Time for extra work?

Time for extra work?

There’s an interesting crossover between rising prices and rising job vacancies that may have a major impact on your retirement savings. In the USA the inflation rate is over 6% – the highest rate for many years. Australia is not immune from such increases with...
Your risk tolerance explained

Your risk tolerance explained

Risk tolerance is a commonly used expression. Many assume it means that you are either a high risk or low risk investor. And that your rating is related only to returns. But this is not the case. Retirees and those planning retirement face a bewildering array of...
Deeming Rates

Deeming Rates

Centrelink uses deeming rates to determine how much you earn. These earnings are added to any other income streams and this total is used to assess your age pension eligibility and the rate you will be paid. The reason a ‘deeming rate’ is used is because Australian...
The Cashless Welfare Card

The Cashless Welfare Card

A new bill has been introduced to the House of Representatives to curtail the use of Cashless Debit Cards (CDCs) for older Australians. The intention of giving welfare recipients this card was to prevent them from spending on substances which are harmful, with 80% of...
Will you outlive your money?

Will you outlive your money?

How long do your savings need to last?? The younger you are the easier it can be to cope with financial setbacks. That’s because there is usually a ‘tomorrow’ in sight when you can work harder, earn more, put things back in place. Things change when you start planning...
Crypto currency – what is it?

Crypto currency – what is it?

The most well-known cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, was invented in 2009, although there is still some conjecture about who the actual inventor is. Cryptocurrency is a form of digital currency – no paper, no coins. It exists in a digital ledger with very strong...
Reserve Bank cash rates stable

Reserve Bank cash rates stable

Why do retirees care? There were few surprises last week when the Reserve Bank decided for the 12th time in a row to leave the official cash rate at 0.10% But what exactly is the cash rate? And more importantly, what does this mean for retirees? The cash rate target...
Increased Cost of Living

Increased Cost of Living

The September quarter Consumer Price Index (CPI) was released last week. This index measures movements of prices in key categories of consumer spending on a quarterly and annual basis. The September 2021 CPI rose 0.8% for the quarter and 3.0% year-on-year (YOY)....