10 steps to financial security in your 30’s Being 30 today is very different from what it may have looked like for our parents. While many baby boomers were married with children by the 25, people today are settling down later, taking time in their 20’s to establish their careers and

Is there really safety in numbers? As humans, we’re instinctively attuned to follow the mindset of the crowd. In fact, it wasn’t that long ago that prevailing wisdom dictated that the world was the centre of the universe.  While we all know that to be eminently false today, at the tim

MARKET UPDATE        MARKET AND ECONOMIC OVERVIEW Australia The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) held the cash rate steady at 2.5% at its 7 October 2014 meeting. There was no change to the Board’s neutral policy ‘guidance’ and signal that there is likely to be “a period of stability in

How to get the home care you need The Home Care Package Program is a Federal Government subsidised service that helps frail and elderly people remain in their homes for as long as possible. Depending on your situation, it offers a range of essential support services — from personal an

Boosting happiness and mental health in retirement The transition from work to retirement can be exciting and liberating — but it can also be stressful and even confronting. Research shows a high proportion of retirees find themselves unexpectedly affected by feelings of purposelessne

ECONOMIC UPDATE       MARKET AND ECONOMIC OVERVIEW Australia The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) held the cash rate steady at 2.5% at its 5 August 2014 meeting. There was no change to the Board’s neutral policy ‘guidance’ and signal that there is likely to be “a period of stability in

Could interest rates fall further? Australia already has record-low interest rates – but in a recent speech, Governor Glenn Stevens noted that there is still scope for further rate cuts. So could rates fall further? And why have they stayed so low for so long?  Australian borrowers ha

Money lessons that add up While school teaches children many valuable lessons, it’s becoming apparent that not nearly enough time is dedicated to teaching our kids about money. Think about the last time you heard a child come home from school saying “today I learnt how to read a bank

D-Day for pensioners is approaching With important new deeming rules coming into effect on 1 January 2015, now is the time to review your superannuation and pension arrangements to ensure you don’t miss out on valuable Social Security entitlements.  Account based pensions have general