age Pension and your retirement plans

The Age Pension and your retirement plans

Most people intend to retire between ages 65 and 66, according to the latest data and, surprisingly, despite growing superannuation balances, the Age Pension is the main source of income for many retirees.i  The intended retirement age has increased significantly in the last two decades, from just over 62 years

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Dollar cost averaging: can it work for you?

Dollar cost averaging: can it work for you?

Australian share prices have seen record highs in 2024 after a sluggish couple of years. The S&P ASX200 index added just under 7 per cent in the 10 months to October 31 closing at 8160.i It reached its previous all-time high of 8355 just two weeks before. So, if you

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Keeping records for property

Keeping records for property

Which records to keep for your property so you can work out CGT when you sell it. Property records you should keep For your property, you should keep records of: your acquisition of the property and related expenses, such as purchase contract stamp duty legal fees settlement statement survey and

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Interest, dividend and other investment income deductions

Interest, dividend and other investment income deductions

Deductions you can claim for the costs of earning interest, share dividends, or income from other investments. Interest income expenses You can claim a deduction for account-keeping fees you incur on an account held for investment purposes, such as bank accounts or income bonds. You will find these fees on

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It’s super hump month. Make the most of it

It’s super hump month. Make the most of it

Six ways to get more money into your superannuation fund. The start of the 2024-25 financial year on 1 July saw some significant changes come through designed to help working Australians get more money into their superannuation. Fundamentally they involved increases to the statutory amounts individuals can contribute into their

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Releasing the value in your home

Releasing the value in your home

Rising property prices have led many people to look for ways to unlock the increased equity in their homes so they enjoy a comfortable lifestyle in their golden years. For most of us, our homes represent the biggest or most significant portion of our wealth. But it’s an asset that

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Three simple steps for financial wellness

Three simple steps for financial wellness

If money’s too tight to mention, here’s some small steps that can make a big difference in achieving your financial goals. How would you rate your level of financial wellness? Do you think you’re in a good position to meet your immediate and near-term financial obligations? What about your long-term

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​Investing in property? Know the costs before you buy

​Investing in property? Know the costs before you buy

Why invest in property? Investing in property is a popular choice for many people as you can both earn rental income and benefit from capital growth. Another advantage of investing in property is the ability to negatively gear the property. Negative gearing allows you to deduct some of your costs from

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Preparing your kids for financial success

Preparing your kids for financial success

Here’s some easy money management skills for children of different ages. Teaching good financial habits, such as saving and budgeting, is one of the best ways to prepare children to have a secure financial future. It’s never too early or late to start talking about money with your children —

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Measuring up the price of shares

Measuring up the price of shares

Analysts have many financial measures to value companies. Here’s a brief overview. Share market investment analysts thrive on numbers. So, when you read reports about markets or specific companies being “overvalued” or “undervalued”, you can generally assume there’s been a fair bit of analytical number crunching going on behind the

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