Distractions are ever present in our daily lives. This may be more so the case than any other point in our history due to the emergence and development of the digital information age. Distractions can take many forms and arise from a diverse range of sources; however, there is often a common thread. A distraction, when acknowledged and pursued, can take away our attention and concentration from an intended area of focus and redirect it either partially or fully to another. Unfortunately, depending on the context, this redirection of attention and concentration, even if momentary, can sometimes have serious short, medium and long-term implications.

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Although the principles of managing wealth apply to both men and women, there are circumstances where women, in particular, can be left vulnerable as they navigate the gender pay gap,1 the super gap and the gaping hole in their earnings, while taking time out to care for their children.

We’ve put together some financial tips to help women get ahead, come what may.

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The compulsory superannuation guarantee rate – currently 9.5% – is set to increase over the next few years. But if you’re an employee, will relying on compulsory employer contributions be enough to meet your retirement goals? There are many steps that workers can take to boost their retirement savings. The key is to take an active interest in your superannuation and understand the contributions measures available to you. “Superannuation guarantee” (SG) contributions are the minimum superannuation contributions that employers must make for their employees. The SG rate is currently 9.5%, which means employers must make contributions equal to 9.5% of the employee’s salary or wages.

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You probably have a good idea of who you’d like to give your hard-earned assets when you’re gone. Making a will can help ensure your assets are distributed the way you want. Many people see making a will as something to do when they have children or other dependents to worry about. After all, they want to make sure in the worst case scenario, their loved ones are well cared for. But what if that isn’t your life? What if you are single, or if you are in a relationship that may not be classified as de facto or a spouse relationship? Do you still need a will and what should it look like? Where there’s a will, there’s a way
A will is a legal document setting out your wishes for distribution of your assets after you die and who you would like to be responsible for carrying out your wishes. 

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As a parent and grandparent, it’s only natural that you’d want to share your financial wisdom with your children/grandchildren, to protect them from making the same mistakes you may have. But how do you share your money tips in such a way that’s actually going to get them to listen? Well it turns out, Aussie grandparents have, in fact, nailed three of the key tenets to saving money.Better still, we’ve got the sums to prove they work. So to find out what these money tips are, and how you can best communicate them to your children/grandchildren in a way that they will get them to take notice, keep reading…

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This year’s Productivity Commission inquiry into superannuation highlighted concerns that many Australians’ super benefits are being eroded by fees and inappropriate insurance premiums. The government has now passed laws to force superannuation funds to take action – in some cases by cancelling insurance policies or paying benefits over to the ATO for consolidation. While the reforms will undoubtedly benefit many Australians, some members who wish to prevent unwanted action on their account may need to take action.  

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With the end of financial year (EOFY) fast approaching, now is an opportune time to take stock of your financial situation, goals and objectives, and do any last minute fine-tuning (where applicable). Given this, we provide you with several EOFY planning tips worth considering, which could help not only reduce your tax bill, but also build and protect your wealth.

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Probably the last thing running through your mind on your wedding day is the unsettling reality that 35% of Australian marriages are likely to end in divorce.

The reason(s) for divorce can vary according to individual circumstances, however, there are often commonalities felt by all – the emotional, psychological and financial impact on the divorcees (and their children).

Importantly, whilst the emotional and psychological impact of divorce shouldn’t be ignored, the financial impact also needs to be carefully considered due to te implications that it can have on an individual’s personal finances over the short (1-4 years after divorce) and long-term (≥5 years after divorce).

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Diversification is the act of spreading the money you have to invest across a number of different types of investments. For example, rather than putting all your money into shares in one company, you split it across multiple shares in companies which operate in different industries or different countries. You might also spread to other types of investments like bonds or property.

Why do this? Because different investments behave in different ways. When one peaks, another may plummet, while another stays flat. Some provide investment returns in the form of income (for example, dividends or rent), others through increasing in value. Diversification ensures that an investment portfolio is not at risk of suffering too much if one or more of its parts fall in value.

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