Are You and Your Partner Money Compatible?
Money can be one of the biggest sources of tension in a relationship. One person might want to save every dollar, while the other believes you work hard to enjoy…
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Never Too Early, Never Too Late to Plan for Retirement
Retirement planning is important for all of us. But it’s not always an easy subject to think about. If you’re in your 20s, retirement can seem so far away that…
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Navigating Defined Benefit Pensions: A Strategic Approach to Retirement
Retirement planning is rarely a straightforward process, but for those who entered the workforce 30 or 40 years ago, it can involve a unique and highly specific asset: the defined…
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Essential Estate Planning: 5 Key Documents You Need to Protect Your Wealth
Many people assume estate planning is only for the wealthy or those in their final years of life. However, the reality is that anyone who has accumulated even a small…
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How to Manage Lower Investment Returns as You Get Closer to Retirement
A period of low investment returns can happen when you least expect it, and at a time when it is most difficult to deal with. One of the more challenging…
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Retirement: Are You Ready for the Drawdown Phase?
Retiring soon? Instead of asking, “How much can I save?”, you’re likely to start asking, “How much can I afford to spend?” That shift from building wealth to using it…
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Budgeting on an irregular income: A guide for sole-trader contractors and freelancers
Budgeting can be hard enough for those in regular employment, who need to cover today’s bills as well as, hopefully, tomorrow’s emergency savings and investment in their future. But if you’re a self-employed sole trader, you have three more financial headaches to add to the list: setting aside correct amounts to pay the ATO, covering your own super contributions, and dealing with periods when there is no income flowing in. It can seem like a formidable task, but with the right advice, you can create a budget that will help you to navigate this potential minefield.
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Strategies for Reducing Debt and Enjoying Your 60s
Carrying debt into your 60s can feel stressful, especially when retirement is getting closer. The good news is that there may be practical ways to reduce debt while still making room to enjoy this important stage of life.
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Rent or buy: What’s best for your super?
Home ownership – is it still the Great Australian Dream? According to a recent survey, it is, but the option of renting for life is becoming increasingly attractive.
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How Financial Advice Can Help After the Loss of a Partner
Some of the most meaningful work I do as a financial adviser happens during the hardest seasons of a person’s life.
Losing a partner is one of those moments.
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A Smarter Way to Respond to Super Volatility
When markets get bumpy or household budgets feel tighter, it’s common for people to start questioning their super. If your balance has dipped or returns haven’t met expectations, you might…
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Coping Financially After a Sudden Disability
When life throws you a curveball and you suddenly can’t work, the financial pressure can feel overwhelming. But here’s something many Australians don’t realise: there can be many safety nets…
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The Sandwich Generation: Managing Finances While Supporting Both Children and Ageing Parents
Many Australians find themselves in what is called the “sandwich generation.” This is the stage of life where you may still be supporting children while also stepping in to care for ageing parents. It can feel like you are being pulled in two directions, both emotionally and financially.
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Transition to retirement pensions: A step-by-step guide
As you progress towards retirement age, the idea of reducing your working hours can be appealing, especially if you can do it without reducing your income. Fortunately, there is a way to do this. It’s called a Transition to Retirement Income Stream (TTRIS), which allows you to supplement your part-time income with regular payments from your superannuation savings.
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The Information Overload Trap: Why Too Much Financial Advice Can Leave You Stuck
There’s no shortage of financial advice out there. Everywhere you look—social media, news articles, investment forums—you’re bombarded with strategies, opinions, and predictions.
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Retirement Is More Than a Number
When most people think about retirement, they picture a dollar figure. How much super will I need? Do I have enough investments to last? While money is important, true retirement planning is about much more than a number on a page.
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Should you downsize to boost your super? Pros, cons, and tax implications
The idea of downsizing can be very appealing to empty-nesters. There will be less cleaning, gardening and maintenance, more time for hobbies and travel, and the icing on the cake comes if you can use the cash surplus you created to give your super a significant tax-effective boost.
But is the picture totally rosy, or are there some drawbacks to downsizing?
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Smart Ways to Use Your Tax Refund This Year
You may be one of many Australians who make an interest-free loan to the federal government every year. That’s because, when you receive a tax refund, you’re not getting free money. All that’s happening is that cash which is rightfully yours is being returned, somewhat late. So it makes sense to make it work as hard as possible once it’s back in your hands.
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What happens to my superannuation if…?
A client once shared a poignant regret:
“When I was working and the kids were young, I saved too much. It restricted what we did when the family was together.”
This simple reflection struck a chord with me. It got me thinking about the delicate balance between saving for the future and living fully in the present. While we all know the importance of financial security, is it possible to save too much—at the expense of the moments that matter most? -
Why Budgeting Sucks (and What to Do Instead)
Why Traditional Budgeting Fails We’ve all been told that the key to managing money is to create a budget and stick to it. Track every dollar, set spending limits, and…
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Why I Stop Retirement Projections in the Early to Mid-80s (and Why It Matters)
When I run retirement projections for clients, one thing I do differently is stop the projections in the early to mid-80s—despite knowing there’s a high probability that one partner in…
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Stop resting on your (high income earner) laurels!
Achieving a high income is a significant accomplishment. You’ve put in the hard yards, climbed the ladder, and now you’re pulling in the big bucks! But don’t be mistaken; a…
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Your super: A scammer’s new target
In a recent media release, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) warned about a new scam doing the rounds. Scammers attempt, through cold calls to superannuation savers, to extract…
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6 steps to a Happy New Financial Year
The new financial year provides an opportunity for a fresh start for your finances. Make this the financial year you get on top of yours… for good! We’ve broken it…
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