Posts by Katrina Haskew
Prune, adapt and budget: Managing the rising cost of living
If you’re organised with your finances, the high cost of living doesn’t have to mean diminished savings. The increasing cost of goods and services – from food and housing to transport and utilities – is a reality most Australians have to face every day. Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) shows that living…
Read MoreMarket Wrap
February 2019 A mixed bag After January’s bounce, February was a little quieter but still ended in positive territory, with global shares up by 3.4% and 5.6% in hedged and unhedged terms respectively. US shares similarly were up 3%, a more modest rise than January’s 7.9% rally, which was driven by a better-than-expected US reporting…
Read MoreMy 5 tips…..for using a mortgage broker
Jonathan Ekehov from Eko Finance and Home Loans writes There are lots of good reasons why more than half of Australians now use a broker to secure a home loan. Here are my top 5. 1. Probably the most important one that is we work for you, not the banks. We work with multiple lenders, not…
Read MoreSmart ways to financially get ahead in your 40’s
In your 40’s and still not financially secure? Don’t fret. You can still catch up. Being in your 40’s often involves balancing different priorities. For example, you may need to care for your ageing parents, grow your career or business, and if you’re a parent, support your children. With all these responsibilities, it’s easy to…
Read MoreInsurance: Get insurance while you’re still bulletproof
According to research by TAL insurance provider the cost of personal insurance soars after the age of 35. This is also the time in our lives that you may be going through significant change such as marriage, children, a bigger mortgage and more responsibilities. In the previous 5 years to 2017, TAL paid out insurance…
Read MoreMarket Wrap
Shares rebound January was a more positive month for investors after December’s volatility, with shares recovering most of their late 2018 losses. Global shares rose by 7.1% and 4.1% in hedged and unhedged terms respectively. US shares, having led December’s decline, performed strongly, ending the month up 7.9%. They were boosted by the US Federal…
Read MoreTake control of your retirement
Are you affected by the increase in the Age Pension’s qualifying age? Take steps now to avoid getting caught short on retirement income. The minimum age to qualify for the Age Pension has started going up. For those born on or after 1 July 1952, the qualifying age increases by six months every two years…
Read MoreMarket Wrap
January 2019 Shares plummet; bonds rally December was a poor month for share investors as a concerning mixture of rising US interest rates, a slowdown in eurozone business confidence, weaker Chinese growth and rising political tensions saw global markets plummet. Global shares fell 8.3% and 4.3% in hedged and unhedged terms respectively. US shares led…
Read MoreFive ways to stick to your financial resolutions
Setting a financial goal for the New Year? Take Steps to make it work It’s that time of year when we set new goals or dust off old ones. But how can we boost our chances of sticking to our financial resolution? Here are some practical tips. 1. Choose an attainable goal It’s good to be ambitious, but you may…
Read MoreSave through super for your first home
A new scheme may help you make your dream of owning a home come true. Property prices in some parts of Australia have made owning a home unattainable for many prospective first‑time buyers. But the First Home Super Saver scheme, passed by the Australian Government back in December 2017, may help keep their dream of buying their first…
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