Investment markets can be unpredictable. Just when you get used to enjoying a prolonged period of strong returns, suddenly you can be faced with a wild share market rollercoaster and begin wondering whether you should get off. Consistently strong … [Read more...]
Are women smarter investors than men?
Men are the best investors. Or so Hollywood tells us. “Greed is good,” Michael Douglas’ Gordon Gekko famously announced in Wall Street, immortalising the notion that brash, testosterone-fuelled risk taking is the key to investment success. The … [Read more...]
Super or the mortgage?
Why super? There are two key reasons why topping up your super could be a better option. The first is that home loan repayments are usually made with after-tax money. Alternatively, super contributions can be made with pre-tax dollars (if you’re … [Read more...]
At the heart of an investment portfolio
ETF investors following a classic core-satellite strategy hold the core of their portfolios in index-tracking ETFs. Such investors then hold the remainder of their portfolios in smaller "satellites" of selected direct investments and actively-managed … [Read more...]
Dividends cushion an eight-year rollercoaster ride
Dividends have cushioned an eight-year rollercoaster ride for share investors. This is illustrated by looking at the ups and downs of the S&P/ASX200 Index (prices only) and the S&P/ASX200 Accumulation Index (share price plus dividends) over … [Read more...]
Some Australians are banking on inheritance to secure retirement
Almost one third of all Australians may be relying on the inheritance to pay off the mortgage and ensure their financial security in retirement, according to recent research by MLC, the Australia Today report. Lifestyle trumps mortgage as a goal … [Read more...]
Managing a holiday home
Reproduced with the permission of the Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia (MFAA) Before you take the leap into holiday-home investment, it is essential that you consider all angles. This means taking your heart out of the equation and … [Read more...]
Going undercover
Reproduced with permission of Vanguard Investments Australia Ltd First the good news. Millions of Australians gain their life and disability insurance as well as income-protection insurance through their super funds' default cover. And the level of … [Read more...]
Start 2016 on the right foot
December 2015 General Advice Warning: Any advice in this publication is of a general nature only and has not been tailored to your personal circumstances. Please seek personal advice prior to acting on this information. Around half of us make New … [Read more...]
How to shop safely online this Christmas
If you want to avoid the crazy crowds this Christmas, shopping online can be faster, easier, cheaper, and offer more choice than your average shopping centre. But, while most online businesses are legitimate, online fraud does exist – leaving you … [Read more...]