Impacts from Falling Home Prices: The Wealth Effect

The impacts of interest rate hikes on consumers are well known; higher interest means that mortgage debt servicing costs will go up which is negative for consumer spending.   Rate hikes are also bad news for home prices, which will create …

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Why staying invested matters when markets fall

It’s natural to feel nervous when markets fall. News about inflation and rising interest rates may prompt you to make an emotional investment decision. But history tells us that markets trend upwards in the long run – and switching investment …

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Economic and market overview

Pleasingly, global share markets fared well in October and recovered most of their lost ground from September. Locally, the S&P/ASX 200 Index re- turned 6.0%. The sharp reversal in sentiment was typical of this year; market volatility has picked up …

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Is money the key to happiness?

Numerous research reports and studies agree having more money can lead to improved wellbeing, but only up to a point. It seems that once your personal income cruises past roughly the six-figure mark, you can’t expect to get any happier …

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How to save for retirement in your 40s

By the time you’re in your 40s you’ll potentially be earning more money than you may have previously – but you may also have unexpected or unwelcome expenses, like divorce. At this age you might also put retirement planning on …

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How to refinance your home loan

If you’re thinking about refinancing your home loan, this step-by-step guide shows you what to expect and how to navigate the process. Refinancing can mean talking to your current provider to renegotiate your arrangement with them (an internal refinance), but it …

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What are some investment options outside of super

When it comes to investing, you have two options – inside or outside of super. Super, being a longer-term investment designed to fund your retirement, comes with a number of advantages such as being lightly-taxed (which can mean, more money …

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