Financial Planning

2017 has not been very interesting

2017 has been a year of low interest - record low interest rates, that is. But record low prices don’t last forever. Interest rates will rise again. In the meantime, make 2018 your year of repaying non-deductible debt. That might make it your best year ever.

100% off everything!

Continuing our theme of behavioural economics, this week we look at anchoring? Anchoring is how people can be mislead into thinking they have bagged a bargain. It also tricks people into selling good investments and keeping bad ones.

More on mental accounting

Last week’s blog was all about mental accounting. This week, we continue the theme and look at some bigger picture ways in which mental accounting can lead us astray.

The best gift voucher in the world

Christmas is coming you might be tempted to buy a gift voucher for someone you care about. Think twice. Gift vouchers are actually irrational.

Teaching kids how to manage money

One of the things we most enjoy is helping people manage wealth across the generations. Most of our clients are working hard to give their kids (or their grandkids) a good start in life. So it makes sense that we teach those kids how to manage their money well. Here is our guide to doing just that.

There’s no need to salary sacrifice any more…

Until now, salary sacrifice has been one of the only ways that an employee can make an extra tax-advantaged contribution into their super fund. But that changed on 1 July 2017. Now, almost everyone can make additional contributions without their employer even knowing – which might come in handy next time you ask for a pay rise!

2017 Budget – Winners and Losers

Compared to previous years, the 2017 Budget was a bit of an anti-climax. In previous years, there have been a number of big-ticket changes - such as the big changes to superannuation that we have been discussing in recent articles. But this year there have simply been a whole lot of small changes, some of which will be of benefit and others will represent a small loss.

Who gets your super when you no longer need it?

Most people do not own their super benefits. The benefits are owned by the trustee/s of the fund. You can organize things to make sure that these trustees do what you want with your super when you die. You can also organize things so that the people who end up with your benefits pay as little tax as possible. Read on to find out how.

ASIC’s review of life insurers and their payment of claims

In 2016, ASIC reviewed the performance of the major insurers when it came to paying insurance claims. The report makes for troubling reading, especially for people who organise their own insurances. The news was much better for people who used a financial adviser to help them arrange their insurances.

Insurance that you never knew you had

Many working Australians – or Australians who used to work – have insurance of which they are unaware. This can be a huge relief if ever something goes wrong and you cannot work. If you or someone you know has become unable to work, then this article is a must-read. And if you think you might need help with a claim, please make sure you contact us.