Finding your investment comfort zone: Understanding your risk profile
13 August
Investing is often discussed in terms of returns, markets, interest rates and opportunities. But one of the most important questions comes well before choosing an investment:How much risk are you genuinely comfortable taking?Understanding your...[Read More]
10 things I would tell my younger self about retirement
13 August
When you are young, retirement can feel like a distant destination—something to think about after the mortgage is paid, the children have grown and your working life begins to slow down. Yet, looking back from the age of 70, 80 or beyond, it...[Read More]
Saver or Investor? Understanding when your money needs to work harder
13 August
Most of us begin our financial lives as savers.Our first money goals are usually simple: put something aside for a holiday, build a deposit for a car, create an emergency buffer or save towards a home. Saving provides something enormously valuable...[Read More]
Regular exercise can improve your mental well-being
13 August
Health and fitness go beyond physical well-being; they also play a significant role in maintaining mental and emotional health.Among the various wellness strategies, regular exercise has been proven to have a profound impact on mental...[Read More]
10 strategies for deepening your bond with teenage and young adult children
13 August
Fostering meaningful relationships with teenage and young adult children before they embark on their independent lives is crucial for parents. This phase of life is marked by rapid developmental changes, making it a critical time for parents to...[Read More]
Oliver’s insights – Another hawkish RBA hold at 4.35% – expect one more hike later this year
13 August
Key pointsThe RBA left the cash rate on hold at 4.35% for the second meeting in a row. Some softer than expected readings for underlying inflation, jobs and home prices allowed it to remain in wait and see mode as it “assesses” the impact of the...[Read More]
‘Hawkish’ RBA open to more hikes after holding rates
13 August
The Reserve Bank has left the door open to more interest rate hikes as it held the benchmark lending rate steady for a second straight meeting.Falling house prices and lower-than-expected inflation helped convince the central bank’s nine-member...[Read More]
House-hunters face spring sale shortage in market slump
13 August
Would-be home buyers hoping to snag a bargain could face a shortage of options during the usually busy spring sales season as owners try to ride out a price slump.Auction clearance rates have rebounded from recent multi-year lows, rising to a...[Read More]
Households to bear the brunt of sluggish productivity
13 August
Mortgage holders may have been spared more rate pain by the Reserve Bank but Australia’s chronically weak productivity growth means households will continue to suffer.As the RBA board held interest rates steady for a second-straight meeting, it...[Read More]
Powers of attorney and advance care directives – Who will make decisions if you can’t?
13 August
Most of us spend our lives making our own decisions. We manage our finances, property, health, family matters and everyday affairs without giving much thought to what might happen if one day we were unable to do so. An accident, serious illness,...[Read More]
No surprises as RBA holds interest rates steady at 4.35%
11 August
The Reserve Bank has held interest rates steady for a second straight meeting despite inflation hovering well above its target. In a unanimous decision, the central bank’s nine-member monetary policy board left the cash rate untouched at 4.35 per...[Read More]
Direct shares or managed funds: What is the difference?
6 August
Investing can take many forms, but two of the most common approaches are buying shares directly or investing through a managed fund. Both can provide exposure to investment markets, yet they differ in how they are owned, selected and...[Read More]
Seven things I would tell my younger self about superannuation and investing
6 August
At 60, retirement no longer feels like a distant event. It is close enough to imagine the lifestyle I want, the experiences I hope to enjoy and the financial decisions that will shape the years ahead. Looking back to when I first started work,...[Read More]
Travelling after 70: Keeping adventure in retirement
6 August
Reaching your seventies does not mean your travelling days are over. Yet many retirees begin to second-guess international travel because of health concerns, unfamiliar airports, long flights and the fear that something may go wrong away from...[Read More]
What is your finish line?
6 August
The idea of a finish line is often associated with sport. It might be the white line at the end of a running track, the final kilometre of a marathon or the moment a competitor stands on the podium after years of training. But finish lines exist...[Read More]