Don’t hold your breath, but extending compulsory super to 15% has long been a Labor ambition and is part of its policy platform. After the election, the financial services minister, Stephen Jones, indicated this was still on the longer-term agenda, though in its first term the government will be more concerned with bedding down the…
It was the overwhelming silence that hit Judy, the first time she visited her family home after her mother’s passing, and with that thought, the slow, deepening realisation that she was going to have to cope with a lot more than the heartbreaking grief. As she sat alone, surrounded by the possessions her mother had…
Personal insurances are designed to provide protection from the financial consequences of death or disability. They, therefore, form an important part of most financial plans. Here, in brief, is how they work. What are the different types of personal insurance? Life insurance. This pays a lump sum benefit if you die. Total and permanent…
Few structures are as widely used but as little understood as trusts, especially when it comes to the potential tax consequences which can arise when they are misused. A trust is basically a structure that allows a person or company to hold an asset for the benefit of others. The person who controls the asset…
Staying the course, and not being distracted by short-term market events, is just as important in retirement as it is at any other time. Retiring from work shouldn’t necessarily equate to retiring from managing your investment portfolio. In fact, taking an active role in your investments during retirement will ensure you have the best chance…