A very different retirement awaits For generations of Australians, owning the family home outright by retirement was almost taken for granted. Source: Vanguard’s How Australia Retires Report 2026 (page 23). It doesn’t need to be complicated A retirement plan doesn’t necessarily need to be complicated. It can start with a few basic questions, whether you’re … Read more
How well do we understand our money? Most of us make financial decisions almost every day. We decide whether to save or spend, how much of the mortgage to pay down, where to invest and, eventually, how to turn decades of savings into an income that can support us through retirement. But how well do … Read more
How to dispose of shares You can dispose of your shares in the following ways: selling them giving them away (gifting shares) transferring them to a spouse as the result of a breakdown in your marriage or relationship through share buy-backs through mergers, takeovers and demergers because the company goes into liquidation. It’s important you … Read more
For many people approaching retirement, the transition from full-time work to retirement is no longer a sudden stop. Instead, it’s often a gradual process that involves reducing work hours, maintaining cash flow and continuing to build retirement savings. One strategy that can support this approach is a Transition to Retirement Income Stream (TRIS or TTR).i … Read more
Retirement starts long before your last day at work There are certain moments in life that reshape not just your finances, but the way you live. Starting a family, moving overseas for a job, changing careers – retirement belongs in that same category in terms of its significance. Traditionally, retirement has been viewed as a … Read more
Floating rate bonds tend to receive less attention than shares or fixed rate bonds. Yet in Australia, floating rate bonds are far from niche. They play a starring role in Australia’s credit market as the favoured source of debt funding by the major banks. Floating rates are a familiar concept in our financial lives too, … Read more
Many people are surprised to learn that some of their largest assets may not be covered by their will. With recent changes affecting testamentary trusts and ongoing complexity around superannuation death benefits, now is a good time to review your arrangements. New rules announced in the 2026-27 Federal Budget, combined with the growing complexity … Read more
If your insurer offers a cash settlement instead of organising repairs, it’s important to understand what you’re agreeing to. What is a home insurance cash settlement? If you submit a claim on your home insurance, the insurer might offer to pay you an agreed amount (a cash settlement) instead of arranging repairs or replacing damaged items. If … Read more
If the financial markets could talk, then bonds would probably be saying: “We’re not convinced the story is over yet”. Bond yields have been rising around the world as investors reassess the outlook for inflation, economic growth and government borrowing. The moves have been significant enough to influence mortgage rates, government finances and investment portfolios. … Read more
