Keeping you informed and up to date.

Changes to the Commonwealth unclaimed money laws In December 2012, Commonwealth laws that govern unclaimed money were amended by the Treasury Legislation Amendment (Unclaimed Money and Other Measures) Act 2012.  Institutions have until 31 May 2013 to provide unclaimed money records to ASIC.  What do the changes mean for you? For consumers, the most significant…

I always use the analogy of a freshly landscaped garden when it comes to your own financial plan. Once established and the new plants are watered in, you can’t let it go unattended and expect it to thrive. It requires weeding, fertilising and monitoring, and your own financial plan is no different. A set and…

Olivia speaks to ABC radio about the recent super changes.  Here the audio link below (Source:612ABC) cheap antivirus software download https://www.aspireretire.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Memo1.m4a zp8497586rq

One of the most obvious questions asked when planning for your retirement is what level of comfort you want to enjoy in your golden years.  To know what constitutes “comfortable”, Westpac/ASFA publish a survey as a guide to what the average person spends per year. The survey assumes home ownership and shows figures for a…

Aspire Retire's Olivia Maragna is featured on the front cover of Charter Magazine.   Best in class: Practice, prizes and the personal touch: Olivia Maragna’s inspiring business journey.   She has built a solid reputation as a leader in the financial planning sector, and it comes from a fundamental appreciation of hard work. Read the full article…

The Clean Energy Supplement has started download software The clean energy supplement is an ongoing, automatic payment to help eligible households with any impact from the carbon price on everyday expenses.  This payment is a part of the Household Assistance Package. Eligibility basics   – receive an income support payment, pension or Family Tax Benefit…

Changing jobs can be an exciting time and with so much happening, it’s not surprising that most people forget about the financial ramifications of moving on. Two of the most important issues to consider are your superannuation and life insurance so here is a financial checklist to keep in mind for when you make your…

Owning your own business is one of the most risky investments you can have. Whilst you take on more risk being in business, ideally the returns should also be bigger –whether it is financially or non-financial through flexible work conditions or work life balance. As a business owner, there are some important financial aspects that…

While there is a lot of talk from our Government around tinkering with superannuation, it's important to note that changes have the potential to affect nearly every one of us. There are now more than 31.9 million superannuation accounts in Australia with over $117.5 billion contributed to superannuation in the year to June 2012. This…

Question: There is a lot of talk about Self Managed Super Funds – can you please explain what they are and whether it would be worthwhile to have one.  I am 57 years of age, still working full time with approximately $323,000 in superannuation.  I would like to retire in the next 2-3 years. best…

One topic people don’t like talking about more than dying is getting old and not being able to look after yourself. online essay writer However, with our population over the age of 70 likely to double to nearly four million in the next 20 years, aged care is an issue that will be of increasing…

It's never to late to start planning for retirement.  Aspire Retire's Olivia Maragna and Australian Adviser of the Year responds to this question as finance expert for Brisbane Times. Question from John, of Capalaba: I don't own a house. I'm unlikely to be in a position to buy a house. Ever. This is okay now…