I’m young – do I need life insurance now? Life insurance is usually not something people think about until they begin to accumulate assets, debts and dependants. And there can be a fair amount of information to sift through, including some little known and commonly misunderstood facts. But you shouldn’t leave it too late in life to think about your cover. By ensuring you have appropriate cover when young and fit, you could save yourself …
An update on the US rate rise Although we’ve seen declines on Wall Street this week, there’s still strong growth in the US market. The most recent rate hike in the US may have investors concerned that the Fed could threaten markets with even more aggressive hikes. But I don’t think that is likely; I expect the Fed will continue raising interest rates at a gradual pace. The latest 25 basis point rise takes …
Weekly Market Update 12 October 2018 Investment markets and key developments over the past week Share markets fell sharply over the last week led by the US share market primarily on the back of worries about rising interest rates and bond yields and the deteriorating US/China relationship. Bond yields generally declined though reflecting safe haven demand which also benefited the gold price. Iron ore prices rose which is good for Australia, but the oil price …
Credit rating myths busted With the introduction of mandatory Comprehensive Credit Reporting for the big four banks from 1 July 2018, it’s more important than ever to know what’s going on with your credit score. Find out just what a credit score is all about and what to do if you run into problems with yours. What is a credit score? Also known as your credit rating, your credit score is based on a report …
The wallet challenge – savings and budget checklist Budgeting and savings might sound very basic, but many people find it difficult to get these fundamentals right, or don’t have these in place at all. Here are some tips to help you get started, and on the right track to building your personal wealth. Have a plan If you are planning to go anywhere, you will need to know your starting point and destination, otherwise you’ll just …
Outlook for the Australian economy Investors might have noted some recent positives in the Australian economy. June quarter GDP growth of 3.4% was above potential and its fastest rate since 2012. We have also seen pretty good jobs numbers, with the unemployment rate trending down and sitting at a six-year low of 5.3%. And job ads, job vacancies and employment surveys have also been solid. (While job vacancies growth slowed to 0.6% in the …
Investment checklist: Developing an investment strategy No matter what stage of investing you are at, it’s important to have a strategy that matches your goals and personal needs and to keep checking that it’s working for you. Here’s a checklist of issues and questions to help you along your investment journey: Your destination: Are you clear on why you want to invest and what you want to achieve? For example, do you want to accumulate money …
Don’t allow a BoMaD to ruin your retirement What is a BoMaD and why should you care? The BoMaD – or Bank of Mum and Dad – is the 10th largest lending institution in Australia, ahead of ING, Suncorp and Bendigo Bank. It is estimated to be lending $65 billion per annum, according to a Mozo survey in September 2017. That’s right, $65 billion a year is being transferred from the pockets of Australian mums and …
Seven rules for success If you’re ready to start living your dreams, it might be time to change the rules you live by. Actor Charmaine Bingwa and CEO Kylie Travers tell us about the rules that have kept them moving on the path to success. 1. Know what your values are When you set goals that connect with your values, it’s easier to make decisions and take action that moves you towards them. “Working out your core values – …
Weekly Market Update 5 October 2018 Investment markets and key developments over the past week Share markets fell over the last week, largely in response to a renewed rise in bond yields. Commodity prices rose, although this was mainly due to higher oil prices. Strong US economic data and some rise in expectations for Fed tightening saw the $US rise and this saw the $A fall below $US0.71. Bond yields have resumed their rising trend, with …
