Buying your first home is often billed as a rite of passage. But given current market conditions in Australia, it’s more complex than ever. Before diving into debt and commitment, there are many things to think through. Here’s a breakdown of what the data shows, what you should consider, and when waiting or choosing alternatives…
In recent years, thanks to easy access to information, trading apps, and social media influencers, also known as “finfluencers,” there has been a noticeable rise in novice DIY investors being lured into high-risk, often speculative, get-rich-quick schemes. These can seriously damage long‐term financial well-being. Below are five mistakes I frequently observe, along with their causes,…
A comfortable retirement is not simply the absence of work. It is a long phase of life during which income must be sustained, expenses managed, and financial risks navigated, often over several decades. In Australia, the retirement income system is built on three pillars: the Age Pension, mandatory superannuation savings, and voluntary savings or other…
Financial Tips for Singles in Australia, by Generation Being single means your financial plan rests entirely on you—no partner's income cushion, fewer shared expenses, and more responsibility for your future financial security. But it also means you get complete control over decision-making. The best strategy largely depends on your age, life stage, and the generation…
Money mistakes happen to good people. What matters is knowing where they tend to trip up, what the cost is, and what to do differently. The following sections outline key areas where many people go wrong, backed by data, and provide suggestions to build stronger habits. 1. Budgeting: Getting the Foundation Wrong Common Money Mistakes…
Managing money well isn’t just about earning more—it’s about making the small, regular choices that add up over time and help reduce your monthly expenses. In Australia, cost-of-living pressures are rising, as food, utilities, housing, and discretionary items are all squeezing household budgets. If you can change a few daily habits, the savings can be…
Why Financial Planning Matters — and What’s at Stake In an era of rising living costs, volatile markets, and high interest rates, sound financial planning is not a luxury — it is essential to control your money. Without a thoughtful plan, individuals can lose control of their money, gradually slipping into debt traps or insolvency.…
Retirement planning is about more than saving enough; one of the critical variables is how long your savings will need to last. In Australia, as elsewhere, increasing life expectancy means retirees are living longer than past generations, which has major implications for retirement savings, withdrawal strategies, and financial risk management. Below I explain what life…
The dream of borrowing in your SMSF superannuation to acquire property is a powerful motivator for many Australians. Since legislative changes in 2007, Self-Managed Superannuation Funds (SMSFs) have been permitted to borrow funds to acquire certain assets, most commonly property, through a highly specific and regulated structure known as a Limited Recourse Borrowing Arrangement (LRBA).…
The monthly income of Australians is facing sustained pressures: higher housing costs, inflation (especially for food, fuel, and utilities), rising interest rates, and variable wage growth. Several recent studies and statistics shed light on how these pressures are reshaping household spending patterns, savings, debt, and the allocation of discretionary versus essential expenditures. Below are the…
