There’s a movement toward redefining money: instead of accumulating money for what it can buy, more of us want to use money to live the best life possible with what we have––a concept known as Return on Life™ (ROL).
 

Considering retirement and starting to plan the rest of your life, there are some important decisions you need to make. When you see a financial adviser, you might be surprised to find they’re not always financial.  These are some questions you might need to consider to prepare for retirement.

You don’t need millions to give a house a new lease on life – little things can make a big difference.

Investing in improving the principal in your home is very tax-effective and also has advantages when it comes to the way Centrelink assess your entitlements — because your home is excluded from the assets test. The other benefit of renovations, compared to other types of investment, is that you can actively enjoy and experience the improvements you make.

Shane Oliver, Head of Investment Strategy and Chief Economist at AMP has written an article that looks at five great charts on investing. The key points are as follows:

• At its core, successful investing is simple, but we have a knack of making it look complex.
• These five great charts help illuminate key aspects of investing: the power of compound interest; the investment cycle; the roller coaster of investor emotion; the wall of worry; and time is on your side when investing.

With 30 June fast approaching, now’s the time to put in place the strategies which could save you paying more tax than you need to this financial year and look at the most appropriate tax strategies for the 2018 tax year.

June 30 is fast approaching but there’s still time to consider the strategies available to you to build your wealth. Below are simple tips that could help maximise what you’ve got this financial year.

In the past personal finance wasn't largely taught by schools and money was somewhat a taboo subject to talk about.  This is slowly changing, with an increase in programs being introduced across schools that aim to educate students with good money habits. 

Practicing sound financial habits doesn't have to be difficult and this article explains 17 simple tips from financially successful people.   

If you want your children to grow up making sensible financial decisions, it pays to start early. Guiding your children through the basics of saving, budgeting and spending from a young age will help them to develop good habits for life.

Whether you’re considering options for yourself, or deciding how best to help someone close to you, a transition into aged care is an emotional and life changing process.

In November 2016, the Federal Government passed into law superannuation reforms that were first announced in the May 2016 Federal Budget. Importantly, these changes include reductions in the amount that can be contributed to superannuation

When —and how —should I retire? The answer to this question is never simple. We approach retirement armed with a lifetime of experience but at the same time we have no idea what to expect. Making the transition with confidence requires careful attention to many interconnected issues.

Achieving any goal in life usually involves starting with a plan. Investing is no different. One of the most important things to understand before you embark on an investment plan is the relationship between risk and return.

Life in your 50’s is great. You don’t have a huge mortgage, the kids have grown up and are not as dependant on you, your career has progressed… So what is next financially?When you are in your 50’s you can see retirement on the horizon. Sure it might be 10-20 years off, but it is becoming more tangible. So if you haven’t already, you need to start some serious planning.

With the holiday season fast approaching, it’s tempting to throw out the year’s careful planning and budgeting to splurge in the name of Christmas. But getting into the Christmas spirit doesn’t mean you have to get into debt. Follow these tips on how you may be able to emerge in the New Year debt-free.

Retirement is a life-changing event. After you stop working, you can find yourself with time to do the things you may not have been able to do before, like travelling, volunteering or spending more time with family and friends.

We understand the importance of starting early with regards to developing good financial habits, the link below will take you to a blog on the Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA) website.  The article outlines practical tips to get ahead in your 20’s and 30’s.

Self managed super funds (SMSF's) are similar to other super funds as they are designed to help you build your super savings so you can have the lifestyle you want in retirement.

As many developed countries, Australia’s population is ageing and is expected to rapidly age over the coming decades.

Throughout Australia, a very high number of people have insurance for their possessions – their cars, houses, boats and even their furniture.

Income protection, however, protects the most important valuables – you, your family and your ability to earn income.

A sudden financial windfall can be a life altering event.

You may come to a sudden financial windfall through a lottery winning, divorce, by an inheritance or even as a gift. Whatever the reason and as good as it sounds, it comes with its share of problems and won’t always be easy to manage.