General

Thinking of Buying an Electric Car?

The Federal Government delivered its first Budget this week. We will have more to write about this in coming weeks. But we want to tell you about one announcement that will be important to you if you are thinking of buying an electric car. Read on - and talk to us if you are thinking of buying a new car!

Why has the price of going to the US risen so much?

We wrote last week about exchange rates. The article inspired a few people to get in touch – including people thinking of travelling to the US - so this week we thought we would write some more about what actually causes exchange rates to fluctuate. You might paraphrase this article as “why has the US become so much more expensive?”

Exchange Rates are Falling. Is that good or bad?

You may have seen recently that the Aussie Dollar has fallen when measured against the US dollar. At first glance, most people think this is a bad thing. Happily, the reality is not quite so alarming.

What is the Target Cash Rate (and Why Does it Matter)?

Last week, for the third month in a row, the Reserve Bank of Australia hiked its target cash rate. The target rate is now 1.35%, up from the all-time low rate of 0.1% that it had been at since November 2020. So, what is the target cash rate? And why does it matter?

Need Help with Costs of Living? Use your home!

Inflation is starting to bite, and people on income support, such as aged pensioners, have not had their benefits adjust yet. This has many of our clients thinking about how best to cover the rising cost of living. Happily, the Commonwealth is here to help.

Get your Finances Fully Charged!

The financial year is almost over. Which, of course, means that the new financial year is about to start. This makes right now a great time to develop some better financial habits, so that your finances are fully charged come June 30 next year.

Rentvesting

Australians like to move home. Especially young Australians. According to the 2016 census data, young Australians aged 18-24 moved home at almost three times the rate of older people aged 55-64. But can people move home a lot and still buy a home as well?

Some Assorted Budget Tidbits

In our newsletter last week, we discussed the larger talking points from the Federal Budget. This week, we thought we take a look at some of the smaller changes to superannuation that will be of interest to many of our clients.

Bad News Can Be Good for the Economy

A driver has two routes to head home after work. Somehow, we know that if the driver takes Route A, he will be in a minor bingle in which two cars are damaged. If the driver takes route B, he will get home safe and sound. You are the Australian Treasurer. Which route do you want the driver to take?

Will Increasing Interest Rates ‘Fix’ Inflation?

Unless you are an avowed cyclist, you will probably have noticed what is happening to petrol prices at the moment. They are up. Way up. Prices in most parts of Australia are now over $2 per litre for standard motor vehicle go-go juice.