Identifying and acting on those missed opportunities We are all so focused on the money going out of our pockets that we sometimes don’t notice what’s coming in. When you think about it, there are many events in our lives when we do actually have a financial win, but because of our busy lifestyles, we don’t […]
What do YOU know about the Australian lender market? The ‘Big 4’ banks have maintained a dominant profile in the complex and ever-changing Australian finance market – just think about how often you read about them in the news! And it is this high profile in our everyday lives that has contributed to a perception that all lenders are […]
Your home loan is usually your largest financial commitment. We understand that changes in interest rates can have a big impact on your monthly repayments and how long it takes you to pay off your loan. Switching loans might cost you thousands in early exit fees and other required fees, but it could possibly SAVE […]
The landscape has shifted in that perennial debate – interest-only versus principal-and-interest loans. Until quite recently, as much as 40% of all residential mortgages were interest-only – a figure that’s high by international and historical standards. Both Aussie investors & home owners have been enthusiastically adopting interest-only loans in order to take advantage of well-documented lower initial repayments, tax benefits […]
What’s happening with interest rates? You may have seen a spate of recent headlines about lenders raising interest rates and changing lending criteria across a range of loan products – despite the official RBA cash rate remaining at an all-time low. It’s no wonder a number of our clients are asking “What’s happening with interest rates?” Sweeping […]
Renovation is the new upgrade! The property market remains hot news in many parts of Australia but there is one less talked about sector of the market that is ALSO booming… Home renovations are back – in a big way! In fact, did you know that Australians are currently spending $165 million per month on renovations? […]
Protect your precious home Underinsurance is a growing problem in Australia with an estimated 29% of homeowners having NO home and contents insurance and 40% of households WITH insurance being underinsured. With your home and its contents usually being your single largest investment and a place of comfort and security for your family, these figures are […]
According to the ATO there are around 1.8 million property investors in Australia and 2.7 million rental investment properties. Surprisingly, many landlords fail to claim all allowable tax deductions simply because they are unaware of all the expenses they can claim as a tax deduction. There are two types of investment property strategies – positively geared […]
With an abundance of online travel booking websites there’s a growing trend to DO IT YOURSELF instead of using travel agents. There can be benefits to booking your own travel but beware – it can be the small details that make or break a long awaited holiday if things go wrong. It’s a travel agent’s job […]
Here’s a scary statistic! A leading Australian demographer estimates the total cost to parents of raising the average number of children (2.7) to independence (at 24) is $1,028,000. That’s right! A million dollars to raise the average family… And that’s assuming your family is ‘average’ and they have attained financial independence by age 24! In […]