Debt Management

Is Immediate Relief on your Mortgage Worth the Long-Term Cost?

The path to home ownership in Australia keeps getting tougher, forcing buyers and owners to consider flexible loan structures. These options can ease monthly repayments in the short term but come with an important caveat: you’ll pay substantially more interest over the life of the loan. If you’re weighing up a home loan option that defers part of the debt burden to the future, here’s a straightforward look at commonly used structures offering this temporary affordability.

All About Debt Recycling

We're all looking for smart ways to get ahead financially. One strategy you might hear about is debt recycling. It sounds complex, but the fundamental idea is quite simple: you turn your 'bad' debt into 'good' debt. Let's break down what it is, how it works, and the things you need to watch out for.

The Big Picture – Why Financial Goals Matter

Have you ever walked into your financial adviser's office and found yourself saying, "I just want to be better off financially"? It's a common feeling - but it's also a trap. Over the coming weeks, we will provide a practical roadmap to help you clarify your financial goals, communicate effectively with financial advisers, and create a plan that's both ambitious and flexible. With realistic examples and actionable steps, you'll move from vague aspirations to clear financial direction.

Maximise Retirement Savings Without Sacrificing Other Goals

Planning for retirement doesn’t have to mean putting your other financial ambitions on hold. With the right approach, you can grow your retirement nest egg while still achieving goals like homeownership, travel, or paying off debt. Here’s how you can strike that balance.

Debts and Cash Flow: Why Your Paycheck Might Be Fooling You

Imagine landing that dream job with a hefty salary, but somehow, you're still living paycheck to paycheck. Sound familiar? You're not alone. Many Australians are caught in a financial illusion, mistaking a high income for true wealth. Let's pull back the curtain on this money mirage and explore why your bank balance might not be telling the whole story.

RBA’s Inflation Struggle: The ‘Feet in the Oven, Head in the Freezer’ Problem

If your feet are in an oven and your head is in the freezer, on average you probably feel quite comfortable. That’s the problem with averages. And it is a problem worth remembering when it comes to the task ahead of the RBA as they try to bring inflation down.

Want a Lower Interest Rate? There’s no Harm in Asking

As interest rates continue to rise unabated, many of our clients are finding that things are getting tight. They are wondering what to do. Well, the first step for many people is to see if you can reduce that rate of interest.

All debt is paid off ‘After-Tax’

If you have a debt, you are probably making repayments. Each repayment you make is probably divided into two parts: interest and principal. Indeed, technically, you are only actually making a repayment if your regular payment includes an amount that reduces the principal of your debt.

When you have debt, every dollar you spend is a borrowed dollar. It’s a loop.

Many people have debt. Not as many people realise that, if you have debt of any kind, then every dollar you spend is another dollar you have borrowed. That’s how debt works.

Managing Debt Better – Good Debts versus Bad Debts

Interest rates are in the news and they will stay there for a while yet. So, now is a great time to think about how you are managing your debt. Over the next few weeks, we want to provide some fundamental advice that will help you or someone you love best manage their debts.

Ever Borrowed Money from the Government?

This week, we want to explore the concept or borrowing in retirement a little more fully by looking at a unique way of doing so – the Commonwealth Government’s Pension Loan Scheme.

Asset Rich but Cash Poor?

In recent articles we've explored the personal and general reasons why many Australians choose not to sell their family home as they move into and through retirement. In this article, we look at ways that make keeping a family home easier once you stop working.