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Key points: There are varying tenure types that can impact your rights over a property in a village Make sure to understand all the costs and fees that are associated with taking a placement in a retirement village Legislation and regulations differ depending on the State or Territory you live in Generally, the deciding factor of whether you rent or buy is subject to your current financial situation. However, you should also consider the retirement lifestyle you want to lead and whether ownership or renting will best assist in reaching those wishes and desires. Retirement villages can be a really…

As the end of financial year gets closer, some investors are thinking about the most effective ways to boost their super balance, particularly with an increase in the caps on contributions from 1 July. The concessional contributions cap, which is the maximum in before-tax contributions you can add to your super each year without paying extra tax, is increasing to $30,000 from $27,500.i The cap increases in line with average weekly ordinary earnings (AWOTE).  It’s a good idea to keep track of your concessional contributions – which include any compulsory contributions made by your employer as well as salary sacrifice…

When you’re planning to buy a home, the first step is to make sure you have a budget that you can stick to. Your budget will help you identify how much you can afford to spend and save, and give you some insights into where you are spending your hard-earned money. We have compiled some easy ways to tighten your spending so you can budget effectively, save for a home, and accelerate your financial wellbeing. Have smart savings goals Your savings goals should be SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time based). Creating SMART goals will help you set yourself…

With ample time left before 30 June, now could be a good time to catch up on super. The early part of each year is often a good time to review your investing strategy for the calendar year ahead and beyond. And, with less than six months to go before 30 June, it’s also a good time to consider shorter-term opportunities. Sometimes it can be a case of use them or lose them. Take this financial year, for example. For some Australians, there’s a concessionally taxed superannuation investment opportunity specifically hinged to the 2018-19 financial year that will expire on…

Here are some factors to consider before you join finances with a partner.  While you’ve likely imagined what a future with your partner looks like, you may not have considered the financial implications of that future. Think: careers, kids, caring for aging parents, and even where you want to live and travel to. In reality, all these things have price tags attached. Of course, every relationship is different and how each person approaches finances is highly personal. In any case, here are a few things to consider if you’re thinking of joining finances with a partner. Identify assets and liabilities…

During the past couple of years property investors have been less active as interest rate rises began eating into their profits. However, as 2024 begins, it’s clear more investors are returning to the real estate market. According to the ABS lending indicators report for October, new loan commitments for investors increased by 5% in one month, up 12.1% over the year.i As market conditions slowly improve, vacancy rates remain extremely tight, and interest rates tipped to fall later this year, some savvy individuals are jumping back in before a new investor wave rolls around. However, before diving straight in there…