You’re nearly there. After a lifetime of toil – of digging, building, thinking, manufacturing, planting, helping and nurturing – it’s time for you to enjoy your Golden Years. If you’re an Australian resident, you’re entitled to an age pension and a Seniors Card. Here’s what you need to do next. Age Pension Eligibility To claim…
Interest rates are an important financial lever for world economies. They affect the cost of borrowing and the return on savings, and it makes them an integral part of the return on many investments. It can also affect the value of the currency, which has a further trickle-down effect on other investments. So, when rates…
Rising interest rates Before 2022, few of us gave much thought to rising interest rates. After all, they’d been falling steadily for 14 years. That changed when the Reserve Bank began lifting the official cash rate to combat inflation. Now most of us are only too aware of how much interest rates can change and…
The ranks of Australians receiving the Age Pension are increasing. It’s important to understand who is eligible and its role in retirement planning. Just days before the 2023 Federal Budget was handed down on 9 May, the Australian Bureau of Statistics released a new report including data on the number of Australians receiving the Age…
Take some of the guesswork out of planning for the future. Work out how much super you’ll have when you retire, and if it will be enough to fund the lifestyle you want. It’s never too soon to start planning for a better financial future. Estimate how much super you’ll have You probably know how…
Managing a healthy cash flow is often tough for small businesses and it is particularly the case right now in the challenging economic conditions. In this climate, recent changes to rules and regulations may both help and hinder cash flow. Here are some to keep an eye on. Minimum wage rise The Fair Work Commission’s…
If you need help in your home, or can no longer live independently, the Australian Government provides a range of aged care services. These services are subsidised, but you need to contribute to the cost if you can afford to. Where to start The first thing to do is think about what you need. You…
Which key events have been driving markets? Find out with Senior Economist Bob Cunneen. Read More…
Before you retire If you’re planning to retire, you need to consider: your age including if you have reached your preservation age when you can access your super how much tax you will pay on amounts you receive if good leaver conditions apply if you are part of an Employee Share Scheme if the retirement capital…
Many Australians now technically qualify to be certified as a sophisticated investor, but what are the benefits and risks? Sophisticated is a word that can have a wide range of connotations. In the subjective sense it may be used to describe people considered to be well educated, knowledgeable and experienced. But there is an entirely…