by James Coyle | Nov 4, 2022 | Retirement Income
Budget 2022 fine print: Big wins for homeowners Money gained from the sale of your home has some lucrative superannuation concessions attached. But these so-called ‘downsizer’ rules previously only applied to those aged 65 or over. This changed on 1 July when the...
by James Coyle | Nov 4, 2022 | Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
At last the extended benefits of the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card are now available to the vast majority of retirees who are not eligible for an Age Pension. We most recently reported on this when the legislation was awaiting approval in the Senate. This passed...
by James Coyle | Oct 28, 2022 | Investing
How safe is your cash? – Take this 5-minute check Cash is king in the eyes of many retirees but how safe is your cash? The feedback from many financial experts emphasises the importance of holding a minimum amount of cash in case you need some funds for...
by James Coyle | Oct 28, 2022 | Planning for Retirement
Those that receive advice rate it very highly. Despite this the financial planning industry has been through a difficult few years, as evidenced by the reduction in the number of licensed advisers from a peak of nearly 30,000 in 2018 to the current level of almost...
by James Coyle | Oct 27, 2022 | Retirement Income
How you surprised us There’s an old saying used by politicians and their pollsters, ‘Never ask a question to which you don’t already know the answer’. Not only is that sentiment cynical, it’s also stupid. How will we ever learn if we let our egos get in the way? And...
by James Coyle | Oct 25, 2022 | Planning for Retirement
October 2022 Federal Budget Was there anything in it for older Australians? The Treasurer Jim Chalmers delivered his first budget last night. The first budget for a new Government is a time to establish its economic credentials. This was certainly a focus for the...
by James Coyle | Oct 21, 2022 | Retirement Income
Five ways to stretch your money: Quick checks for better results Australians are living longer than ever, even after taking the Covid pandemic into account. This is great news for all, but it also leads to the obvious corollary – how to fund a longer life in...
by James Coyle | Oct 20, 2022 | Planning for Retirement
Are you scam-proof? Probably not An alarming new superannuation scam was revealed by ABC TV this past week. Unsurprisingly many retirees are shocked and concerned they might be next on the list. How likely is this to happen to you? Here are the facts and what you can...
by James Coyle | Oct 14, 2022 | Investing
Maybe you need to think again Are you a risk taker? No, not me, is the likely reply. But think again. The concept of taking risks is redolent with images of sky diving, bungee jumping and travel to remote corners of the globe. Maybe these aren’t activities you’ve...
by James Coyle | Oct 14, 2022 | Retirement Income
Global pension rankings: How good is Australia? How does Australia’s retirement income system rank globally? It’s easy to lose sight of this wider context if you are struggling to live on your current income while concerned about rising prices and nervy markets. But...
