Financial Planning News & Insights
The Rise of Big Tech: Why Global Diversification Still Matters
Technology companies have been a major driving force behind global sharemarket returns in recent years. Household names such as Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, Amazon and Alphabet have grown into some of the world's largest businesses, with artificial intelligence (AI) creating further excitement about their future potential. For investors, this growth creates opportunity — but also increases the importance of understanding how much of a portfolio is exposed to a small group of companies.
How Much Super Should Someone My Age Have?
One of the most common questions Australians ask when planning for retirement is: “How much super should I have?”
ETFs Gain Popularity as Investors Rethink Direct Property
Australia’s long-standing fondness for direct property investment appears to be facing a period of reassessment. Higher borrowing costs, changing tax settings and concerns around property valuations have encouraged some investors to reconsider how they allocate capital.
New SMSF Borrowing Rules Commencing August 2026
If you were planning to use your Self-Managed Superannuation Funds (SMSF) to buy an investment property with borrowed money, a recent change to superannuation law will affect your plans.
Superannuation Financial Scam Awareness
Financial scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, with scammers targeting Australians through phone calls, emails, text messages and even fake investment or superannuation websites.
The World’s Largest Stock Markets
The total market capitalisation of U.S. listed companies stands at more than $75 trillion, exceeding the combined value of the next nine largest equity markets worldwide.
1 in 3 Australians in their late 60s are still working
Australia has seen a dramatic transformation of retirement over the past 20 years, with more Australians delaying retirement than ever before, reshaping expectations for later life.
Payday Super is coming 1 July 2026
Preparing for Payday Super is important for your business because it shifts superannuation payments from quarterly to matching your payroll frequency and requires payments to be made within 7 business days
Cost of Living Indicator
How does the cost of living of Australia compared to the rest of the world? While inflation has eased in many regions, the cost of living remains a major global challenge.
Global Inflation Forecast
Australia's annual inflation finished at 3.8% for the 12 months to the end of December 2025. What’s predicted for 2026 and how does this compare to the rest of the world.
Super tax shake up
Superannuation tax rules are changing again and there are implications for those with very large balances as well as those on lower incomes.
House or apartment? City or country? The big things to consider when buying a first home
Buying a first home is one of the biggest financial decisions a person can make. There are so many questions to consider it can be hard to know where to begin.
Excess Concessional Contributions
If you exceed your concessional contributions cap, the excess concessional contributions (ECC) are included in your assessable income.
The World’s Most Unaffordable Housing Markets
Buying a home is becoming increasingly out of reach in many of the world’s top cities.
The importance of Insurance
We plan for holidays, home renovations, and retirement but we’re less likely to plan for the unexpected. Life insurance is one quiet but powerful way to protect the people you love from financial stress if something happens to you.
Super caps for 2025/26
For the financial year 2025-26, the concessional super contribution remains cap remains at $30,000. The non-concessional annual contribution cap will also remain at $120,000.
Changes to Refundable Accommodation Deposits (RADs)
Aged care facilities will now retain 2% of the RAD per year, for up to five years, from the time the deposit is paid.
$3m super balance proposed tax
From 1 July 2025, the Government will reduce the tax concessions available to individuals whose total superannuation balances exceed $3 million at the end of the financial year.
Real Interest Rates by Country
Interest rates are a hot topic in 2025, with major economies navigating inflationary pressures and the loosening end of their monetary policy cycles.
Retiring Comfortably
Working out how much you need to save for retirement is a question that keeps many pre-retirees awake at night. Recent market volatility and fluctuating superannuation balances have only added to the uncertainty.