Superannuation has dominated recent headlines, with proposed changes announced by Treasurer Jim Chalmers. While the details of these changes still need to be released, it’s worthwhile turning our focus to superannuation balances as we approach the end of financial year.

There are lots of different ways to top up your super, but if you want to take advantage of the opportunity to maximise your contributions, it is important not to wait until the last minute.

Just like your car needs a periodic service to stay in tune, here's why you should rebalance your portfolio from time to time.

Over time, market fluctuations can affect your asset allocation weightings and change the risk/return profile of your portfolio.

As the days get shorter and temperatures begin to fall, Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers is working to complete his second Budget, due to be delivered on Tuesday 9 May.

All eyes will be on the Reserve Bank board next week as it meets prior to the Federal Budget to decide whether or not to increase the cash rate. The board decided last month to pause its relentless increase of rates designed to reduce inflation to 2-3%.

It should be a buyer’s market, so why are property buyers holding back?

Even though buyers face less competition and enjoy more affordable prices during a downturn, some find that the uncertain conditions magnify the risks of short-term loss and induce anxiety, making it seem less attractive to buy.

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.

Teaching good financial habits, such as saving and budgeting, is one of the best ways to prepare children to have a secure financial future. Helping kids establish sound money management skills and strong financial acumen is important, regardless of wealth level.

A capital gain or loss is the difference between what you paid for an asset and what you sold it for. This takes into account any incidental costs on the purchase and sale. So, if you sell an asset for more than you paid for it, that’s a capital gain. And if you sell it for less, that is considered a capital loss.

Interest rates are an important financial lever for world economies. They affect the cost of borrowing and the return on savings, and it makes them an integral part of the return on many investments. It can also affect the value of the currency, which has a further trickle-down effect on other investments.

Welcome to our April update and, as the days are getting shorter, there’s definitely a bit of a nip in the air.

Share markets in Australia and overseas have rallied to end the month in a better position as the global banking system steadies itself and there are expectations of a tempering in rate rises.

With the discomfort experienced last year, questions around a recession—are we already in one or will we enter one—seem to be the most pressing this year.

Professional economists forecast the possibility of a recession at a higher rate than anytime over the past decade and Google searches of the word “recession” hit an all-time high last year.

Getting more money into superannuation is a proven way of building wealth to spend in retirement.

But how much extra money can you put in each year, and what’s the best way of doing it?

The concept of retirement is changing, with fewer people working towards a final retirement date and then clocking off for good.

Instead, those who have the flexibility to choose are often transitioning out of the workforce over several years, or even returning after a break.

Whether you simply want to wind back your working hours to explore other interests, or don’t want to cut your ties with work completely, to make it work you need to plan.

With Autumn underway, the changing season is a reminder to take stock and prepare for what’s ahead as the financial year heads towards its final quarter and the May Federal Budget.

Holding the appropriate level of life insurance, whether inside or outside super, and reviewing it regularly as your circumstances change has never been more important. After all, how would your family cope if the unexpected happened? How would the mortgage be paid? What about the school fees?

While life insurance should be considered a non-negotiable part of your financial plan, there is flexibility and potential cost savings in the way you pay for it.

Volatility is part and parcel of investing so it's important to put it into perspective and look at the full picture when thinking about your wealth, rather than focus on day-to-day market swings.

If there was to be a single investing lesson that emerged from the events of the last two years, it is that we should learn to expect the unexpected.

Thanks to more than 30 years of compulsory superannuation, we are retiring with more savings than previous generations but that also brings its challenges.

According to the government’s Retirement Income Review, the average age of retirement in Australia is around the ages of 62 to 65.i On average men and women can expect to live to 85 and 88 respectively.

To make the most of your retirement your savings need to last. The best way to achieve that is to have a plan that will help you avoid some common and preventable retirement mistakes.

February marks the end of summer holidays for many of us and getting down to business for 2023. It can be a good time to reflect on plans and goals for the months ahead.

With interest rates on the rise and investment returns increasingly volatile, Australians with cash to spare may be wondering how to make the most of it. If you have a mortgage, should you make extra repayments or would you be better off in the long run boosting your super?

Financial Adviser, Simone Richardson asks Mortgage Broker, Edwena Dixon from Pinpoint Finance your lending questions.

Do rising interest rates mean you can't borrow as much? Is fixing your loan the way to go? How do you tackle a simultaneous settlement?

Sustainable investing isn’t new and is becoming more mainstream. From climate change to gender diversity, more people are aligning their money with their values. In 2021, Australia’s sustainable investment market increased 20 per cent to a record $1.5 trillion.