General

Here’s One Thing that all Australians Can Agree to Be Proud of

Here in the land downunder, we are blessed with a very stable economy. That stability is no accident. It is the end result of a lot of thought that has been put into developing institutions and processes that really work.

Wishing you a Well-Earned Rest!

2023 is coming to an end and we are taking a break from writing articles for a few weeks. If you are anything like us, you are probably looking forward to a well-earned rest as the year comes to a close.

Student Loans: To Repay or not to Repay?

One of the most common questions we are asked by our younger clients, or the parents of our younger clients, is whether and when to make a voluntary repayment of a Commonwealth Student Loan. Usually, the answer is still no.

Making Unknowns Known

People of a certain age will remember former US Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld describing ‘knowns and unknowns’ way back in 2002. Rumsfeld copped some criticism for what seemed to be a mangling of the English language. But in actual fact, his sentences make perfect sense. And they apply to finance just as well as they apply to global politics.

The Best Time to Think

The best advice anyone ever gave us was to plan our next holiday while still enjoying the current one. There are a bunch of reasons for this. But the main one is that we make the best decisions when we are relaxed and happy.

Like Some Cherries on Top of that Government Payment?

Australia has a generous benefit system, ranging from unemployment benefits to aged and disability pensions. But the cash that the Government provides is not the only way they help. Payment recipients can also claim some additional extras which can also make life a lot easier. And the best news is that sometimes you only need to qualify for a small Government payment in order to access these added extras.

What does a bank know about spending?

Every time we tap or swipe to make an electronic payment, or send a direct debit, there is someone who knows exactly what we have spent our money on. That someone is, of course, our bank. What they can tell us about our overall spending is fascinating.