News Updates
AS IT HAPPENS
People who plan have more control of their lives because they can see options to move forward. This provides them with a sense of security and happiness, without fear of regret. And for many of us that’s what living the dream is about. Here we talk to 7 Aussies from different walks of life about living the dream....
As Warren Buffett once said: “There seems to be a perverse human characteristic that makes easy things difficult.” This has particularly been the case with investing where complexity has multiplied with new products, new ways to access various investments, tax changes and new regulations, all with social media adding to the noise. But it’s really quite simple and this can be demonstrated in charts...
Grab yourself a cup of coffee for this particular article, because you're going to need one. This note focuses on the importance of staying on top your family trust deeds. It's a little lengthy but please stay with me on this if you can - and if not, just call me and I'll point you in the right direction...
In taking the nation's collective pulse on financial related behaviours and beliefs, the FPA Live the Dream report has uncovered some fascinating insights into how Aussies are living out their dreams and what it takes to succeed. Four personality profiles have emerged from the research: Go-Getters (33%), Cruisers (19%), Daydreamers (32%), and Builders (16%). Which personality do you mostly identify with?
Do all your future plans rely on having a lot more money than you do now? If the answer is yes, it might be time to think carefully about your values so you can put together a realistic financial plan that will bring you closer to the sort of life you want.
Planning for your financial future doesn’t have to be about chasing more money. Achieving a real sense of having enough to feel comfortable and happy is more about understanding what’s important to you and then managing your finances accordingly. So just how much is enough for each one of us?
Many people approaching retirement with elderly parents and adult children are feeling the pressure on their time and finances. Find out why it’s important to put your own wellbeing first.
Thanks to the twin trends of growing life expectancy and rising house prices, more and more people are finding themselves joining the ranks of the sandwich generation. Recent estimates put the number of Australians in the sandwich generation at more than 1.5 million1. That’s a lot of people juggling the responsibilities of aged care, child care and often a job too.
When kids are starting school, will your finances be ready too? You’ll often have many other financial commitments at this time - your mortgage, family holidays, insurance, grocery bills and more. If you think a fee-paying school could be on the cards, how will you cope with another big bill to pay?
Contrary to our expectations, the Australian dollar has recently broken out of the $US0.72 to $US0.78 range of the last 15 months or so on the upside and spiked above $US0.80, its highest in over two years.
So what gives? Why has the $A broken higher? Is it an Australian dollar or US dollar story? What will be the impact on the economy? Is it on its way to parity again or will the downtrend resume? Read more here.
According to the Global Sustainable Investment Alliance, over $22 trillion of assets were managed under responsible investment strategies globally in 2016, up 25% from 2014.
The rise of ESG (environmental, social and governance) investing can be attributed to a number of factors, such as generational change (Millennials and Generation X increasingly taking over from Baby Boomers in positions of influence), shifting energy sources (like renewable energy), climate change finally becoming a reality, and public-private collaborations. The list goes on.
Make no mistake, ethical/socially responsible/sustainable investing is not a vanity project or a niche thing. These days you can help out the planet by getting your money out of fossil fuels, or give the human race a break by divesting from weapons or tobacco, and still make a nice return.
For more information call us on 9382 8885.
Rick Maggi
Source: finder.com.au
Investing is often seen as complicated. And this has been made worse over the years by the increasing complexity in terms of investment products and choices, regulations and rules around investing, the role of the information revolution and social media in amplifying the noise around investment markets and the expanding ways available to access various investments.
But at its core, the basic principles of successful investing are simple. And one way to demonstrate that is in charts or pictures – after all, a picture tells a thousand words.
This note looks at five charts I find useful in understanding investing. Check back soon as another 5 charts are coming your way.
