Financial Planning News and Insights

Women face unique challenges when it comes to finance; factors such as the gender pay gap and increased likelihood of a career break to care for children or elderly parents have a dramatic impact on financial situation and superannuation. Couple this with both the rising rate of divorce and the fact that women are living longer than men, and it’s not surprising that many women are facing the prospect of retirement on the poverty line.

In terms of your household spend, it’s one of the most contentious charges we see today: The cost of childcare for Australian working families.

It’s been an interesting time in Australia as we look at the future of our economy. Taking aside the different political sides of the argument, there have been some interesting developments in our two major states with recent budget announcements.

Australia has experienced a run of reasonable economic prosperity. Our politicians often quote it when discussing our economic performance. What is also raised is potential pitfalls in the road ahead.

It’s one of today’s most debated household expenses: Private health insurance. As a media topic, it also seems to generate headlines, particularly around the annual April 1 price increase.

Whether you’re embracing online shopping, or you’re seeing your colleagues, family and friends receiving packages every other day, you will have noticed that it is growing at a rapid pace.

Gender inequality and gender issues are deservedly hot topics in the media right now, particularly in relation to equal pay. But one issue that gets very little attention, yet has a significant impact for women, is the superannuation gap.

It’s a day when we remember and honour our servicemen and women who’ve helped protect the wonderful free country we enjoy today. A day to celebrate everyday Australian values – mateship, courage, and sacrifice; values still well and truly alive with our “have a go” attitude and tendency to put others before ourselves.

We live in world today that is rapidly changing, driven primarily by technology. Reading the mainstream press, there seems to be a new technology-driven breakthrough almost daily.

Its seems that in today’s news cycle we swing from one cost of living ‘crisis’ to another. High on the agenda is the price of energy, specifically focused on electricity and gas prices.

Most couples don’t plan for divorce, but the fact is, one in three marriages in Australia end. It’s a financial stress that most people aren’t prepared for, but when it does happen they want the process dealt with swiftly. There are no winners in a marriage breakdown, but you do need to take the time to set yourself up financially for the future. The last thing you want is to look back in five years’ time and realise you short-changed yourself.

Last week, the Labor party introduced its proposed changes to the dividend franking system. For those of you who don’t know the history of dividend imputation, it was introduced by…