It was a year of extremes, with shares hitting record highs and interest rates at historic lows. Yet all in all, 2019 delivered far better returns than Australian investors dared hope for at the start of the year. The total return from Australian shares (prices and dividend income) was 24 per cent in the year […]
The holidays are traditionally a time to relax and reflect on the importance of family. They are also an opportune moment to think about how you can care for and protect your family all year round. When you are enjoying the summer break with your loved ones, it can be hard to imagine anything could […]
Your financial well-being and plans for the future can be impacted by various economic events. Below is a video to assist you to stay up to date with the latest indicators. The economic news out of the US and in Australia was mostly positive in October. But that didn’t stop a global sharemarket correction. We […]
Investors started 2018 full of hope, with the global economy and financial markets in good shape. But by year’s end they were uncertain and a little anxious about what lay ahead. Markets responded with last minute falls across all asset classes. The issues that weighed heavily were the unresolved trade dispute between the US and […]
Your financial well-being and plans for the future can be impacted by various economic events, so below is a video to assist you to stay up to date with the latest indicators. The economic news out of the US and in Australia was mostly positive in November, but that didn’t stop a global sharemarket correction. […]
It’s been a decade since the market crash known as the Global Financial Crisis rocked the investment world. At the time investors could only watch in disbelief as 50 per cent was wiped off the value of their shares. Arguably, the actions those investors took are still reverberating today. Which begs the question: what are […]
One of the golden rules of investing is diversification, but that can be difficult to achieve when you are just starting out or have limited funds to tap into a world of opportunities. Which is why investors have been flocking to exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and listed investment companies (LICs). ETFs and LICs are like managed […]
Retirement Villages are marketed as being the optimum lifestyle choice for recent retirees. Often in ideal locations with all the facilities for a stress-free lifestyle. But with complex fee structures and inconsistent regulation, retirement village living should be approached with caution. Before becoming emotionally attached to the idea of living next to a golf course or an ocean. […]
Interest rates have been low for so long it’s tempting to think low rates are the new normal. So when the Reserve Bank suggests that a cash rate of 3.5 per cent is the new ‘neutral’, people take notice. Even the Prime Minister warned Australian householders to prepare for higher interest rates ahead.i The official […]
Summary The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Board met on 1 August and left the official cash rate on hold at 1.5%, as widely expected. There has been no change in the official cash rate since August 2016. After making significant gains in June, the Australian dollar was stronger over the month, supported partly by […]