When the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) board voted unanimously to lift the cash rate to 3.85% in February, the decision was driven by one overriding concern. It wants to stop the rising cost of living from becoming entrenched. For some, like self-funded retirees, the rate rise was good news.
Tax Office data shows fewer people used its super scheme in 2024-25 Introduced in 2018, the home downsizer scheme allows eligible Australians aged 55 and older to contribute up to $300,000 from the sale of their home into superannuation, outside of normal annual contribution caps. The idea was simple: improve
How investors are being duped by unscrupulous operators In late December the Australian Securities & Investments Commission issued a warning to investors on so-called ‘pump and dump’ operators – unscrupulous actors who start rumours about small cap securities to inflate the share price in the hope of making a quick
In lifting its official cash rate by 0.25% back to 3.85% in February, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) sent a clear signal that Australian borrowers should expect higher interest rates for longer. The simple reason: inflationary pressures have accelerated materially over recent months, and the inflation rate is likely
New research shows grief in aged care begins long before death, starting at the moment a loved one enters residential care. Families describe a long, evolving journey shaped by loss of role, communication, and meaningful rituals – pointing to the need for grief support across the entire aged care experience.
The best time to start planning for retirement is yesterday. But the second-best time? Today. About two-thirds of Australians retire earlier than they anticipated because of unexpected events such as job loss or redundancy, they need to care for a family member, have a sudden illness or injury, problems at
Running your own self-managed super fund (SMSF) comes with many responsibilities and lodging an annual return is one of the most important. While paperwork may not be anyone’s favourite task, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) takes the SMSF Annual Return (SAR) very seriously. As of February 2025, around 85,000 SMSFs
Stopping work is a big shift – especially when you haven’t planned for it. Why you might face a sudden retirement Only one-third of Australians retire because they’ve reached retirement age. For many, retirement happens earlier than they expect due to events outside their control. These can include: Job loss
The start of 2026 has seen gold and silver surge to record highs. So what’s behind those surges and falls? And what should everyday investors know about the risks of investing in precious metals right now? Why gold has been hitting new highs Gold is the classic safe haven: an
In a world of constant financial noise, from market updates and interest rate speculation to economic forecasts, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and choose to do nothing. But inaction can be costly when it comes to building long-term wealth. Whether it’s leaving money in cash, delaying investment decisions or ignoring
You’ve been doing all the right things when it comes to saving your hard-earned cash. You’ve cut back on luxury getaways and culinary splurges, exercised caution around Friday night drinks, resisted the temptation of online sales and proudly watched your savings grow. Then out of nowhere – your car has
Your mortgage, your super or your investments It’s tempting to pay off your mortgage as quickly as possible. But what about investing? Building your wealth by paying off your mortgage, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t also consider other investment opportunities. With Australia’s residential mortgage interest rates at historic lows you can
