Hot Issues
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Get that money mindset this year | A 9-step guide to getting on top of your finances in 2024
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Seven key charts for investors to watch - where are they now?
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Is ‘keeping up with the Joneses’ holding you back?
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Avoiding emotional bias in financial decision making
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Countries producing the most solar power by gigawatt hours
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How mindfulness can improve the way we work
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Falling inflation - what does it mean for investors?
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How to retire with greater confidence
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The 1% rule – tiny changes add up to a BIG difference
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Wheat Production by Country
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How mindfulness can improve the way we work
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2024 - a list of lists regarding the macro investment outlook
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How to retire with greater confidence
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The 1% rule – tiny changes add up to a BIG difference
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Australian home prices up on supply shortfall, but at risk from high rates
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Catching the kindness bug
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Helping you loosen the purse strings
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How much do we depend on China?
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Negative gearing: Time to re-evaluate your strategy?
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The threat of higher oil and petrol prices flowing from the war in Israel
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How much longer will Australian household savings last?
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Four reasons inflation may rise again... and why we think it won’t
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Managing the rising costs of raising kids
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Time to Spring clean your finances?
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Has the RBA finished rate hikes?
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3 graphs that explain what’s happening with Australian wages
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Why an emergency fund delivers peace of mind
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How do interest rates affect your investments?
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The financial literacy gender gap and what to do about it
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What the manufacturing downturn means for investors and the economy
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Will these super changes affect you?
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9 money mistakes people make in retirement
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Why the need to lift productivity
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Intergenerational Report 2023
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Oldest Buildings in the World
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The confusing economic picture
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9 money mistakes people make in retirement
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How much do you need to retire comfortably in Australia?
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How to prepare financially for starting a family
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Understanding home loans
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Peak Australian home ownership
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Your end of financial year super checklist
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Tax-deductible superannuation contributions explained
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Making superannuation downsizer contributions
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9 ways to boost your super savings
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Sell in May and go away? The worry list for shares (and the good news!)
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Can I go back to work if I’ve already accessed my super?
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Your 7-point retirement planning checklist
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Super contribution rules when you’re in your 60s and 70s
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What happens to my super when I move overseas?
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RBA Review
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Term deposit vs savings account: what’s the difference?
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How Australia’s perceptions of wealth are changing in the 2020s
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The benefits of reaching your 60s in Australia
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Understanding Lender’s Mortgage Insurance (LMI)
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Overview of the Federal Budget 2023 – 24
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Five charts on investing to keep in mind in rough times like now
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Five charts on investing to keep in mind in rough times like now
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Blue collar, white collar - how the job you do can affect your financial stress
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5 things to consider when saving for a house deposit
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How to review your direct debits and save
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Top tips on how to save money
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The RBA hikes rates by another 0.25% - are we there yet?
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How to avoid bill shock with bill-smoothing payments
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When can I access my super?
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How investment market volatility could affect your super
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Can you teach your kids to defer gratification?
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5 ways to create your own good fortune this Lunar New Year
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Seven reasons why Australian shares are likely to outperform global shares over the medium term
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Understanding fixed, variable and split rate home loans
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Should you give your teenager a credit card
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How to trick yourself into saving money
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How much super should you have at your age?
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Guide to your preservation age
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How to budget in 3 simple steps
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Review of 2022, outlook for 2023
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A 2022 Advent Calendar for our clients
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11 things to know about your super
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What is equity and how can I use it to invest?
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Shares may have bottomed
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What is the retirement age in Australia?
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Positive results from research into the value of financial advice.
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Budget October 2022-23 - Comprehensive summary
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Planning a career break?
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Federal Budget: all the key points you need to know
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Federal Budget 2022: Winners and Losers
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7 easy ways to save for the future today
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Federal Budget 2022/23 - Documents and Facts Sheets
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The quick guide to redrawing on your home loan
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Seven things for investors to keep in mind in rough times like these
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Who is winning the streaming wars
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Considerations for different retirement living options
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Reviewing your personal insurance policy
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How does the First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS) work?
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Australia’s productivity challenge – why it matters and what to do about it
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The Countries that Consume the Most Beer in the World
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9 tips for first home buyers
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6 tips to reduce your debts before you retire
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How catch-up concessional contributions work
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Booms, busts and investor psychology
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Largest wind power producers in the world
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Emergency fund: What it is and how to build it fast
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Eight tips to consider in times of volatility
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State and Federal COVID-19 support---Aug 2022
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Rising home loan interest rates explained - what you need to know
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How to budget as interest rates rise
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Inflation in the 70s - baby boomer fantasy or nightmare?
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Largest natural gas produces by country from 1970-2021
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How could the latest Budget impact your tax return?
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8 indicators you may not be ready to retire
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What is an offset account and how does it work?
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How to invest responsibly and ethically.
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National property prices fall for the first time since the pandemic
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Australia’s new Government
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Is my employer paying me the right super?
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7 age pension traps to avoid
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What is gazumping and how to prevent it happening to you
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Total GDP Nominal by Country ( 1960-2050)
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Can you use your pension to retire debt free?
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Super changes that could affect you from 1 July 2022
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Your super checklist for EOFY
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9 money conversations to have with your partner
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Australian housing slowdown Q&A
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Largest cities in the world 1500 to 2100
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Federal budget 2022: Winners and Losers
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Why Australian interest rates are likely to rise and when
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Living costs for retirees rise at fastest pace in 10 years
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9 money tips if you’re having a baby
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The US Federal Reserve starts raising interest rates
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Federal Budget 2022 – Overview
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Federal Budget 2022 and YOU - Part 1
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Federal Budget 2022 and YOU - Part 2
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The escalation in Ukraine tensions - implications for investors
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Why it’s important to think about insurance ahead of retirement
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Budget smarter with the 50/20/30 rule
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What happens to my super when I die?
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DGP by country since 1800
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Tax-deductible super contributions explained
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Share market falls - seven things for investors to keep in mind
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Vaccination rates (Dose)
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Understanding insurance in your super
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How can refinancing your home loan save you money?
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2022 - a list of lists regarding the macro investment outlook
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Review of 2021, outlook for 2022
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Bull vs Bear
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How to save for retirement at every age
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Five ways you can start to bridge the super gender gap today
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5 money mistakes to avoid if you’re going guarantor
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Our 2021 Advent Calendar.
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How does a transition to retirement pension work?
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Asian Economies (1960 - 2020)
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The longer-term legacy of coronavirus
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What you should know about creating your will and estate plan
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What info is on my credit report and why does it matter?
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The worry list for shares - how worrying are they?
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Types of retirement pensions explained
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7 ways to stay active and healthy in retirement
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There’s an investor in all of us - and most of us already invest in one way or another
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World's most productive countries
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Why is Australian housing so expensive and what can be done to improve housing affordability?
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COVID relief continues for retirees
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Greenhouse gas emission by country since 1880
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How does the First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS) work?
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Spouse super contributions - what are the benefits?
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China’s growth slowdown and regulatory crackdown
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Lockdowns and mental health
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Salary sacrificing into super - how it works
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Super bring-forward rules now apply to more people
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The work test and work test exemption explained
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Coronavirus continues to cause havoc globally and in Australia
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Five ways to turn down the noise and stay focused as an investor
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Considerations for different retirement living options
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Videos and other resources for our clients
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Keeping your super on track during a career break
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Your guide to the super guarantee (SG) and rate changes
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The never-ending coronavirus pandemic
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Can I go back to work if I’ve already accessed my super?
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2020-21 saw investment returns rebound
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Tax Time Checklists - Super Funds; Individuals; and Company, Trust, Partnership
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What is capital gains tax and when might I have to pay it?
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6 steps to help you feel more positive about your finances
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End of year (EOY) financial strategies
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The 2021-22 Australian Budget - Analysis
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Videos to help understand financial planning topics.
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Investing on behalf of your kids
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Super contribution caps are going up from 1 July 2021
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Protecting your loved ones
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Federal Budget 2021 - Overview
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Building a more secure and resilient Australia
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Federal Budget 2021 - Health
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The return of geopolitical risk? - what to watch over the remainder of 2021
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Relationship break-up entitlements when you're in a de facto
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What do you need to think about when deciding when to retire?
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6 steps to building good financial habits
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RBA on hold and likely to remain easy for a long while yet as full employment gets more of a look in
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More Aussies look to buy property and refinance
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A new crypto world is emerging - the non-fungible token
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Saving for your child's future
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5 tips for creating your own good fortune this Lunar New Year
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A broad range of Calculators.
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Shares have had a very strong rebound since March last year so where are we in the investment cycle?
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ATO Small Business Newsroom
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Many in the dark about retirement
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Transfer balance cap set to increase to $1.7 million
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How to rebuild your super after a COVID-19 withdrawal
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Financial wellness in 2020 - how did yours compare?
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The global economy and investment markets this year
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ASIC sounds warning around high-yield bond scams
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Is $1m enough to retire?
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How much super should I have at my age?
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Tips for parents who became the bank of mum and dad
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How to 2020-proof your finances
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Vaccination rates as they happen around the world
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2021 - a list of lists regarding the macro investment outlook
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2020 - the year that united us
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Videos and other resources for our clients
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How to review your direct debits and save
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Majority of working Aussies to benefit from personal income tax cuts
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2020 is coming to an end. Phew!!
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Review of 2020, outlook for 2021
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The right times for financial advice
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Is your home loan still right for you?
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3 golden rules that make saving for retirement easier
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How to budget for your social life in retirement
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Still The Lucky Country
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Comprehensive list of COVID-19 initiatives and packages.
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Understanding the Age Pension income and assets test
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Considerations when downsizing your home
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Ways to help reduce your debts before you retire
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How to identify (and beat) your spending triggers
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Budget 2020 - A very comprehensive break down.
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Budget 2020 - At a Glance, Overview, Outlook
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Budget 2020 - Fact Sheets
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JobKeeper extension – changes implemented
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Australia's "eye popping" budget deficit and public debt blow out
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The economics of COVID-19 lockdowns
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How mindfulness can improve the way we work
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Taking control of your personal finances in a COVID-19 world
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September update of latest COVID-19 initiatives.
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Seven reasons why the trend in shares will likely remain up, albeit with bumps along the way
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Market outlook Q&A
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Changes to super contribution rules for over 65s
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COVID-19: How long may your super savings take to recover?
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Boost your super in the lead up to retirement
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4 ways to help prepare your finances for a recession
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JobKeeper - Latest Update
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Australian economic and fiscal update
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The fiscal cliff is more likely to be a fiscal slope
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Protect yourself from COVID-19 related scams
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The economic hangover of COVID-19: how long will it last?
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How to rebuild your super after a COVID-19 withdrawal
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Market update - July 2020
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Investment options and retirement
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Extra Tools & Resources for our clients.
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The Australian economy and recovery from COVID-19
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Digital payments and online banking for older Aussies
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The coming surge in Australia's budget deficit and public debt due to coronavirus
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10 medium to longer-term implications from the coronavirus shock
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Thinking about insurance ahead of retirement
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Gifting and financial generosity during coronavirus
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Diversification - why it matters now more than ever
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The value of financial advice
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Our Website, your resources
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Light at the end of the coronavirus tunnel
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Market update
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Changes to pension drawdown and deeming rates
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Preserving retirement saving during COVID-19
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How investment market volatility could affect your super
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COVID-19: Early Childhood Education and Care Relief Package
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The coronavirus pandemic and the economy – a Q&A from an investment perspective
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Money challenges women face
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Data so large it's hard to comprehend.
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Is coronavirus driving a recession, depression or an economic hit like no other?
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Holding your nerve – why retirees fear a market plunge
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Historic $130bn wage subsidy to cover 6 million workers
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Stage 2 – Covid-19 stimulus package.
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Covid-19 Update - Small Business
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PM launches $17.6 billion virus stimulus plan
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The plunge in shares – seven things investors need to keep in mind
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Three reasons why low inflation is good for shares and property
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Can refinancing my home loan save me money?
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Expected GDP by country 2010 to 2100
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Super investment options – what’s right for you?
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Life beyond work
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Statistical picture of Australia - Update
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A resource hub for our clients.
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Market Update
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Real Time World Population Growth - Wow!!
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Dividends explained
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Start 2020 with a best snapshot of Australia.
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5 tips for green investing
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Make Australians save again
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Bushfires and the Australian economy
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Grow your super in the new year
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Australia by the Numbers
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How to create realistic goals…… and stick to them.
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5 days to get your finances in order
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Our Advent calendar for 2019
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5 reasons why I’m not so fussed about the global outlook
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Superannuation changes
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You'll be the life of the party when armed with this information!
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7 tips to improve your financial wellness
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Rebooting for retirement
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5 reasons why the A$ may be close to the bottom
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Resist today, relax tomorrow
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Market Update 30 September 2019
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How much superannuation is enough?
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All Australia's vital statistics - October 2019
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6 new financial videos
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Boost savings with compound interest
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High times for low interest rates
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Market Update - September 2019
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Will the world slip up on oil again?
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Australia by the numbers - September 2019
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Spending money in a cashless world
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Dealing with being cash poor and asset rich
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Saving for a rainy day
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Market update
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Access to more resources and tools than most websites.
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Nine reasons why recession remains unlikely in Australia
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Can I go back to work if I’ve accessed my super?
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How's Australia doing statistically?
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Protecting your super package.
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Making the most of record-low interest rates.
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Market Update 2019
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How the top 10 global companies have changes since 1998
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The longest US economic expansion ever
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When can I access my super
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Australia by numbers – Update
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How to retire early
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How to play catch up with your Super
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Inflation undershoots in Australia
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9 money mistakes to avoid in retirement
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What a financial planner does to help.
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Australia's vital statistics.
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What kind of money parent are you?
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How to save money
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Federal Budget 2019 - Overview
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How the 2019 Federal Budget affects you
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New Global growth slowing, plunging bond yields & inverted yield curves
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Women and Money
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Market Update - March 2019
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The problem with getting to 53 years of age.
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How to avoid a travel debt hangover
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Things to avoid as a newbie investor
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Budget Time - How's Australia going?
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Most older Aussies prefer home care over a nursing home
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Why growth in China is unlikely to slow too far
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10 money conversations to have when your relationship heats up
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Australia slides into a 'per capita recession'
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6 steps to get your money stuff together
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All you need to know about how Australia is going.
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Australian housing downturn Q&A
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6 ways to reduce your credit card debt once and for all
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5 life insurance questions you've always wanted to ask
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2019 a list of lists - regarding the macro investment outlook
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Part 4 - The major benefit of ‘behavioural coaching'
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How to adult—a quick guide to personal finances in your 20s
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How Australia is performing.
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The Australian economy in 2019
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Holiday budgeting tips— How to avoid a travel debt hangover
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Australia - a comprehensive run-down of our vital statistics.
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The Fed and market turmoil - the Fed turns a bit dovish but not enough (yet)
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12 ways to avoid waste this Christmas
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Rising US interest rates, trade wars, the US midterm election results, etc
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Our Advent calendar for 2018
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Responsible and ethical investing
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What are the 3 biggest living expenses for households?
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Your Adviser and Behavioural Coaching
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Stop!! Don't do a paper Budget, use our online budgeting tools instead.
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Information needed to be the BBQ expert.
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Would you like to retire by 40?
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The property cycle and the economy
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How financial advice helps create wealth.
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7 money personalities you may identify with or want to avoid
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Are shares expensive?
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How's Australia doing statistically?
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Super investment options – what’s right for you?
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Here's how to lead a happier life
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What happened to all the worries about rising inflation and bond yields? Goldilocks, tariffs, Turkey & other things
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Is it better to buy an investment property or home first?
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Nine keys to successful investing
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This information will turn you into a fireside expert.
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How Australians will use their tax return
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Lessons from the blue zones: secrets of a long life
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Trumponomics and investment markets
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Tools for budgeting, cash flow, Super and more ….
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How much super should I have at my age?
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How tax deductible personal super contributions work
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The rise of the gig economy and side gigs (thanks to technology)
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Statistics for all Australians
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Watch out for tax scams
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After the Australian household debt and east coast housing booms
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Now’s the time for tax planning
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Why it pays to contribute to your partner's super
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Australia by numbers – Update
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How to deal with financial stress – nearly 1 in 3 affected
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Federal Budget 2018 – Overview
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Your Budget
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4 components of our 2018 Federal Budget
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US China trade war fears – Q & A
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Tools to help you manage your financial position are available on our site.
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7 ways to boost your super
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Australians reveal their priority goals
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Australia by numbers – Update
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Your retirement questions answered
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How to make money by turning your unwanted goods into cash
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Our website is really our digital office.
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Bitcoin – is it really for you?
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Spread your money, reduce risk
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Love and money? It’s not about control
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The pullback in shares - seven reasons not to be too concerned
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Australia. All you need to know to be the expert.
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Australian’s love affair with debt - how big is the risk?
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5 ways to keep a cool head in a falling share market
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2018 – a list of lists regarding the macro investment outlook
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Sports lovers enjoy better financial fitness
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Where Australia is at. Our leading indicators.
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The year that was and the year ahead
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Add some extra cash to your New Year
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New year, new financial resolutions
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Our Advent calendar for 2017
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Where are we in the global investment cycle?
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Australia's vital statistics
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12 ways to enjoy summer without spending a fortune
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One in three Aussies travel without protection
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Digital payment options could see you spend more this Christmas
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If you’ve always thought property prices only go up…
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Will Australian house prices crash?
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Where are we in the global investment cycle and what's the risk of a 1987 style crash?
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Money steps for women
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Resources on our site to help you, your family and your friends.
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Australian Dietary Guidelines and healthy eating chart (PDF)
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How to retire, your way
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Prepare for retirement without missing out today
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Be the boss of your cash
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The Australian economy bounces back again
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Should you lend money to family?
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Money mistakes people make in their 50s and 60s
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Australian Dietary Guidelines and healthy eating chart (PDF)
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Eight steps to improved cashflow... and lifestyle
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Powerful Budgeting, cash flow and Super Tools available on our site.
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5 ways Australians will use their tax return this year
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Australia's leading causes of death - ABS
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The threat of war with North Korea
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Six traits of Australians living the dream
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The break higher in the Australian dollar is likely to be limited
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Money can buy you happiness, you’re just spending it wrong
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Key Economic Indicators, 2017 – updated
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Helping your kids buy a home
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From Goldilocks to taper tantrum 2.0
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What’s your debt age?
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Doing a budget is a good idea but ....
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Planning is the key to making it financially
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What to do when you come into money
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Managing your money when you move in together
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Reduce your bills with these household items
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It pays to contribute to your partner's super
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How to cope with losing independence
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Transition to retirement income streams
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The Australian economy hits another rough patch
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Watch out for tax scams
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The three core pillars of this year's budget
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Federal Budget - 2017-18 - Overview
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Federal Budget - 2017-18 - Budget documents
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Make the most of the current super caps
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Five, four, three… it’s not too late to get more in super
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Super changes are coming
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What’s your debt age?
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Australian cash rate on hold
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Super changes this financial year - Dr Shane Oliver - video
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The door is closing on super’s current caps
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Is Donald Trump's honeymoon with investors over?
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Estate planning and why you need a super plan
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What does a comfortable retirement look like?
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Give your career a health check
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Super changes from July 2017
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Changes to the Age Pension assets test
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Keep your money safe over the silly season
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Looking ahead at 2017
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Review of 2016, outlook for 2017 - looking better despite the political noise
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Merry Christmas for 2016, a Happy New Year and a prosperous 2017.
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54.2 million worries
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Five tips for happy healthy ageing
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Thinking about managing your own super?
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Sending more to the tax office than you should?
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Government pulls back on proposed changes to super
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Market Update - What to consider when investing in a low return world
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Stop!! Don't do a paper Budget, use our online budgeting tools instead.
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Oliver's Insight - Megatrends
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Value of Advice
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A growing family doesn't have to blow the budget
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Blinded by optimism
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Thinking about managing your own super?
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The investment outlook - it's not all that bad!
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What’s your biggest obstacle to financial success?
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Ageing Parents
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Should you own the roof over your head?
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Be a senior entrepreneur on your own terms!
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Brexit and other key developments
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Brexit wins
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Commentary on major issues - AMP
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Five money habits for a happy financial year
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Remember to factor in parental subsidies at tax time
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Are grandparents giving too much?
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2016-17 Federal Budget - AMP
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2016 Budget in detail
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How (and why) to talk to your adult children about insurance
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Procrastination: Just do it. Eventually.
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Why Australian property won't collapse
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The Lucky Country holding up pretty well
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Have we reached the bottom?
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The evolution of the Chinese consumer
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Retirement rolls around faster than you think
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Pressed for time?
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Changes to the Age Pension assets test
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Women are building financial intelligence
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Heirlooms no more
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Initial market falls precede stronger returns - Shane Oliver
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What exactly is income protection insurance and do I need it?
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A rough start to the year, which could have further to go
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Aged Care - Changes to Assessment of Rental Income
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A bump in the road, then a new start
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New year, new start – are you ready for retirement?
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Review of 2015, outlook for 2016 - Dr Shane Oliver
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We wish you a Merry Christmas for 2015 and a Happy New Year
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Go easy on the plastic over Christmas
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Resolutions for a wealthy future
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The Australian dollar doing what it normally does - overshoot. Dr Shane Oliver
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How to manage volatility in a low return world
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The Australian economy - more help will be needed. Dr Shane Oliver
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Insurance through my super
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Four tactics to build an investment portfolio
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The demand for global infrastructure
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Help achieve your investment goals with dynamic asset allocation
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The Power of Budgeting
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Jump retirement hurdles with a coach
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Preparing for the time of your life
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A Super Loan for all reasons
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Making a smooth transition
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Budget 2015 - some professional opinions
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Australian Government - Budget 2015
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Achieving a comfortable retirement
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54.2 million worries

 

Dr Shane Oliver
Head of Investment Strategy and Chief Economist 
AMP Capital 

       

 

Five ways to help manage the noise and turn down the worry list

Key points

  • The combination of a massive ramp up in financial information combined with our natural inclination to zoom in on negative news is making us worse investors: more fearful, more jittery, more short term. 
  • Five ways to help manage the noise and turn down the worry list are: put the latest worry list in context; recognise that shares return more than cash in the long term because they can lose money in the short term; find a process to help filter noise; make a conscious effort not to check your investments so much; look for opportunities that investor worries show up.

Introduction

We are going through one of those periods where it seems there is a long list of things for investors to worry about: the US election; the Fed; ever present fears about a break of the Eurozone; and China. To be sure these risks are real and in our view some combination of them could drive a short term correction in shares, but we don’t see them derailing the longer term rising trend in shares. More fundamentally there seems to be a never ending worry list which is receiving an ever higher prominence as the information age enables the ready and rapid dissemination of news, opinion and noise. The danger is that this is making us all worse investors as we lurch from one worry to the next resulting in ever shorter investment horizons in the process. The trick is how to manage the noise to avoid this. 

Why the worries might seem more worrying?

The problem for investors is that the worry list seems more worrying than it used to be. Yes, there is a fundamental element: the nominal return potential from most asset classes are lower than they used to be, global growth is slower than it was pre GFC and the world seems awash in geopolitical risks. 

But there is a huge psychological aspect to this that is combining with the increasing availability of information, and intensifying competition amongst various forms of media for clicks, that is magnifying perceptions around various worries. 

Firstly, people suffer from a behavioural trait that has become known as "loss aversion" in that a loss in financial wealth is felt much more distastefully than the beneficial impact of the same sized gain. This probably reflects the evolution of the human brain in the Pleistocene age when the trick was to avoid being eaten by a sabre toothed tiger or squashed by a wholly mammoth. This leaves us biased to be more risk averse and it also leaves us more predisposed to bad news stories as opposed to good news stories. Flowing from this, prognosticators of gloom are more likely to be revered as deep thinkers than are optimists. As John Stuart Mill noted “I have observed that not the man who hopes when others despair, but the man who despairs when others hope, is admired by a large class of persons as a sage.” In other words bad news and doom and gloom find a more ready market than good news or balanced commentary as it appeals to our instinct to look for risks around the corner. Hence the old saying “bad new sells”. 

Secondly, we are now exposed to more information than ever on both how our investments are going and everything else. On the one hand this is great - we can check facts, analyse things, sound informed easier than ever. But for the most part we have no way of weighing such information and no time to do so. So it becomes noise. This comes with a cost for investors. If we don't have a process to filter it and focus on what matters we can simply suffer from information overload. This can be bad for investors as when faced with more (and often bad) news we can freeze up and make the wrong decisions with our investment as our natural “loss aversion” combines with what is called the “recency bias” that sees people give more wait to recent events which can see investors project recent bad news into the future and so sell after a fall. A 1997 study by US behavioural economist Richard Thaler and others showed that providing investors in an experiment "with frequent feedback about their [investment] outcome is likely to encourage their worst tendencies...More is not always better. The subjects with the most data did the worst in terms of money earned." 

Thirdly, there is explosion in media outlets all competing for your eyes and ears. We are now bombarded with economic and financial news and opinions with 24/7 coverage by multiple web sites, subscription services, finance updates, dedicated TV and on line channels etc. And in competing for your attention, bad news and gloom naturally trumps good news and balanced commentary as “bad news sells.” So naturally it seems that the bad news is “badder” and the worries more worrying than ever. 

Google the words “financial crisis 2016” and you get 54.2 million search results with titles such as:

  • “the looming financial crisis nobody is talking about…”; 
  • “the pieces are falling into place for another financial crisis”; 
  • “7 signs of a US economic collapse in 2016”; 
  • “coming financial collapse – 18 critical items you need to prepare, tomorrow may be too late”; 
  • “beware the great 2016 financial crisis”; 
  • “looking for economic crisis 2016? Find everything you need here”; 
  • “Trouble with money? The Bible has answers for you”; and 
  • The Illuminati (are those guys still around?) are supposedly behind the “global financial crisis 2016-2017”.

But you don’t even have to Google them – they just seem to pop up once it’s known you are into matters financial. I seem to constantly see an ad about why an Australian recession is inevitable in 2016 and how to protect my wealth…but they also told me it was inevitable in 2015 and 2014? 

The trouble is that there is no evidence that all this noise is making us better investors. Average returns are no higher than in the past. A concern is that the combination of a massive ramp up in information combined with our natural inclination to zoom in on negative news is making us worse investors: more fearful, more jittery and more short term focussed. 

Nine keys for successful investing

There are nine keys to successful investing (http://bit.ly/1JmaIDU): 

  1. Make the most of the power of compound interest; 
  2. Be aware that there is always a cycle; 
  3. Invest for the long term; 
  4. Diversify; 
  5. Turn down the noise; 
  6. Buy low and sell high; 
  7. Beware the crowd at extremes; 
  8. Focus on investments offering sustainable cash flow; and 
  9. Seek advice. 

But of all of these, number 5 - or turn down the noise on the information flow around us, is critical - if you can't do that there is no point getting advice, you won't be a long term investor, you won't get the benefit of compound interest, you will be sucked into selling low in every cyclical downturn, etc. 

Five ways to manage the perpetual worry list

So here are five suggestions as to how to manage the worry list and turn down the noise: 

Firstly, put the latest worry list in context. Remember that there has always been an endless stream of worries. Here's a list of the worries of the last four years that have weighed on markets: the fiscal cliff; Cyprus; Fed taper talk; the US Government shutdown and debt ceiling debacle; Ukraine; IS terror threat; Ebola; deflation; Greece; China worries; Australian recession, property & banks; Brazil and Russia in recession; energy producers defaulting; manufacturing slump; Trump; worries about the Fed raising rates; soft starts to the year for US growth; falling profits; Brexit and contagion to the rest of Europe; North Korea; messy Australian election result; and South China Sea tensions. 

Yet despite this extensive worry list investment returns have actually been okay with average balanced growth superannuation funds returning 9.6% pa over the last four years and 7.4% pa over the last three years after taxes and fees. 

The global economy has had plenty of worries over the last century, but it got over them with Australian shares returning 11.6% pa since 1900 and US shares 9.8%pa. 

Australian shares have climbed a wall of worry


Source: ASX, AMP Capital

Secondly, recognise how markets work. A diverse portfolio of shares returns more than bonds and cash long term because it can lose money short term. As can be seen in the chart below while the share market can be highly volatile in the short term it has strong returns over all rolling 20 year periods. And invariably the short term volatility is driven by “loss averse” investors projecting recent events into the future and so causing shares to periodically from long term fundamental value. So volatility driven by worries and bad news is normal. It’s the price investors pay for higher longer term returns. 

Aust share returns over over rolling 12 mth and 20 yr period


Source: Global Financial Data, AMP Capital

Thirdly, find a way to filter news so that it doesn't distort your investment decisions. For example this could involve building your own investment process or choosing 1-3 good investment subscription services and relying on them. Or simpler still, agreeing to a long term strategy with a financial planner and sticking to it. Ultimately it all depends on how much you want to be involved in managing your investments. 

Fourthly, make a conscious effort not to check your investments so much. If you track the daily movements in the Australian All Ords price index, measured over the last twenty years it has been down almost as much as it has been up. See the next chart. It’s little different for the US S&P 500. So day to day it’s pretty much a coin toss as to whether you will get good news or bad. By contrast if you only look at how the share market has gone each month and allow for dividends the historical experience tells us you will only get bad news 35% of the time. Looking only on a calendar year basis, data back to 1900 indicates that the probability of bad news in the form of a loss slides further to just 19% for Australian shares and 27% for US shares. And if you can stretch it out to once a decade, again since 1900, positive returns have been seen 100% of the time for Australian shares and 82% of the time for US shares. 

Percentage of positive share market returns


Data from 1995 and 1900. Source: Global Financial Data, AMP Capital

The less frequently you look the less you will be disappointed and so the lower the chance that a bout of "loss aversion" will be triggered which leads you to sell at the wrong time. Try to avoid looking at market updates so regularly and even consider removing related apps from your smart phones & tablets. 

Finally, look for opportunities that bad news and investor worries through up. Always remember that periods of share market turbulence after bad news throw up opportunities for investors as such periods push shares into cheap territory. 


Concluding comment
I read recently an opinion piece claiming that behind most financial scare stories is an economist. Perhaps - although I tend to think the exaggeration bit comes mostly from others. But my long term experience around investing tells me that it’s far more productive to lean into prognostications of financial gloom because most of the time they are wrong and end up just distracting investors from their goals. 

 

Dr Shane Oliver
Head of Investment Strategy and Chief Economist 
AMP Capital 

 

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Important note: While every care has been taken in the preparation of this document, AMP Capital Investors Limited (ABN 59 001 777 591, AFSL 232497) and AMP Capital Funds Management Limited (ABN 15 159 557 721, AFSL 426455) make no representations or warranties as to the accuracy or completeness of any statement in it including, without limitation, any forecasts. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. This document has been prepared for the purpose of providing general information, without taking account of any particular investor’s objectives, financial situation or needs. An investor should, before making any investment decisions, consider the appropriateness of the information in this document, and seek professional advice, having regard to the investor’s objectives, financial situation and needs. This document is solely for the use of the party to whom it is provided.