Five Questions to ask before Plunging into an ETF

Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) have been available on the ASX for over 2 decades, but in recent years, this category’s variety and representation within Australian portfolios have grown rapidly. By offering exposure to different global markets, industry sectors and strategic themes, as well as non-equities asset classes like bonds and commodities, ETFs can provide relatively …

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Economic and market overview

Equity and bond markets bounced back hard from disappointing returns in June, amid suggestions that rising interest rates in key regions will help bring inflation under control. Australian shares registered gains of more than 5%. Most major overseas share markets performed even more strongly – the MSCI World Index closed the month 8.0% higher, with …

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Did you know gifting can impact your Age Pension?

Gifting, or financially assisting family or friends by giving away some of your assets or accumulated retirement savings, can be a great way to help out younger family members or friends. But before you gift a significant amount, it’s important to understand how this could impact your Age Pension or other social security benefits you …

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Active versus Passive Investing – What’s the difference and what’s the best?

Investing in shares is a popular way of helping people to achieve their long-term financial goals. These investments can generate favourable returns over time as companies grow and improve their profitability. Dividends paid by listed companies can also generate a useful income stream. However, there are also risks associated with investments in shares. Companies (or …

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How to identify (and beat) your spending triggers

We often talk about money in terms of dollars and cents, but the subject can sometimes run deeper than just numbers. Frivolous spending as a result of your emotional state is more common than you might think: one study found that more than 81 % of Australians spend in order to seek comfort, suggesting that our spending …

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Will you be able to afford to retire?

FORO – the fear of running out – is a very real issue in Australia. AMP’s Financial Wellness research indicates that almost 50% of Australians are worrying that they don’t have enough money for retirement. The realisation that you may someday soon be living off your retirement savings can be hard to confront. FORO often …

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Tips to reduce your debts before you retire

While many Aussies will carry some debt into retirement, the good news is, there are a number of things you could do now while you’ve still got time on your side and earning an income. Get serious about having a budget A good starting point when it comes to setting up a workable budget (so …

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