Paul's Insights: Romance scammers pocket $29 million
If Cupid's arrow missed you on Valentine's Day, be wary of strangers declaring their love online.
Paul's Insights: Coronavirus - Responding to a black swan
In the world of investing, a 'black swan' is an unpredictable event with the potential for serious consequences. Right now, some commentators are saying the outbreak of coronavirus in China is a black swan.
Paul's Insights: 'Mum and dad' super funds targeted by Tax Office
Australians have taken to self-managed super funds (SMSFs) like ducks to water. Over 1.1 million of us are members of a SMSF, and with close to $750 billion in retirement savings, 'mum and dad' funds control nearly one third of the nation's $2.76 trillion superannuation assets.
Paul's Insights: Where it costs $5,000 to insure your home
Home and contents insurance is a must-have when you're a home owner. But following this summer's devastating bushfires, it's a fair bet that premiums will rise.
Paul's Insights: School costs - prepare for plenty
Parents around the nation will breathe a collective sigh of relief over the next few days as their kids return to school. But the respite may only last until the first batch of bills arrive.
Paul's Insights: January is 'divorce' month
The New Year is a time of celebration but it also has a reputation for being a peak period for separation and divorce.
Paul's Insights: One in four vow to ditch debt
Eight out of ten Australians made a New Year resolution for 2020, and almost one in four vowed to get out of debt.
Paul's Insights: Forging ahead in 2020. The trick is to start small
2019 hasn't been a bad year for investors. And with the holiday season likely to bring some downtime, the next few weeks can be the ideal opportunity to fine-tune your finances so that the New Year delivers real prosperity. The key is to start small.
Paul's Insights: The Santa Claus rally - fact or fiction?
Christmas is full of traditions, and some investors will be eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Santa Claus rally - the uptick in shares often seen in the final trading days of the year. Is it a coincidence or is the Santa Claus rally real?
Paul's Insights: Cash you later - the folding stuff is under threat
The days of coins clinking in our pockets could be numbered, with one in four Australians saying they don't carry cash. New payment options are gaining traction but they don't always work in consumers' favour.
Paul's Insights: Selfies favour shares
It's official - Australia's army of self-managed super funds (SMSFs) makes up one of the biggest like-minded group of investors on the Australian sharemarket.
Paul's Insights: Super zombies - could you be affected?
Human beings can be a funny lot. On one hand the Australian Tax Office (ATO) receives around 230 tip-offs each day about businesses operating in the black economy. Yet vast numbers of Australians are being ripped off on their super each year, and many of us do nothing about it.
Paul's Insights: Retirement investing? Beat fees not the market
I often have conversations with clients around investing when they retire. Many treat retirement as an 'end date' for active investing. But that shouldn't be the case. And keeping an eye on the cost of investing is especially important when we leave the workforce.
Paul's Insights: Wrong place, wrong time
One mistake the team at InvestSMART often see, is people holding investments that don't match personal goals.
Paul's Insights: How first home buyers can beat the deposit barrier
The biggest hurdle to buying a first home is often saving a deposit. But you may not need a 20% deposit, and it can be worth checking out every option at a time when property values are more affordable and we're seeing home loan interest rates below 3.0%.
Paul's Insights: Home loan rates plunge. Has yours?
Here at InvestSMART we encourage investors to embrace low fee investment choices. But plenty of Australians could be paying more than necessary on their home loan at a time when interest rates are the lowest in 70 years.
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