Although marriage, mortgage, and young children may have characterised your 30s, your 40s often feature growing responsibilities and ever-competing priorities. Your parents are older, your mortgage is still on foot, children’s education costs are growing, and though retirement may seem a distant reality, planning for that reality becomes an important consideration. The good news is […]
Building your ‘Family Future Fund
They say it takes a village to raise a child, but how much does it actually cost? The answer is highly dependent on individual circumstances, but as a guide, a 2013 national study found that a typical middle income family would spend about $812,000 on raising two children from birth to age 24.i At that […]
New year, new financial resolutions
You may have already given thought to some health-related wellness goals for 2018, but what about your financial wellness? AMP research has revealed that a quarter of Australian workers have difficulty in making ends meet, with the most common triggers for financial stress found to be bad debt, the need to save for retirement and […]
Why you should have an emergency fund
Why you should have an emergency fund When you’re faced with unexpected expenses, having emergency cash set aside can make all the difference. Could a relatively minor event—such as an unexpected filling, visit to the vet, broken phone, faulty home appliance or busted car tyre—leave you financially stranded? If you answered yes, you’re not alone. […]