Investing in a Rocky Market

This is not the first time we’ve seen the share market performance drop dramatically. Over the years, the share market has experienced a number of much more spectacular falls – including the crashes of 1969 and 1987 where the market fell by 15 per cent or more. However, by its very nature the share market …

Saving Becomes Fashionable

Australians are tightening their purse strings, spending less and saving more. In June 2011, household savings increased to 11.5% of Gross Domestic Product, the highest level since 2009.

Why start saving now?
After the global financial crisis, people have become more cautious, realising the importance of saving in uncertain times or the need to fund their …

Financial Security – Back to Basics

At its simplest, financial security may be defined as having a regular income sufficient to pay for the goods and services we need to live in reasonable comfort. As Mr Micawber said in Charles Dickens David Copperfield , Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen six, result happiness.

Pay less tax when you buy shares

How can you invest your money and produce additional income, yet pay little or no additional tax – and in some cases pay less tax? It’s called dividend imputation and you get it by buying shares in selected Australian companies. Before dividend imputation, tax on company earnings

Estate Planning

We are all aware we should have a will, but how many of us take the time to have one drawn up or keep it updated. Many people don’t realise the consequences of not having your estate planning organised and the unnecessary heartache it can cause for family and loved ones.

When you retire, keep your money working

For many years the conventional wisdom was to put your money into growth investments when saving for retirement and transfer to income investments after retirement. However, this is now widely acknowledged as a risky approach to investment.