If there’s one constant about interest rates, it’s no matter where they sit someone will inevitably be grumbling about them. There’s always a belief from some people that they’re entitled to money at a cheaper rate or that they should be compensated better for having money stashed away. When interest rates are high, those who’ve borrowed are screaming, presumably because they never factored the possible high water mark into their plans. When interest rates are low, those who are expecting cash to provide a reliable and safe income are screaming, presumably because they never factored the possible low water mark…

If you’re looking for a really valuable present for anyone in their 20’s this Christmas you couldn’t go wrong by handing them $50 and explaining the simple dynamics of time and compounding contributions when it comes to planning for the future. Explain that $50 can be their first contribution, but every $50 from there, each week, over the next 40 years is up to them. Watch their jaws drop as they try to comprehend the timeline. While they might scoff at the idea and the supposed effort to keep it up, the $50 can be sold as the lazy way…

When it comes to the share market the media has a notoriously short term focus. And because few investors compile their own stats on share market returns, the media ultimately becomes our share market news filter. Each day they tell us what the market has done for that day. Not the last rolling 30 days or the last rolling quarter, rolling half year, year, 3 years etc. Of course that would be an extremely time consuming and possibly cock-eyed way to report, but when you consider the fact that it would be rare for someone to invest for a solitary…

Earlier this year we highlighted the impact the winding down of the mining boom was having on real estate in Port Hedland, Western Australia. Now the doom and gloom has spread across to the east coast. The latest town to experience serious property pain is Gladstone, Queensland. It has had some serious investment around port facilities and liquid natural gas plants, with money spent in the billions. At the same time property developers moved in build and capitalise on the expected demand for real estate. Things peaked for real estate back in 2013 though. Since then anyone buying on the…

Just some news to keep you all on your toes. Insurance Premiums on the Rise A client, who maintains an additional industry superannuation account, recently received a rude shock upon noticing a significant increase in insurance premiums being deducted from their industry account. Checking with their fund, they were advised they’d previously been advised of the increase – something they disputed. Unfortunately, the increased charges had been milking their fund and despite ongoing complaints, they were unable to have the unwanted premium increases reversed. Some insurance premiums within super have been increasing significantly this year, but generally you’d expect to…