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How to choose between super and the mortgage

SUMMARY: Paying off your home, or contributing more to super? Lower rates can make this an even more super idea. Sustained low interest rates has certainly made paying off the mortgage easier in recent years. But it’s also given a boost to a combined super/mortgage strategy. A question often asked by those in their 50s […]

What are your top three tips for protecting your retirement nest egg from a financial disaster?

“Wax on, wax off.” If you don’t know what that means, you’re not Generation X. Try a column to the left or right. Daniel-san, aka The Karate Kid, was taught the wise ways of the martial art by Miyagi, a teacher with odd-ball methods, but who got his point across. And Danny-boy, by learning to […]

Saying goodbye to work … slowly

SUMMARY: Retiring too early? Don’t, there are plenty of reasons to stay working until you’re really ready to ride off into the sunset. The idea of turning in your badge, at the end of a long career, is becoming increasingly unpopular. For some, it’s actually dreaded. More and more, Australians want to continue working beyond […]

Money habits are developed from a young age? How do you go about changing any bad habits?

I call it “rewiring my brain”. And I’ve had to do it a bunch of times since 1999 – when I first decided an aspect of my life needed an exorcism. While none were bad money habits per se, all were destructive behaviour patterns with financial consequences. I tended to focus on the financial outcomes […]

A million reasons to watch SMSFs

SUMMARY: SMSFs continue to do what they know best – make sure that their own best interests are being looked after. UNDERDOG status is something with which DIY super funds have long been comfortable. Being underestimated has never worried them. Authorities and outsiders often misread them, misunderstand what drives them and mis-judge how they’re going […]

Getting started in investing is often the biggest hurdle. How much money do you need to take the plunge?

You don’t need money! You need a mindset! One big cup of concrete to harden up, mixed with another cup of one of those sandshoe slogans. About doing it, just. Michelle Bridges famously added an expletive into it. Cue Eye of the Tiger from Rocky III:“… just a man and his will to survive.” You […]

Bust the backroom deal and take super control

The best things in life – like a hug from your kids – are free. But, sadly, you can’t survive on free stuff, without turning to crime and pinching everything else. Want a life with a nicer sweet treats? Have more money. The more of it, the better. Want a nicer long life? Well, knuckle […]

If only I knew then…

I’d like to bump into myself in the street 20 years ago, but right now. That would be right cool. And rather enlightening. For him. Of course, if I did, I’d suggest we head off to the rubbity dub. Assuming Young Me didn’t say “Bugger off old man”, I’d buy him a drink. “Pull up […]

The franking credit fallacy

SUMMARY: SMSFs like franked dividends. And as a result, they pay more tax, not less, than regular super funds. The DIY super army is under fire again. Now the claim is that they don’t pay tax, or “evade” paying tax. It’s a flimsy argument, based on the premise that self-managed super funds invest in companies […]

Aussies are often told they don’t care enough about super. When should you start caring?

Well, it’s your money. When do you think you should start caring about it? Your answer should be “now”. Followed by: “Okay, so what do I do next?” Australians, on average, couldn’t give a toss about super. I blame Government. Firstly, they’ve never run a public education campaign, despite making super mandatory. And secondly, they […]