5 simple lessons to motivate kids to save

10 September

Building strong money habits early can set children up for a lifetime of smart financial decisions.    It all starts with simple lessons in saving, spending, and valuing what matters most.   Top 5 tips to motivate kids to save Help Them Set a...[Read More]

Oliver’s insights – The super cycle bear market in bonds and the return of “bond vigilantes”

10 September

Key points Bond yields are being pushed higher by concerns about inflation, high public debt, rising corporate borrowing, rising Japanese bond yields and increasing economic uncertainty. This is part of a super cycle rise in bond yields that...[Read More]

Australians are ‘furious’ about inflation: RBA deputy

10 September

Australians are “furious” about inflation and it will take the nation years to fully get on top on higher post-pandemic living costs, the Reserve Bank’s deputy governor says. Ahead of the central bank’s meeting later this month on interest...[Read More]

Reserve Bank’s grim rates warning as oil prices spike

10 September

The Reserve Bank might have to raise interest rates if inflation is higher than expected as oil prices surge back towards $US100 a barrel. More attacks on oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz drove Brent crude above $US97 a barrel, which will seep...[Read More]

Oliver’s insights – The Australian home price downturn deepened in August, with more to go

3 September

Key pointsThe slump in national average home prices continued in August with prices down 0.9% according to Cotality, their fifth monthly fall. The fall in July was revised down to -1.2%.Further falls are likely as we continue to expect another RBA...[Read More]

Oliver’s Insights – Compound interest and returns are an investor’s best friend

21 August

Key pointsCompound interest is an investor’s best friend but can be a borrower’s worst nightmare.The higher the return, the earlier and bigger the investment contribution and the longer the period the more it works.To make the most of it, ensure...[Read More]

The earlier you understand and engage with your super, the greater the benefits of time and compound interest

27 August

Superannuation is one of the most powerful tools Australians have to build long-term financial security. Yet, for many young people, it remains out of sight and out of mind. They may see it as something for “future them” to worry about —...[Read More]

‘Hot mess’ inflation result puts rate rise on the table

27 August

More interest rate hikes are on the cards after Australia’s headline inflation rate came in higher than expected, despite falling to its lowest level in eight months.The consumer price index rose one per cent in July, resulting in the annual rate...[Read More]

Foreign property purchases fall as home buyer ban bites

26 August

Purchases of Australian property by overseas investors have plunged after the government announced a ban on foreigners buying Australian homes.The number of investment approvals fell by more than 22 per cent to 5284 in 2024/25, the Productivity...[Read More]

The top 5 tax mistakes small business owners make

20 August

Tax is an unavoidable part of running a small business, but it is also one of the areas that can create the most confusion.For many business owners, tax sits somewhere between administration, compliance and financial planning. It is often pushed...[Read More]

Investing through a Self-Managed Super Fund (SMSF)

20 August

A Self-Managed Super Fund (SMSF) offers individuals greater control over their retirement savings, allowing them to choose a variety of investment options. To maximise long-term returns and financial security, it is essential to understand the...[Read More]

Oliver’s insights – Why investors need to treat forecasts with caution

20 August

Key pointsThe increasing noise around investing – associated with a messier economic and geopolitical backdrop along with an explosion in information flow and the rise of social media – is arguably accentuating a desire for investment experts,...[Read More]

Jobs data and a fireside chat: the economic week ahead

20 August

As the US dragged itself out of the Great Depression, newly-elected president Franklin D Roosevelt pioneered an informal style of radio address to nurture rapport with a bruised American public.It’s unclear whether the LED lighting at...[Read More]

AI boom, productivity malaise making RBA’s job harder

20 August

The surge in artificial intelligence investment and Australia’s sluggish productivity growth rate are forcing the Reserve Bank to keep interest rates higher, a top central bank official says.Speaking two days after the RBA kept the cash rate...[Read More]

Oliver’s Insights – The RBA cuts for the third time – expect a further gradual easing to 2.85%

14 August

Key pointsThe RBA cut its cash rate by 0.25% taking it to 3.6%. This is the third rate cut in this easing cycle.The RBA sees inflation running around target but has revised its growth forecasts down again. Its forecasts assume that the cash rate...[Read More]