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)....
What are retirement income streams?

What are retirement income streams?

A Retirement Income Stream is the term most commonly used to describe retirement income products, including Account Based Pensions, Defined Benefit Pensions and Annuities. Such products typically supplement other sources of retirement income, including: the Age...
What is decumulation and why should you care?

What is decumulation and why should you care?

Decumulation would have to be the most boring name for what should be the most exciting stage of your retirement income journey – that time when you get your money out! But it has become a turn off term because the rules seem so complex that many people go into denial...
Is retirement planning set and forget, asks Philippa?

The changing face of shareholders

Are you a shareholder? If so, you’re part of a growing club according to key findings from the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX). In 1986 just 9% of Australians owned shares. Now it’s 35%, with a median portfolio size of $130,000. And these statistics refer to holdings...