Key Points Despite rising GDP per person, measures of happiness have been flat to falling in western countries including Australia.. Key drivers are likely to be rising expectations, the rise of social media and falling housing affordability. It may be driving the rise of extreme political parties. Some suggest we are on an “hedonic treadmill” … Read more
Downsizing at a glance Downsizing your home can reduce the size of your mortgage and ongoing running costs in some situations, but buying and selling costs can add up. Your equity and loan to value ratio (LVR) can affect your next loan options and costs, including whether lenders mortgage insurance (LMI) applies. If you’re 55 … Read more
Australians scammed out of A$3,000 or less could be able to claim automatic reimbursement from banks, phone companies or tech companies, under – $3,000 starts to look like an oddly low threshold. Who would win under the new proposal? The federal government has just released new details of its Scam Protection Framework, which will make … Read more
Key Points The first half of this year saw good share market returns despite the oil supply shock on the back of the US/Iran War. We remain upbeat on a 12-month view but see a high risk of another correction in the short term. Nine key charts worth watching are: business conditions PMIs; inflation; inflation … Read more
If you’re a temporary resident of Australia, how to claim your superannuation when you leave. Eligibility for Departing Australia superannuation payment (DASP) If you’ve worked in Australia on a temporary visa, you may have accumulated superannuation that has been paid by your employer under the compulsory super guarantee. You may be eligible to have this … Read more
The Support at Home program was introduced in November 2025 and replaced the Home Care Packages Program and the Short-term Restorative Care Programme. This completely changes how older Australians access in-home care. Additional changes have been introduced since, which means that the Australian Government will fully fund personal care services if you have been … Read more
Even investors who bought at the worst possible moments over 25 years still more than tripled their money One of the most common fears investors face is putting money into the market today, only to see asset prices fall significantly tomorrow. It’s understandable; when headlines are dominated by war, tariffs, inflation risks and AI spending … Read more
Key Points Falling real wages and a surge in tax and interest payments over the last five years have led to a slump in Australians’ living standards. But a broader driver of the malaise in living standards has been a slump in productivity growth from over 2% pa in the 1990s to near zero … Read more
Here are some ways to help you get the most out of any retirement savings. Do a retirement budget When you retire, some of the things you spend your money on will change. Having published by the Association of Super Funds of Australia (ASFA). Check out the current spending levels of retirees, published by Super … Read more
How self-managed super fund (SMSF) trustees can meet their responsibility to keep accurate tax and super records. How self-managed super fund (SMSF) trustees can meet their responsibility to keep accurate tax and super records. Why keep records? Superannuation law requires trustees to keep extensive records including financial and trustee records. Poor record keeping … Read more
As women enter their mid-career years, many begin to earn more and have greater capacity to invest. Making the most of this window can play a crucial role in building long term financial security. The mid-career phase is a critical opportunity for women to get their financial house in order and build their … Read more
Around 2.8 million of Australia’s lowest-paid workers got a 4.75% pay rise from July 1 this year, after the latest Who benefits from this decision Announcing the wage rises, Justice Adam Hatcher said this was a “particularly challenging” decision, especially due to the “wild card of the Middle East conflict” and its ongoing price shocks … Read more
