A new financial year can be an opportune time to take stock of your overall personal finances and make changes if needed. In this article, we provide a list of questions that may help you with this.

With 30 June coming up, please consider putting aside time to review your personal finances—and take action, prior to this date, if appropriate. In this article, we provide EOFY planning tips.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg delivered the 2020-21 Federal Budget on 6 October 2020. We provide you with an overview of the main proposed measures that may be relevant to you and your personal finances.

The Treasurer delivered a ‘mini-budget’ on 23 July 2020—an economic and fiscal update. In this article, we provide a summary of the update, inclusive of the main personal finance-related points.

The construction industry (among others) has been adversely impacted by COVID-19. In this article, we provide information on the Government’s recently announced HomeBuilder grant program.

With the end of financial year on the horizon, it’s important to review areas of our personal finances, and take action if required, before 30 June. In this article, we discuss EOFY planning tips.

When an adverse event does occur, the outcome for those with an appropriate measure in place and those without can be vastly different. In this article, we list various personal finance measures.

Economic and financial issues continue to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic. In this article, we provide information on the Government’s support of businesses in this difficult time.

Economic and financial issues continue to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic. In this article, we provide information on the Government’s support for individuals and households in this difficult time.

A resolution is a firm decision to do or not to do something. In this article, we discuss New Year’s resolutions, and why it can be challenging to keep these resolutions (and resolutions generally).

Change is inevitable. In this article, we cover legislative changes to the Higher Education Loan Program, the Farm Household Allowance, the Paid Parental Leave Scheme, and overseas welfare recipients.

Getting ahead financially can involve an analysis of your existing financial situation; seeing if adjustments are required in one or more areas. In this article, we discuss household financial waste.

When it ticks over to a new financial year, often existing rates and thresholds increase, and new legislative instruments take effect. In this article, we discuss the state of play from 1 July 2019.

As we approach the end of financial year (EOFY), this can be an opportune time to do some fine-tuning in areas of your personal finances. In this article, we provide EOFY planning tips.

Proper, ongoing management accounting is crucial for running a successful, long-term business. This is the same for your personal accounting. In this article, we explore personal financial statements.

The saying ‘asset-rich, but income-poor’ can be an accurate description of the financial situation of some retirees. In this article, we look at the Government’s Pension Loans Scheme.

Several proposals regarding small and medium businesses, primary producers and farmers, consumers, aged care and education have recently been legislated. In this article, we unpack these for you.

With 2019 here, it’s time to kick-start your personal finances for the year ahead. In this article, we provide you with a financial checklist to help you take stock of your personal circumstances.

For some of us, there will come a time when we part ways with our spouse for one reason or another. In this article, we look at several findings regarding the financial impact of divorce.

In our daily lives, we are constantly confronted with consumer-based distractions of a predominantly ‘want purchase’ nature. As a result, staying on the path towards the achievement of your financial goals and objectives can sometimes prove difficult. In this article, we discuss this further.

Treasurer Scott Morrison delivered the 2018-19 Federal Budget on 8 May 2018. We provide you with a summary of the main proposed measures that may be relevant to you and your personal finances.

Residential investment properties are assets purchased to achieve an investment objective, and their acquisition is based on financial benefit. Income-generation is an important part of the rate of return equation. As such, we explore some considerations regarding attraction and retention of tenants.

Perspective can be a powerful tool when used appropriately. Have you ever wondered how you compare to the average Australian in terms of financial attitudes and behaviours? We look at several of the findings from ASIC’s latest Australian Financial Attitudes and Behaviour Tracker (Wave 5).

The 2017 Budget introduced many proposed measures aimed at addressing the issue of housing affordability and several of these are now law. We will review the new laws and how they relate to a residential property investor, retirees wishing to downsize or a prospective first homebuyer.

Warren Buffett, known as the ‘Oracle of Omaha’, is arguably one of the most successful investors of all time. In this article, we take a look at some of his most famous quotes and apply the meaning behind them to certain areas of your personal finances, such as investing, risk management and philanthropy.

When considering your personal finances, is there a battle between your present and future self? In this article, we look at the importance of aligning your present self with your future self.

The new financial year has ushered in many legislative changes when it comes to personal finances. These are most noticeable in superannuation, but also impact other areas. Read more about these changes and how they may affect you.

The end of financial year is close. In this article, we look at end of financial year planning strategies that may be worth considering, when it comes to tax and superannuation.

The 2017-18 Federal Budget delivered on the 9 May 2017 was packed with several already anticipated moves, whilst also delivering a few surprises. In this article, we provide a summary of the main announcements that may affect you.

A belief held by many economists is that there is at least one more interest rate cut expected from the Reserve Bank of Australia this year should employment, wages growth, and household spending continue to remain sluggish. We examine interest rate predictions and what they may mean for you.

Wealth accumulation can be as simple as putting aside money each week into a high-interest savings account, paying down your debts, or building a diversified investment portfolio inside or outside of superannuation. Does the family home also come into mind when considering your personal wealth?

There’s been recent cover in the news on how we are becoming increasingly exposed to gambling, due in part to the many options now available to us online. Being more informed can help you gain a better understanding of how gambling can impact you and your family.

Are you planning a renovation? Renovating a property is more than just a pure financial decision. It can have significant implications not only for your cash flow, but also for your lifestyle. So before you get going, take stock and make sure you’ve considered everything.

A new financial year, just like a new calendar year is a great time to set new goals and make resolutions. For many people, setting resolutions is the easy part, but sticking to them can be quite difficult - some tricks on setting resolutions you can actually achieve.

If you have a Gen Y in your family, you may have noticed that their attitude to money is different to yours. Here are some things you can do to help your Gen Y stay on track financially. 

Moving in with a partner can be an exciting time, but don’t just jump in. Take the time to think upfront about the financial practicalities and what it could mean if things don’t go according to plan. This might apply to you or a loved one.

It’s nearly time to sign off from work and start the holidays. Give yourself a stress-free vacation knowing that your finances are taken care of by ticking off these financial ‘to-dos’. 

With so many decisions to make in life, we often forget to plan. But certain events are too important to gamble with - have you planned for the things that matter? 

Do you know what your credit score is? Have you seen your credit report? Get informed about your credit history and find out how it affects your access to financial services. A lot more affects your credit score than you might think.

Spring property season is here and many investors are on the hunt. Perhaps you are considering whether investing in property is the appropriate choice for you? Here are some things you might like to consider first. 

Have you spent your tax refund yet or are you planning to? There can be a number of worthwhile options when it comes to spending or investing your tax refund. You might utilise a couple of different ideas. We explore a few.

There are many things to consider when returning to work after caring for young ones. There are both financial and non-financial considerations. This article explores the important things that need to be considered.

Credit Card balance transfers can be a little tricky, however they can be beneficial. It is wise to compare apples with apples and be clear on honeymoon interest rates, fees and repayment terms. Find out what the benefits are and what to watch out for.

When the unexpected happens and unplanned financial expenses occur do you have the funds at call ready to cover them or are you someone who uses credit to bail yourself out?

Knowing just what to do with surplus cash can be difficult. How do you figure out whether it’s better to invest in your own name, pay down your mortgage or put more in your super fund?

If you’re looking to go broke then here are a few tried and tested money mistakes that people make and which can put you on the road to financial distress, fast! If you don’t want to go broke, avoid these.

What if you could reduce the interest on your home loan without making extra repayments on the loan? An offset account may enable you to do just that.

Money is often referred to as wealth and people measure wealth in different ways. Some think of wealth as being their total assets, whilst others use their annual salary and some their hourly wage. But what exactly is money and what does it represent to you?

You don’t need to be an economic whiz to understand the Federal Budget, just take a quick look at our “Jargon Buster – Federal Budget Edition” for explanation of key terminology used by politicians, economists and the media when talking about the budget.

Recent changes to the Privacy Act have changed what information is recorded in our credit reports. Failure to pay our bills on time could now have significant consequences on our ability to secure finance in the future.

The decision on whether to give children pocket money, at what age, and how much will largely depend on your family values and financial position. What benefit does a little pocket money have in teaching children how to manage money?

In this article we look at ways of managing debt.

In this article we look at the role of the RBA and the different types of interest applied to loans as they reach each of us as consumers.

If you feel like you’ve run out of time to get your affairs in order, the good news is there’s a few considerations which can help minimise your tax, and make the most of the money you earn.

If your budget points to there being surplus income left over each pay, it helps to have a plan for these savings.

Christmas is a time of giving and it’s very easy to overspend. Here are our tips to help reduce the new year debt headache or Christmas hangover!

In an age where the average person carries multiple credit cards, it still pays to pick the right ones.

As of the 30th September 2012 the first home owner grant for established properties will end. This will be replaced by the New Homes Scheme from 1 October 2012.

As of 1 July 2012, the new credit card reforms can potentially help you make reasonable savings and enable you to clear your debt faster.

If things are a bit tight you may be able to spend less without making too many radical changes to your standard of living. Making small changes can make a significant difference over the longer term.

One way to fund lifestyle costs in retirement is to use the equity in your own home. Reverse Mortgages enable the homeowner to release equity from their home while still residing in the property. Like most things, there are pro’s and con’s to using a Reverse Mortgage.

A Line of Credit Loan (LOC) allows you to have both a loan account and a bank account. Sometimes this bank account is called an Offset account.

Consumer finance is a great tool for retailers to make expensive items affordable to customers and an ideal way for customers to purchase goods that may have otherwise been out of reach due to low savings.

For some, it may seem trivial to review the nature of compounding, but it’s such a powerful tool for any investor that it warrants a review in this article.

If you do have future financial goals, such as, retirement, buying a house, paying off your mortgage or buying a car or boat, then planning can certainly help achieve such goals in a timely and effective way.

Although some parents are dead against it, many like the idea of giving their kids a bit of assistance to get started into adulthood. Regardless of what you look at, the earlier you start, the easier it will be.

Poor calibration of confidence indicates that we are not really aware of what we know and don't know, leading to either overconfidence or underconfidence. Such a position can lead to costly financial mistakes.

What does it mean to calibrate your confidence? Consider the accident ratios for young drivers. Drivers under 21 are more likely to be in a car accident than those over 21. Is the reason for this inexperience and therefore a lack of driving competence?

The RBA Governor has recently warned us to expect that interest rates will continue to climb. So what should you do in an environment where interest rates are still on the rise?

Debt and leverage was one of the main causes of the GFC. How did people lose their homes?

As there are so many areas of finance, it can be overwhelming to review every area of your finances. Here is a short list of suggestions that might help you choose some areas that you would like to review or make a change in.