Five steps to peace of mind The final report of the Retirement Income Review ( July 2020) found that 28% of early retirees are in financial stress. This report was tabled two years ago, before interest rates and the Consumer Price Index began to increase so...
Retirement Income Articles
The pros and cons of downsizing
Is it right for you? Downsizing is frequently a major turning point in retirement. It’s not for everybody, but it does offer a rewarding and potentially lucrative strategy for many older Australians. In fact, access to home equity can mean the difference...
Why aren’t the banks passing on rate rises to savers?
And how can you earn more? The Reserve Bank increases the cash rate…. Homeowners face mortgage stress… And banks pass on rate rises in full Well that last one isn’t true is it? Or at best half true. The banks pass on rate rises in full very very quickly...
New Super Laws
What you will be getting? Don’t you just hate jargon? And when it comes to finance there is a lot of it about. Take the recently legislated Retirement Income Covenant (RIC), known as the Corporate Collective Investment Vehicle Framework and Other Measures...
Home Equity Access Scheme Revamp
Two significant retirement income changes became law on 1 July. With most of the attention firmly focussed on changes to Age Pension and deeming thresholds, they were easy to overlook. But they could, over the longer term, definitively change the way...
Cutting household costs
Ten ways to save on your bills You may already be an enthusiastic budgeter. Or you may be a spendthrift. Either way, as prices head skyward, it’s always helpful to keep your household expenses as low as possible. Today we share how to save money in the ten...
Is it time to rethink cash?
Another rate rise - Is it time to rethink cash? Last Tuesday the Reserve Bank Governor Philip Lowe announced a 50-basis point increase in the official cash rate, raising it from 0.85% to 1.35%. This increase is the third in three months, following those of...
End of Year tax rules for retirees
Tax rules for retirees Thursday marks the end of financial year 2022. Or the EOFY as it’s now commonly known. Many people assume – incorrectly – that retirees who don’t earn income don’t need to file anything. This is not true. There are two points to make...
Working when retired – Is it worth it?
One of the major myths about retirees is that they don’t work. This is the opposite of what’s really happening. Many retirees are still in the paid work force, albeit working fewer hours. Just as many others are beavering away doing volunteer work. In fact...