Keeping you informed and up to date.

Tonight, Wayne Swan handed down the 2013-14 Federal Budget with the expected headline that the Government is predicting an $18 billion deficit in 2013-14.  The Government predicts a return to a balanced Budget in 2015-16 and a Budget surplus in 2016-17. The key focus of this Budget was implementing the Government’s well-publicised education funding and…

The Reserve Bank has cut interest rates by a quarter percentage point to a historic low of 2.75% so it doesn’t surprise me when people start asking when the “right time” will be to fix? Australians now understand more than ever how the Reserve Bank of Australia uses interest rates to manage the economy. So…

Statement by Glenn Stevens, Governor: Monetary Policy Decision At its meeting today, the Board decided to lower the cash rate by 25 basis points to 2.75 per cent, effective 8 May 2013. The global economy is likely to record growth a little below trend this year, before picking up next year. Among the major regions,…

Winner proves she’s in for the long haul It’s a sobering statistic but less than 40 per cent of businesses that launched a decade ago are still around today, according to official figures. Worse, Australian Bureau of Statistics numbers show half never make it to their fourth year. It’s for this reason that Telstra’s 2008…

You’ve planned financially for your retirement and now that it is here … the time has come to travel and pursue those hobbies you’ve always wanted to try. That is, of course, unless you’ve somehow become a day care centre for your grand children. Are more and more retirees missing their window of opportunity to…

Negatively geared property investors lost an astonishing $13.2 billion in 2010-11. So will the government change the rules around this tax perk? RENTAL INCOME AND DEDUCTIONS There are now 1.76 million people in Australia who own an interest in a rental property. The figures identify negative gearing as one of the key drains on personal tax…

State of the States – State & territory economic performance report How are Australia’s states and territories performing? Each quarter CommSec attempts to find out by analysing eight key indicators: economic growth; retail spending; equipment investment; unemployment, construction work done; population growth; housing finance and dwelling commencements. Just as the Reserve Bank uses decade averages…

BRISBANE families are watching every cent as household budgets struggle to cover increasing costs with less income. THE Watts family juggle a small business, household expenses and a mortgage – all without a credit card. Currently on maternity leave from her HR consulting business watts next, Sue-Ellen Watts said the family budget put aside money…

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…