How could the proposals impact you and your finances? March 2025 This year’s Federal Budget provides cost of living relief through tax cuts, lower power bills, reduced co-payment for medicines
March 26, 2025
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How could the proposals impact you and your finances? March 2025 This year’s Federal Budget provides cost of living relief through tax cuts, lower power bills, reduced co-payment for medicines
You may be eligible to purchase your first home with as little as 5% deposit via the First Home Guarantee Scheme. Here’s how it works. First Home Guarantee Scheme: financial
Whether you’re starting work for the first time or you’re changing jobs, there are key things to know and do. Is your bank account the best one for you? Should
1. You don’t have time When you’re juggling your job with your personal and family life, it can be challenging to carve out time in your schedule to really sit
Life insurance premiums are calculated based on a number of factors, such as your age, gender, health at the time of application, smoking status, occupation, lifestyle and hobbies. Your health
In the digital age, where connectivity is constant, achieving a healthy work-life balance has become more challenging than ever. Technology and remote work have revolutionised the way we live, work
Your financial health is key to the health of your wellbeing, relationships, work and home life. It’s important to have a regular checkup of your financial position to ensure you’re
The beginning of the financial year is a great opportunity to review your financial situation, to make sure you’re on track and on top of changes happening across tax and
You’ve waited a long time to reach retirement, so how do you make sure your hard earned savings go the distance with you? There are a range of steps you
Planning for retirement is a daunting task and many Australian women lack confidence in financial decision making. Fortunately, there are some small steps women can take today to make a
Thanks to the evolving rules and additional tests, the world of superannuation contributions continues to be a source of confusion, resulting in misunderstandings and genuine errors. Whether it’s the work
7 ways to get ready for tax time
Here’s a quick checklist to help you prepare for the end of financial year and maximise your tax time benefits.
Balancing the responsibility of helping your parents financially while saving for your own retirement, is no doubt challenging. Effective financial planning can help you provide for your parents while still securing your own financial future. Learn more.
Planning for retirement is a daunting task but it’s too important not to think about, especially for women. There are small steps women can take today to protect and grow their finances for the future.
The Total Superannuation Balance (TSB) was a significant change introduced as part of the Government’s superannuation reform package in 2017. However, unlike other changes, such as the pension transfer balance cap, the TSB has generally been overlooked despite its broad implications. Read more.
The 2024 Federal Budget provides cost of living relief through 1 July tax cuts, lower power bills, higher welfare payments and support for small businesses. Read the full budget summary to find out what it means for you.
Retirement planning is one of those things that often gets pushed to the back burner. Here we’ll outline some steps you can take to secure your financial future.
Although it can feel uncomfortable,
talking about money is a good thing.
Seek help from the experts to start
positive conversations and keep things
on track
Making a decision about life insurance is an essential part of your self managed super fund’s
investment strategy and can provide a valuable benefit for members. Learn more
Saving money doesn’t come naturally to everyone. Some people are wired to save – for others it takes a bit more discipline. But developing good savings habits can do so much for both your financial wellbeing and your future security. These 7 tips could see you start to change your ways.
Your super balance will most likely play a big part in how comfortably you live in retirement. See the average super balance for your age group, so you can get an idea of how your super savings compare. Reach out to us if you need advice.
The 50/30/20 budgeting strategy approach enables you to manage your money without making too many sacrifices. It helps you to divvy up your take-home pay into three main areas – needs, wants and savings.
Read more to see if this strategy is right for you –
In a world of ever-changing economic landscapes, achieving financial freedom has become a universal aspiration. Read about the essential strategies and mindset shifts required to pave the way toward financial independence.
There are 5 megatrends suggesting higher medium term inflation pressures and lower economic growth than pre-pandemic: a move away from economic rationalist policies; the reversal of globalisation; rising geopolitical tensions; climate change and decarbonisation; and slowing and aging populations. Learn more.
Do you know how much you can ‘safely’ spend in retirement? This article introduces a retirement income model that can help you calculate the spending level your savings can safely support with a degree of confidence.
We all want to live a good life with our partner, but does that have to include fine dining every night and travelling to exotic destinations? We bring you five tips for enjoying the best in life without blowing the budget.
Women are more likely to be Stressed Survivors – struggling to make ends meet, spending time worrying about finances at work and feeling unprepared for the rising cost of living. Here are some ways for everyone to start taking control of their finances.
Retirement is a time that many Australians eagerly anticipate. Learn about key strategies to help boost and preserve your retirement savings, to help you achieve longterm financial security throughout your golden years.
Term deposits offer certainty and savings accounts offer flexibility. Learn about some of their other common features and benefits.
If you’d like your money to make a difference to the world as well as your future, responsible investing may be for you. Learn more about ethical, social and governance (ESG) investments.
There you have it – everything you needed to know about budgeting for your first baby!
Elder financial abuse can happen to anyone at any time. Learn how to recognise the signs and equip yourself with the knowledge to minimise the risk of it happening to you.
Making a commitment to share your life with another person is a significant milestone and there is a lot you can do to manage your money as a couple. The
Getting your personal finances right can be a challenge at times. Here are some common-sense tips that may be of use:
Having a solid budget is crucial to building financial resilience, here are some ways to help you save more and spend less.
We all want to make the most of our tax return each year.
If you’re looking at what deductions you might be able to claim, the good news is you may be able to add after-tax super contributions to your tax-deductions list.
Have you considered making a downsizer contribution into your super? Perhaps you’re not sure if you are eligible? Contact us today to see how we can help you navigate this complex area.
Is it true love if they are asking you for your credit card details?
Here are a few simple steps to help protect yourself against romance scams.
Are you looking to invest this new financial year but don’t know where to start?
Here are 5 basic steps for investing.
There are two important ages you need to consider when thinking about retirement: Preservation age and Age Pension age. Do you know the difference?
The past financial year saw a solid rebound in investment returns, after the negative returns of the 2021-22 financial year. This note reviews the past 12 months in investment markets and looks at the outlook.
The budget this year is expected to return to a surplus of $4b thanks to a continuing revenue windfall. Key measures include cost of living support, more spending on aged care and a move to slow NDIS growth. Read the full budget summary to find out what it means for you.
Making sure you’re getting the best deal on insurance without missing out on the cover you need can feel like a minefield. Get to know where and how to buy.
When it comes to investing, there’s no one size fits all strategy that can assure success but there are some different investment styles that could help investors achieve their goals.
Is it really possible to live within your means and still enjoy life? The answer is yes and with just a few important changes you can start spending less and lose the debt
Do you find yourself drowning in random receipts when EOFY comes around? Learn to lodge your tax return the easy way with these tax hacks.
Learn about the superannuation death
tax and how to avoid it by contacting us
now. Our professional superannuation
advisers we can help you navigate this
complex area.
When it comes to choosing investment
options with your super fund, there are
several key questions you should ask
yourself.
Saving money doesn’t come naturally to everyone. Some people are wired to save – for others it takes a bit more discipline; but developing good savings habits can do so
The three biggest drains on our money are paying for housing, food and transport. Explore some ways on how to save on these items
Shares have hit turbulence again with worries about inflation, interest rates, recession and now, problems in US banks. What does the collapse of the Silicon Valley Bank (SBV) mean for investors? Find out in our latest bulletin.
Related Article: US banks, inflation, interest rates and recession risk
Hashtags: #FinancialPlanning #SVB #Recession
Do you have $10k burning a hole in your pocket? Discover smart ways to invest and grow your wealth with these expert tips.
Curious about how share markets work?
Do you want to learn more about shares – what they are and how they work?
Get started on your journey to smart investing today – read more
Unlock the mysteries of superannuation. Learn all the basics – what super is and why it’s crucial to your financial future.
Are you financially prepared for the unexpected? Learn how to build your emergency savings fund and secure your financial future
The RBA hiked again by 0.25% taking the cash rate to 3.35%. In justifying another hike, the RBA noted inflation is at its highest since 1990, the labour market remains tight, wages growth is expected to pick up and its “priority is to return inflation to (the 2-3%) target”.
Reverse mortgages are home mortgages that work in the opposite way to a normal home mortgage. Check out our latest article to learn more about how it can work for you.
Whatever stage you’re at in life, there are things you can be doing to get on top of your finances to create a better tomorrow. Try these tips aligned to the age and stage of life.
With the rising inflation, Australians are looking for ways to reduce daily expenses and increase their income. In this article we look at some of the best ways that you can offset inflation.
Retirement can start to feel closer when you’re in your 40s. Fortunately, there’s still plenty of time to make decisions that could have a positive impact on your future financial wellbeing. Find out how.
If you’ve recently split from your partner or are wondering who’ll get the home or the car if you do, in this article we address some of the key issues and concerns.
Many of us dream of winning the lottery but can money really buy happiness? The answer may surprise you.
If you have people in life you love and want to protect, an estate plan makes good sense. Find out what’s involved.
If you’re thinking about refinancing your home loan, this step-by-step guide shows you what to expect and how to navigate the process.
Super is a longer-term investment designed to fund your retirement. While it’s a popular option for many, there are also a number of investment options outside of super to consider. Here’s what you need to know.
Are you buying more to perk yourself up? You aren’t alone. Since the start of COVID, there’s been an increase in online shopping. But, if you want to rein in your urge to splurge, here’s how you can make a start
People in their 20s and 30s tend to overlook Superannuation, potentially missing out on opportunities that could make a real difference to their retirement savings in the long term. Here’s what you need to know –
Giving to charity can be a great way to help others and give your tax return a boost, but not all donations are tax deductible. Here’s what you need to know about making a tax-deductible donation.
Your next life stage requires careful planning.
Here are eight key things you should consider before entering retirement –
There are many reasons we fall into the trap of overspending. One reason is we get bombarded with very effective advertising on social media where data scientists and algorithms seem to know what we will be tempted by before we do.
Perhaps we are emotional spenders and buy things because it feels good. Maybe we’re trying to keep up with the Joneses, or perhaps we lose track of how much we’re spending when we pay with plastic or we never set up a budget in the first place. Whatever the reason, the temptation to overspend is real and powerful. Which is why it’s crucial to teach kids to be smart with money, particularly how to spend wisely.
Key points Share markets have fallen sharply in recent weeks continuing the plunge that started early this year due to worries about inflation, monetary tightening, recession and geopolitical issues including
The lead up to 30 June can be a good time to maximise tax benefits that may be available to you inside super.
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.
The Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has handed down the 2022 Federal Budget. As widely expected, the government announced measures aimed at addressing the rising cost of living, including cash payments, a cut to the fuel excise and tax breaks. Check out the key points here.
Depending on the situation, you might get some of your ex partner’s super, or they may get some of yours. See what you need to know.
A divorce from your husband or wife, or a separation from your de facto, could mean a division of your assets and debts, whether they’re held individually or together, and superannuation is no exception.
The days when ‘green’ investors were the ones who cycled to see their adviser and carried home their investment brochures in a hemp bag are long gone (if they ever existed). Responsible Investing is now the preferred approach for a growing number of investors.
You’ve probably heard a lot about share market falls in recent weeks but what does that mean for you and your investments?
Being more engaged with your super investments could help you make the most if the time you have to grow your wealth for retirement – and navigate share market falls.
New super rules introduced recently mean employees are now ‘stapled’ to their existing superannuation fund, unless they choose otherwise. That’s why it’s more important than ever to consolidate your super and take control of your retirement savings. Here’s what you need to know.
Looking at your spending in a new light could make a substantial difference to your financial future. The 50/20/30 budget rule works for one main reason – it’s easy. See how the 50/20/30 rule can help you budget smarter.
The last few days have seen a sharp escalation in the situation between Russia and Ukraine, with Russia recognising the independence of two regions in the Donbas area of eastern Ukraine controlled by Russian separatists and ordering Russian “peacekeeping” troops into the regions. At this stage it’s unclear how big the force will be, whether it will push beyond the areas controlled by the separatists and, if so, how far. Although President Putin continues to deny plans to invade Ukraine, his comments suggest a move into the areas of Donetsk and Luhansk in the Donbas that the rebels do not yet control. As a result, share markets have fallen further with US and global shares falling just below their January lows and Australian shares also under pressure, although so far they have held up a bit better.
There comes a time when every small business owner needs to consider a loan for business. Before you take the plunge and apply for a loan, there is a range of questions to consider.
Tradies and skilled professionals are increasingly in demand on jobs marketplace Airtasker, and earnings through the platform are increasing. 🧰
Read our blog to find out how tradies across Australia are earning extra cash.
According to recent research, over two and half million Australians say they intend to seek help from a financial adviser over the next two years. The pandemic has been a major catalyst, with 44% saying the COVID-19 situation had increased their likelihood of seeking advice.
If you’ve ever wondered what a financial adviser could do for you, here’s a brief introduction
As a relationship naturally progresses, you might start to plan to move in or purchase a property together. Combining your money can be done in stages and can evolve as your relationship does. To learn more about how to navigate this transition, read on.
Rather than splurging on perfume, appliances or watches for Christmas, why not try opting for more creative and thoughtful gifts that don’t break the bank. Here are some ways you can spoil your loved ones without maxing out your credit card.
The act of giving to loved ones is dear to many around Christmas time. However, it’s important not to entangle your good intentions with overspending that could create financial pressure in the new year. Here are some tips on how to shop smarter this Christmas.
Everyone has financial goals. Maybe you want to pay off your mortgage early, stop relying on your credit cards, or go on an amazing overseas holiday (once we’re allowed to
Donating to a charity or cause you care about is a win-win for both you and the charity. Charities rely on the generosity of donors to help them do their
Key points: 2022 is likely to be the year COVID-19 goes from being an epidemic to endemic. Expect ongoing global economic recovery, albeit with bumps along the way. The spike
Your 7-point retirement planning checklist
While there’s no set age or rulebook to retire, you’ll want to make sure your health and finances support you during this transition. Taking into consideration the type of lifestyle you would like to lead will act as a clear indication for how much money you need to set aside or have access to.
Here are some of the aspects to consider
Superannuation is your financial safety net, so you can retire comfortably when the time arises. If you want to know more about how your super balance compares, where your money’s invested, or who’ll get your super if you pass away, this list is for you.
It’s one of the most common questions financial advisers get – should you pay down the mortgage or salary sacrifice into your super? Deciding on the best approach is different for each individual and depends on economic factors such as interest rates and the performance of your investment mix. Here’s some tips on what to consider to be in the best position possible.
Should I still change jobs despite COVID-19? Changing jobs has always had its challenges. With the added impacts of COVID-19 on the employment landscape, the unknown can become daunting. If you’re looking for a new job or a shift in career, here’s a guide on what to consider depending on your skills within the industry.
It could take months, even years, to clear debt – especially if you used your credit card and you know you’ll be slugged with snowballing compound interest each month you don’t pay it off. That’s why we always recommend having an emergency fund. It’s a pool of money you always have on hand to cover any unexpected expenses. Here’s how you can set one up
The ongoing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has taken its toll on the wellbeing of many Australians. It’s well known that mental health and financial wellbeing are linked, with prolonged financial stress associated with anxiety and depression. If you’re experiencing financial stress, here are some practical steps you can take to get back on track.
If you’re receiving a tax refund this year it can be tempting to splurge out on things you want but don’t
necessarily need. Here are some ways you can use your tax refund
to build a stronger financial future.
Boosting your superannuation savings is one of the best ways to grow your retirement nest egg, and
the Australian government offers a range of incentives to encourage Australians to do just that. One
approach is called ‘salary sacrifice’ and it can help you to grow your super savings while potentially
paying less tax. Here’s how it works, the benefits, and some things to consider when deciding
whether it’s right for you.
In the past, wealth was often passed on through an inheritance. But with our longer lifespans, and
the higher cost of living (especially housing), the desire to help our kids while we’re alive and well is
increasing. But how can you help your children without compromising your own security and
comfort in retirement? Here’s what you need to know.
Every age has its inner turmoil. Teenagers, adults, retirees; everyone goes through emotional angst.
But only one age group has a name for it – a ‘midlife crisis.’ Despite what we’re led to believe, a midlife crisis isn’t inevitable, the key is to reassess what’s really important to you and start setting goals
for the next chapter of your life. It’s never too late to make a change.
Did you know that when it comes to super, you have the same rights regardless of whether you’re married, in a de facto relationship or in a civil partnership? Meaning, your partner could be entitled to receive part of your super if your relationship breaks down. Here’s five things every couple should know about super.
