Paul's Insights

Buying now is easy. Paying for purchases later can be a lot harder, and a new report shows 'buy now, pay later' services (BNPL) are leading some Australians into financial trouble.

The latest ASX Australian Investor Study shows how investors have responded to the Coronavirus pandemic, and the news is surprisingly good.

New research from index fund manager - Vanguard, shows that COVID-19 has seen self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs) switch out of shares and into low risk investments.

A key issue for investors is whether to tick the box for a dividend reinvestment plan or take the money as cash.

Australia's open banking regime has kicked off, and it could pave the way to scoring a better deal.

In the midst of a pandemic, when many Australians are scratching for cash, it's ironic that there is over $1 billion in lost and forgotten money waiting to be claimed.

COVID-19 has changed many things in our lives, and not all of them for the better. But one positive to come out of the pandemic is that Australians are talking more about money.

We've all had plenty to deal with this year, so it's no surprise that carry-forward super contributions may have passed under the radar of many pre-retirees.

The COVID-19 pandemic is not just influencing our lives today. It could impact our finances for many years to come.

Investment markets may be unpredictable but one thing is for sure - each year seems to go by faster.

Over 11 million Australians hold investments of some sort outside their super. But this could be higher. There is still a significant minority of people who do not invest.

As if we didn't have enough to deal with right now, Australia's money watchdog ASIC is reporting a rise in investment scams during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It's time to dust off the calculator and start poring through receipts - tax time is around the corner, and that means a refund could soon be coming your way. The end of the financial year is also a time to take stock of your investment portfolio.

The COVID-19 pandemic has seen Australians hunker down their finances - spending less and tucking away more cash. That's seen our household savings rate jump from 3.5% (of income) in 2019, to 5.5% at present. But plenty of people could be missing out on easy ways to boost their bank balance.

The Reserve Bank's decision to keep the official cash rate on hold at 0.25% for June comes as no surprise. Our central bank has already made it clear that rates are likely to stay at record lows for some time - certainly until the economy picks up. That's great news for anyone with debt, though not so good if you rely on interest-bearing investments for income.

The idea of beating the market is always appealing, but is it possible?