May 2022 - Retire on Track

What is gazumping and how to prevent it happening to you

Picture the scene. You’ve found your dream home—a short stroll to the local schools, close to a leafy park to walk the dog and on a quiet residential street with the best coffee in town right on the corner. You’ve agreed a price with the seller. You’ve organised your deposit. And you’ve arranged a building […]

Scammers targeting victims through money recovery scams

Scamwatch is warning people to be aware of uninvited offers of help to recover money for an up-front payment, following a spike in reports of money recovery scams. These scams target people who have already lost money to a previous scam by promising to help victims recover their losses after paying a fee in advance. […]

Say goodbye to tax troubles

Do you find yourself drowning in random receipts when EOFY comes around? Learn to lodge your tax return the easy way with these last-minute and longer-term tax hacks. Tax paperwork is something few of us take in our stride. In fact, the majority of people hand over much of this responsibility to someone more qualified. […]

Saving for your first home seems impossible. Let’s help you get there sooner.

For anyone hoping to buy their first home the challenge can be daunting. Saving for a first home deposit can take many months or years, and often coincides with many other competing demands for your money in the form of rent, car repayments, bills, and other living expenses. If children are part of your plans, […]

Is my employer paying me the right super?

Billions of dollars in super contributions go unpaid every year. Here’s how you can find out if you’re getting paid what you’re owed and what you can do if you’re not. A while back, a mate of mine posted on social media that she was owed over $10,000 in super from a former employer, who […]

7 age pension traps to avoid

After a lifetime of hard work, it’s important you maximise your entitlements in retirement. So you need to structure your finances carefully to make sure you don’t lose your age pension. After all, you’ve earned it. Here are some common traps to be aware of. Helping loved ones out It’s only natural to want to […]

Can infrastructure protect from inflation?

It’s an important question as prices rise around the world fuelled by soaring energy and commodity costs, supply chain constraints and a geopolitical retreat from globalisation. In Australia, headline inflation is expected to reach 5 per cent by the end of the year. And while that’s still low from an historical perspective, it is above […]

All about Wills and Probate

Probate is the legal process that occurs when dealing with a loved one’s will after their death. It can be difficult to know what’s involved with the process and the questions to ask. What is Probate? Probate is the process that makes sure the instructions in a will can be followed. It involves proving and […]

Volatility Bites: How Retirees can manage Jumpy Markets

The big issue for investors in or close to retirement, is risk. The 2020 COVID-19 share sell off and recent equity market volatility shows just how quickly share prices can move. Volatility can have different meanings for different investors, those with a long-term horizon can be less concerned, knowing they have time on their side. […]

New opportunities to grow your Super from 1 July 2022

Both older and younger Australians, as well as low-income earners, are set to benefit from some upcoming super opportunities. From 1 July 2022, there will be some changes made to super to make it easier for people to grow their retirement savings. These changes will create opportunities for both older and younger Australians, as well […]

Is this the end of the housing boom?

Everyone buying into the housing market hopes that their purchase will appreciate over time, while sellers want to pick the top of the market. Clearly the growth rates in the Australian housing market, particularly in Sydney and Melbourne, peaked some time ago – March last year. But prices have mostly been still rising, albeit at […]

Investment Market Outlook: Volatility Rises, Value Emerges

With war in Eastern Europe, inflation surging and Covid lockdowns inhibiting industrial production in parts of China, investment markets faced a rising tide of volatility over the past quarter. Yet while this may feel like the worst of times, it may really be that the 14 or so years since the GFC are the outlier […]

How much do I need in retirement?

How much you need to save for a comfortable retirement is a question many of us ask. While we all hope for a simple answer, how much money you need in retirement differs for everyone. Additionally, a comfortable retirement is based on a whole range of factors including: When you retire How long you’ll spend […]

Economic update and market overview

Introduction Inflationary forces continued to intensify in key regions, which suggested interest rates could be raised more quickly and more aggressively than previously anticipated. Government bond yields continued to rise sharply, resulting in negative returns from fixed income markets. The likelihood of rising borrowing costs also appeared to spook equity markets, which performed poorly over […]

The RBA starts raising rates – how far and how fast? And what does it mean for investors?

The RBA has hiked the cash rate by 0.25% taking it to 0.35% and signalling more rate hikes ahead. We expect the cash rate to rise to 1.5% by year-end and to 2% by mid next year. However, the RBA will only raise rates as far as necessary to cool inflation and high household debt […]

Your super checklist for EOFY

The lead up to 30 June can be a good time to maximise tax benefits that may be available to you inside super. Certain contributions, which we cover below, may have the ability to reduce your taxable income, or see you pay less on investment earnings. Contributions that could create tax benefits: Tax-deductible super contributions […]

Super changes that could affect you from 1 July 2022

The government has announced a number of changes to the super system could create opportunities for Australians of all ages. Here’s a rundown of what you need to know. More people will be eligible for contributions from their employer, under the Superannuation Guarantee (SG), as the minimum income threshold of $450 per month will be […]

Should you merge your finances with your partner?

The pandemic has changed many aspects of our daily lives, and romance is no exception. While lengthy separations have led some relationships to end, other couples are choosing to move in together more quickly than they might have expected. If you’re planning on living together, you might be wondering whether to merge your finances. Combining […]

Should I invest my home deposit?

After another year of double digit growth, many first-time buyers have been left shaking their heads in disbelief. Even those looking to upgrade the family home are having to stretch their budgets further than ever. For many would-be buyers, the speed of house price growth is far outpacing their ability to save. It’s also outstripping […]

Roughly 500,000 Australians plan to retire in the next 5 years.

According to the ABS, some half a million people intend to retire within 5 years. While many Australians will remain working until they can access their superannuation savings and/or the Age Pension, some 32% of people choose to retire beforehand due to health reasons, retrenchment, or a lack of suitable employment opportunities. No one can […]

8 important money tips for when you land your first full-time job

If you want to ensure you’re getting the right amount of super and not paying more in tax than you have to, this list is for you. What you need to know Your bank account details and tax file number You’ll need to give your bank account details to your employer if you want to […]

Archive: 'May 2022' :

Recent Posts

Archives

Categories

Contact us