As we approach the end of another year, many people will be looking forward to the festive season and the chance to slow down and catch up with family, particularly older parents. Busy lives and distant homes can make it easy to feel out of touch. But this may be a time when adult children notice changes in their ageing parents and can also be a time for parents to take control over their future with advice and family discussions.

You’ve probably noticed that house prices in Australia consistently outstrip growth in wages. But by how much? And what can you do to make sure you’re not forever chasing the great Australian dream?

Each generation faces its own unique set of challenges (and opportunities!).

Whether you’re looking to buy, sell or hold, there’s a good chance you’ve wondered whether the property market will tumble when interest rates rise, right? Today we’ll look at what happened to house prices when interest rates were hiked in the past.

Mortgage holders are facing a sooner-than-expected cash rate rise after the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) revised its outlook due to the economy bouncing back strongly from the Delta outbreak. So just how soon can we expect a rate rise?

Buying your first home is always a big step, but with property prices rising faster than pay packets taking that first step seems more challenging than ever.

Asset rich and income poor is the dilemma faced by many retirees. But there may be opportunities to boost your income in retirement by tapping into your biggest asset – your home.

With property prices booming, many retirees are finding that the home they have lived in for decades is worth a small fortune, but for various reasons they don’t wish to sell or downsize.

Greater flexibility in working arrangements has been a by-product of the pandemic, as working from home has become more widespread. In fact, The Families in Australia Survey: Towards COVID Normal reported in November 2020 that two thirds of Aussies were working from home.

More than half of Australian house hunters spend the same amount of time inspecting a property as they do watching an episode on Netflix, according to new research.

We get it. You see a house you like and you immediately want to buy it, warts and all.

It is the great Australian dream to own your own home. But how does your home affect your age pension or the aged care fees you can be asked to pay?

Eligibility for an age pension and liability to pay aged care fees, are both impacted by your assets and income. This includes an assessment of where you live and your ownership status.

We’ve all been guilty of the odd credit card mix-up from time to time – it happens! But if you’re consistently relying on a personal credit card to pay your business expenses – like 4-in-10 SME owners – then it’s probably time to explore other funding options.

Are the days of ultra-low fixed interest rates over? It’s looking increasingly so, with two major banks increasing their fixed rates this week. So if you’ve been thinking about fixing your mortgage lately, it could be time to consider doing so.

I wish I had a dollar for every time I have been casually asked “what would you recommend as an investment right now?”. It’s easy to see why someone might think I would be a good person to ask.

Almost 33,000 Australians bought their first home four years sooner thanks to two federal government schemes that give first home buyers a leg up into the property market. Could you, or someone you know, be eligible?

Some borrowers will soon find it harder to get a mortgage after the banking regulator announced tougher serviceability tests for home loans. So who will they impact most?

For many people, there’s much more to choosing investments than focusing exclusively on financial returns. Returns are important, but a growing number of people also want their investments align with their values.

Throughout our lives, making a decision is something we do thousands of times a day. Our first thought occurs as soon as we wake, and our final thought when we drift off to sleep. Researchers have found on average, that most people will have approximately 6,200 thoughts per day.i

NSW has taken its first big step in emerging from their time in lockdown. In my location in Victoria, that will also start to occur over the coming weeks. Our thoughts are already starting to look to that future when more of our freedoms are returned.

Superannuation has provided most fund members with stellar returns since last year’s COVID lows. Some funds performed better than others and recent government reforms make it easier to find out how your fund compares.

Did you think you wouldn’t qualify for the government subsidies on home care? Take another look – you might be surprised.

Did you think you wouldn’t qualify for the government subsidies on home care? Take another look – you might be surprised.