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Planning carefully and working through the issues can help if you or your partner experiences serious illness or injury later in life. A major health issue can throw life into disarray and put paid to the best laid plans for travelling, relaxing and enjoying all that...

Knowing how your mind works can help you avoid the more obvious traps many investors fall into. Cognitive bias has become a bit of an investing buzz phrase in recent years. The theory is that the human brain predictably makes errors of judgment that can lead us to be...

Salary sacrifice is an arrangement with your employer to forego part of your salary or wages in return for your employer providing benefits of a similar value. One example of a salary sacrifice arrangement is to have some of your salary or wages paid into your super...

Running your own business is tough enough without worrying if its sale will fund your retirement. Here’s how to sleep easy – and live out your years comfortably. If you’ve worked hard to build up a business over a lifetime, you’re probably looking forward to a...

Before you say 'I do', talk about your finances with your partner. Not getting married, but in a relationship? See relationships and money for useful tips. Manage the wedding whirlwind The average Australian wedding costs $36,000. According to a Moneysmart survey, 82%...

When I retire, will I have enough money to enjoy the retirement lifestyle I envision? It's a question many of us will need to ponder at one point. It’s a question most of us will need to ponder at some stage in our lives. When I retire, will I have enough money built...

Key takeaways It’s important to determine the total amount of income you'll need to live off based on what your living costs are Create a financial plan. You want to be sure you’re investing in the right mix of assets and taking on enough risk to achieve your...

With markets falling and inflation ramping up, investors might feel they need to ‘do something’ to avoid further losses. However, when it comes to investing, taking action in response to market turmoil may derail a sound investment strategy. To say that conditions...

If you think your employer isn’t paying your super contributions, follow the steps below: Am I entitled to super? – you should confirm that you're entitled to super before taking any further steps. Go to ATO online via myGov to view super contributions that have been...

In early May, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) lifted the cash rate for the first time in over 11 years.At the time, the RBA Board said that it "is committed to doing what is necessary to ensure that inflation in Australia returns to target over time." You can...

Setting the scene Marilyn is 67 and has had enough of work. She has worked hard and raised two children on her own and she’s ready for some “me time”. Her children are now adults and live at opposite ends of Australia to her. Marilyn has sold her (big) home and has...

When you start a job, you can usually either choose a super fund or let your employer choose for you. Understanding the basics can help you work out what kind of account you get and whether it's right for you. If you want to choose your own — or change your account —...