News Successful Investing

11 Tips for Successful Investing

Investing means putting money somewhere now, in hope it will grow (or give you income) in the future. Rather than leaving cash under your mattress (or in a low-interest savings account), investing involves accepting some risk in return for a chance of better returns than inflation or simple savings. Returns might come from:

  • capital growth (the value of what you own goes up)
  • income (dividends, rent, interest)
  • sometimes both

Risk is the chance that you lose money (or that real returns after costs/inflation come up short). Time, diversification, and understanding what you are investing in are key.

Understanding the fundamentals of Successful Investing can greatly enhance your ability to build wealth.

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News Property Investors

70% of Property Investors Use a Home Loan Broker

Investing in property in Australia is rarely a simple matter of buying and holding. Regulatory constraints, tax factors, interest rate risk, credit policy changes, and evolving lending rules often mean that property investors face complexity that goes well beyond standard homebuyers’ scenarios. Many property investors, therefore, prefer to enlist the services of a mortgage broker. Below, I explain what a mortgage broker is, outline the advantages of using one (especially for investors), cite evidence of high satisfaction with brokers, and show how a skilled broker can add value in structuring loans for long-term wealth creation.

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News Financial Stress

Why Australian Men Feel Financial Stress

Retirement is often portrayed as a time of relief, yet for many Australian men, it brings anxiety rather than peace. Rising living costs, debt, and uncertainty around superannuation and how long savings will last can lead to financial stress. That stress doesn’t stay “just financial” — it spills over into health, relationships, and mental wellbeing. But financial planning isn’t just about numbers; done well, it provides clarity, control, and confidence.

This article examines recent findings about men’s financial stress, discusses why professional advice is important (including mental health expert views), and outlines how financial planners help with budgeting, debt management, and long-term wealth creation.

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News Save Money

Want to Save Money? Start Now!

Before diving into techniques to save money, it’s worth pausing on why saving—even modest amounts—makes a difference.

  1. Psychological and mental-health benefits
    People who practice stable financial behaviours (such as regularly saving and paying off credit card debt) report better mental health, vitality, social functioning and general wellbeing. In short, saving reduces financial stress, gives you breathing room, and contributes to emotional stability.

  2. Beating “overspend drift” in Australia

    Many Australians have good intentions, but struggle to stick to them. According to a snapshot of Australian saving behaviour, while 68% of Australians report having saving goals, more than 37% say they don’t always follow through.

  3. Compound impact over time
    The earlier you start—even with modest amounts—the more time your savings (or investments) have to grow. This principle underlies many behavioural strategies (e.g. “save more tomorrow”) used to encourage consistent saving.

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Financial Planners Active Asset Allocation Must Be Done Correctl

Why Active Asset Allocation Must Be Done Correctly

For Australians building wealth, the single most important decision is not whether to buy a particular share or bond, but how to allocate their money between asset classes. Active Asset Allocation—the balance between growth assets such as shares and property, and defensive assets such as bonds and cash—is the foundation of any investment strategy. It determines both the long-term growth potential and the stability of a portfolio.

This article explains why Active Asset Allocation is so critical, explores the long-term benefits of growth assets like shares, outlines the risks of emotional investing, compares long-term holding with dynamic asset mix adjustments, and highlights historical data on compounding. We’ll also look at market cycles, why investors often harm themselves by switching during downturns, and how a disciplined, balanced approach guided by a professional financial planner can make all the difference.

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Financial PlannersNews How to Teach Children Good Financial Habits

How to Teach Children Good Financial Habits

Money shapes almost every aspect of adult life—from managing household budgets to saving for retirement to teaching children good financial habits. Yet many Australians enter adulthood without the financial literacy needed to make sound decisions. A 2022 survey by the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey showed that around 35% of Australians struggle with basic financial concepts like interest and inflation【1】.

This knowledge gap highlights why teaching children good financial habits from a young age is crucial. When kids learn how to budget, spend wisely, and save early, they carry these behaviours into adulthood. Parents, schools, and financial advisors all play an important role in fostering this literacy.

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Financial PlannersInvestment Planning Tips for Handling a Volatile Investment Market

10 Tips for Handling a Volatile Investment Market

Market volatility is an unavoidable part of investing. Prices of shares, property, and other assets rise and fall based on economic conditions, investor sentiment, company earnings, and global events. For Australians, the last decade has seen several shocks—from the aftermath of the Global Financial Crisis to COVID-19 and ongoing global geopolitical uncertainty. Each period has reminded investors of the importance of preparation, discipline, and clear strategies.

This article explains practical tips for navigating a volatile investment market: understanding what volatility means, maintaining a long-term perspective, diversifying, reviewing your portfolio, avoiding emotional mistakes, applying dollar-cost averaging, ensuring you have an emergency fund, staying informed, consulting professionals, and resisting the urge to time the market.

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NewsRetirement Planning 3 Crucial Retirement Decisions

3 Crucial Retirement Decisions

Retirement decisions are some of the most significant financial transitions in life. For Australians, preparing well means not only building sufficient savings but also making several critical decisions that directly shape the quality of life after finishing full-time work. Among the most important decisions are determining the desired retirement income, managing superannuation effectively, and deciding whether to downsize the family home.

These choices determine how long savings last, how financially secure retirement feels, and how much freedom individuals have to enjoy later years. Each decision is interconnected, and navigating them properly often requires guidance from experienced professionals.

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NewsRetirement Planning Retirement Planning 101: Pros and Cons of Investment Property for Retirement Income

Retirement Planning 101: Pros and Cons of Investment Property for Retirement Income

Why Retirement Planning Matters

  • Retirement usually means switching from accumulating assets (earning, saving, investing) to decumulating them (drawing income, preserving capital, managing risks). Without an income plan, retirees risk outliving savings or being exposed to shocks (health, inflation, market downturns).

  • In Australia, people rely on a mix: superannuation, possibly the Age Pension, personal savings/investments, and sometimes property. Because superannuation rules change, retirement ages shift, and markets fluctuate, having a diversified and resilient income strategy is important.

  • Many Australians view investment property as a means to supplement super + pension with more reliable cash flow and potential capital growth.

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Business InsuranceNews Does Your Company Have Key Person Insurance?

Does Your Company Have Key Person Insurance?

Definition: Key person insurance (sometimes called “key man insurance”) is a policy that a business takes out on the life (and/or health/disability) of one or more “key persons” whose loss would significantly harm the business. The policy is owned by the business and benefits are paid to the business, not to the employee (or their family). (Gallagher)

Risks it covers:

  • Death
  • Total and permanent disability (TPD)
  • Critical illness/trauma (e.g. heart attack, cancer) (Gallagher)
  • Sometimes temporary absence (though that is less common in classic key person policies) (Gallagher)

Purposes / Uses of proceeds:

When a claim succeeds, the business may use the payout for:

  • Compensating for lost revenue (sales, contracts, projects) while replacing or recovering from the loss of that person;
  • Paying recruitment/training costs to find a replacement;
  • Covering debts or liabilities that the key person may have guaranteed;
  • Stabilising cash flow;
  • Executing a buy-out / adjusting ownership if the key person was a shareholder or partner. (Gallagher)
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