– short-term risks, but five reasons for optimism Key points – The political scandal around President Trump is likely to speed up rather than stop his pro-business reforms. – However, after a strong run, shares remain vulnerable to a short-term correction with worries around Trump, North Korea, the Fed, etc, providing potential triggers. – But […]
Selfie obsessions – What’s it all about?
Mirror on the wall In 2013, “selfie” was officially added to the Oxford Dictionary. It refers to a person taking a photo of themselves with their own phone or camera. The idea of taking a self-portrait isn’t really new. It seems since the beginning of time we’ve felt the need to capture ourselves in some […]
How to cope with losing independence
If you or a loved one is experiencing a loss of independence, you may be able to maintain a sense of control. Few, if any of us, look forward to losing independence. In fact, research reveals that 75% of older people feared losing independence while only 29% feared dyingi. It also revealed that 44% were […]
Safeguard your ability to pay off your home loan
It’s not unusual that life can be smooth sailing one minute and throw you a curveball the next. You might be hit with an injury or illness, a reduction in income or redundancy, a separation from your partner, or even a death in the family—all of which can be difficult, emotionally as well as financially. […]
Pragmatism and fairness rule Key points – The 2017-18 Budget has a welcome focus on housing affordability and infrastructure. – Subdued wages growth is keeping revenue collection down contributing to a slight deterioration in near term deficit projections (a deficit of $29.4bn for 2017-18) but a return to surplus is still projected for 2020-21. – […]
– Bank mortgage rates, home prices and implications for investors Key points – The RBA has left interest rates on hold. The arguments to cut or hike rates are evenly balanced and we can’t see an official rate hike until second half 2018. – For the RBA to hike rates just to slow the Sydney […]
Automate the boring things Set up direct debits so your bills are paid on time without having to remember all the due dates. And if your credit card is weighing you down, set up a regular payment and pay the full amount each month if you can to avoid more interest. Or at least pay […]
Five tax deductions to know about
You’re probably well aware you can claim a tax deduction for general work-related expenses. But did you know you may be able to claim if: 1. You take a course or study. You may be able to claim a portion of self-education expenses if it’s related to your ability to earn an income. 2. You […]
The types of debt we have largely depends on our age and stage in life. For most of us, having debt in some form or another is an inescapable fact of life. And despite its reputation, debt is not necessarily a dirty word. If managed well, it can be a powerful tool to build wealth, […]
Why goals succeed where resolutions fail
By now school, work and daily routines may be ruling your week once again. And if you made any resolutions over the holiday season, chances are you’re probably slipping back into your old ways. Don’t worry. Researchi has proven resolutions rarely work. Mainly because resolutions tend to expect us to change habits we’ve built over […]