Start Investing Online Today
Your search returned 203 results:
There is no doubt cost of living pressures have made it tough for young professionals to achieve their saving and investment goals in recent times. ...
Our new-look website is making it easier for clients to find information and news and easier for those new to FMD to meet our advisers, ...
As electric vehicles (EVs) become cheaper and more popular, many of our clients areasking if buying an electric car stacks up financially. Of course, the ...
FMD’s Martin Hawkins, Senior Adviser and Director in our Brisbane office, and his wife Rhiannon, are preparing for a once in a lifetime walk. ...
In a month characterised by shifting sentiments and global economic resilience, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), at its second meeting for the year, opted ...
It’s been hard to escape the news that the Federal Government has passed legislation to amend the controversial ‘Stage 3 tax cuts’ due to come ...
While the hit TV series Succession depicts more of a Murdoch-style dynasty than the average successful Australian family, it does highlight the drama and tension ...
The ‘January effect’ is a well-known phenomenon among economists and psychologists alike. Regardless of market realities, consumer optimism and share prices often see a temporary ...
Clients often ask us how they can help their kids build wealth faster and share ideas or strategies on becoming more financially savvy, earlier in ...
Despite rising interest rates, the low availability of housing stock and demand for residential property has seen steady price growth across capital city markets in 2023, ...
When we launched Rev Invest almost a year ago, our vision was to create a simple, accessible and affordable direct investment platform to help more ...
Walt Disney famously had this advice for those striving to create a successful, long-term business “Do what you do so well that people will want ...
As we age, more and more people are aiming to stay in the family home close to support networks for as long as possible and ...
July’s CPI result was 4.9%, slowing from 5.4% in June, which cemented expectations of a pause in interest rates. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) delivered, ...
When you’re in the peak earning years in your career, your income is one of the most important assets you have, enabling you to ...
It has been two years since the height of the lockdowns and restrictions of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. Widespread vaccination ...
As households absorb the impact of 12 consecutive interest rate rises and a slowing economy, it’s increasingly clear the pain is not being felt evenly. ...
Introduction The Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers took 31 minutes to announce his first full year budget for the Albanese Labor Government last night as he tried ...
It is now easier than ever to apply for and manage your Centrelink benefits yourself through your MyGov Account. Follow these useful guides on how ...
After a positive start to the year in January, global investors faced a reality check in February. Bond and equity markets gave up some of ...
Financial markets started the year on an upbeat note, with rallies across the board in January. The driver of this optimism was a widespread expectation ...
2022 was a very difficult year for the global financial markets, with nearly all asset classes posting negative returns for the year (see Chart 1 below). The ...
Summary Markets were in a more buoyant mood in November, hoping the worst of the interest rate hikes may be over after some better inflation ...
Introduction The Albanese Government has handed down its self-described "solid and sensible" budget in a very different economic environment to March this year when the ...
Everyone can benefit from financial planning at key life stages, but women often have different career and lifestyle goals and circumstances from men, and different ...
Summary Ongoing strength in the US economy, including higher than expected inflation, led the Federal Reserve to adopt a more aggressive stance on interest rates. ...
Homeowners face plenty of tough choices in challenging economic times. House prices are falling across the country, auction clearance rates are down 15% on the same ...
The rally enjoyed by financial markets in July came to an abrupt halt in August. The key driver of this change in sentiment was the ...
After the turmoil of previous months, markets took a more positive tone in July with both bonds and equities posting solid gains. A key driver ...
2021/22 was another dramatic year for global financial markets. A combination of strong growth, abundant liquidity, supply chain blockages, and the Ukraine war triggered the biggest ...
Supported retirement village living and residential aged care are often seen as alternatives, but the fact is they are not true substitutes. The style of ...
May was a volatile month for global financial markets. The first half of the month saw significant losses in both equity and bond markets as ...
The property market has been front and centre in the lead up to the Federal Election, after the RBA raised interest rates by 0.25% in April, ...
April was a harsh month for financial markets. High inflation, aggressive rhetoric from the US Federal Reserve Bank, the Ukraine war and COVID lockdowns in ...
March was a turbulent month for global financial markets. Early in the month, the war in Ukraine and the US Federal Reserve’s (Fed) program ...
Scamwatch, the scam monitoring service run by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), is alerting the public to a new trend re-targeting previous scam ...
Introduction With the pending election front-of mind for the Government, the Treasurer has handed down a relatively responsible Budget, with a strong focus on cost-of-living ...
Changes to super contribution rules from 1 July may be a great opportunity to revisit your strategy to and boost your super, pre and post retirement. ...
Keen property investors have been watching the phenomenal growth in the Australian property market over the last year and asking: How long can it last? ...
Financial markets have been unsettled by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Higher prices for energy and other commodity exports of those countries have added to ...
The Australian Business Registry Services now requires all company directors to apply for a Director Identification Number (DIN). If you are a company director, this ...
Raising concerns when an elderly parent’s health or wellbeing at home is in decline, is one of the hardest conversations you’ll ever have ...
Despite ongoing COVID waves, equities had another stellar year. Re-opening helped REITs and infrastructure in particular. However, supply chain problems caused pockets of excess demand ...
Romance may be in the air, but it’s not all wine and roses when two people combine their finances and aspirations in the name ...
The link between financial wellbeing and peace of mind has never been clearer, and more people then ever realise that in order to sleep well ...
Summary November started well enough for risk assets. US equities rose on some good earnings reports, while UK and European equities gained after the Bank ...
Most of us have relied on doing so much more online, including online shopping, during lengthy COVID-19 restrictions. At the same time, many people have ...
Summary With high equity valuations and slowing global growth, markets are in a mood to be worried, and September provided them with plenty of opportunities. ...
Being stuck at home in endless COVID-19 lockdowns has given many people time to think about their financial future, if new enquiries to our advisers ...
Summary August saw more of the themes and risks that global financial markets had focused on in July. COVID-19 continued to spread around the world, ...
August is reporting season and, in addition to finding out how companies are performing in these challenging times, investors may also find themselves on the ...
In our recent Investment Committee (IC) update, we discussed the threat of rising inflation driven by ongoing low interest rates and the likely impact on ...
Summary July saw markets continue to worry about the global growth outlook. Some key readings of economic activity in June were lower than in previous ...
Changes to government regulations are now in place that will reduce the benefits available on new income protection policies from 1 October 2021. Income protection insurance is ...
Summary 2020/21 was a dramatic year that started with serious concerns about public health and the global economy and finished on an optimistic note, delivering historic ...
Being in the advice business for 20 years, we’ve learnt a lot about what motivates people to seek good advice, and how much bad advice ...
Like every pandemic in history, there is no doubt COVID-19 will have lingering effects on us all. Research has already shown shifts in how we ...
Summary May was something of a consolidation month for most asset classes. Global investors have been grappling with the trade-off between the benefits of stronger ...
Budget 2021-22 follows on from the last Budget’s theme of getting Australia through the pandemic and promoting economic growth and employment. The Australian economy ...
Summary April saw positive returns across the board for financial markets. Equities and commodities performed especially well. Bond markets steadied in April, after fears in ...
Summary March saw further good news about the pace of global economic recovery, with the OECD revising up its forecasts for global growth, and strong ...
Global interest rates have been trending down for years. In the wake of the global Coronavirus pandemic central banks are expected to continue to keep ...
On Feb 26, 2021 the final report from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety was presented outlining 148 recommendations. The report was subtitled Care, Dignity ...
Summary February was a re-run of January in that markets started on a strong note, with equities posting very good gains in the first half ...
There are more thresholds, caps and restrictions to manage than ever before when it comes to superannuation and Self-Managed Super Funds and more complexity lies ...
Summary January saw further improvement in the Australian economy, with higher employment and stronger business conditions and consumer confidence. Inflation rose only modestly in the ...
It is with great sadness that we advise that Bentley Klein, the founder of Axios Financial Solutions, passed away on Monday, 25th January, after a ...
Summary 2020 began off the back of a big global equity rally, with a few geo-political concerns, but no inkling of the havoc that COVID-19 was ...
Summary November was a massive month for global financial markets. Two of the biggest uncertainties facing the markets were resolved in ways which led global ...
The Coronavirus pandemic has shone a spotlight on an Australian aged care system under-resourced and under pressure, with tragic results. The crisis comes on the ...
When it comes to separation and divorce, couples are plunged into the overwhelming situation of having to make decisions that will affect themselves, their families ...
Last year at this time, our team was busy gearing up for what proved to be our largest-ever Annual Client Briefing, which was attended by ...
Summary A major resurgence of Covid-9 infections in the UK, Europe and US has renewed investor concerns about the path of global economic recovery. In ...
Summary September saw a break in the rally in global equity markets. Several factors contributed to this, including signs that the global recovery, while proceeding, ...
Introduction Budget 2020-21 is firmly billed as a recovery plan, to move Australia from crisis response towards rebuilding the economy following the once-in-a-century shock caused ...
In our recent article - What will Covid-19 mean for property prices? - we spoke to property expert and FMD partner, David McMillan at Performance ...
Evidence is mounting that pandemic pressures helped drive Australian divorce applications to their highest level in over a decade, as more people reevlauate their relationships ...
Summary August saw restrictions maintained in a number of countries to contain COVID-19 second waves. Progress was made in Australia and the US in getting ...
Coronavirus has brought widespread upheaval and uncertainty to most sectors of the Australian economy and the property market is no exception. With life interrupted for ...
Summary July saw second waves of COVID-19 infections around the world with cases per week in a number of countries, including Australia, the US and ...
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to seriously impact individuals, businesses and communities across Australia. To support the economic recovery, the Government is extending and further tailoring ...
Photo: A great travel memory for Alan, 14th hole at Wolf Creek Golf Course, Nevada, USA. With Victoria once again in lockdown, it's a timely ...
Summary 2019/20 was the most dramatic year for financial markets since the GFC. The first half of the year was dominated by concerns of global recession ...
Making financial decisions, particularly important, long-term decisions like buying a house, establishing an investment portfolio, or choosing the right time to retire, can be stressful ...
The COVID-19 crisis has reminded us all of the fragility of health and just how quickly life can change. In living rooms across the country, ...
So much is unclear as we attempt to return to a new normal in Australia and around the world. Will we succeed in avoiding a ...
Summary Markets embraced a risk-on mood in April with a strong rally in equities as investors welcomed declining virus infections and reports of possible medical ...
The FMD team and your adviser can conduct your regular review meeting, or any other meeting as required, in a virtual setting. Here are some ...
In the classic 90’s movie Groundhog Day, Bill Murray’s cynical weatherman, Phil, finds himself stuck in the same day repeatedly when he heads to ...
COVID-19 has upended how people in Australia and around the world work and live. Most of us are working from home, may have reduced income, ...
Adapting your budget to your new reality Daily life has been turned upside down for all of us due to the COVID-19 pandemic and new ...
Summary The first three weeks of February saw further good performance by global equity markets. The news from China about COVID-19 seemed to be getting ...
Summary March was the most turbulent month for global financial markets since the onset of the GFC. Evidence of COVID-19 spreading into Europe triggered a ...
Useful links × Some useful website links relating to COVID-19 Australian Government Department of Health – facts and resources regarding COVID-19 Treasury – key economic response to COVID-19 ...
With job advertisements falling from their September 2022 peak and the economy slowing after rapid interest rate rises, more companies are expected to follow the likes ...
Summary January was a dramatic month for the world economy and financial markets, starting with hostilities between the US and Iran and ending with fears ...
Welcome to our new FMD Team Members! 2019 was a big year for FMD with a number of significant changes, including our move to operating under ...
Summary December closed out 2019 on a positive note with equities, bonds and commodities all rallying as key economic data steadied and the US and China ...
2018-19 was a tough year for Australia’s major banks who faced margin squeeze from lower interest rates, fierce competition in mortgages and customer dissatisfaction ...
The Australia Talks National Survey (fielded in July 2019) shed light on what Australians are most worried about. When presented with a list of 27 worry factors ...
Summary November was a good month for equity markets as the broad risk-on theme continued. Both the local and US equity markets reached new highs. ...
Summary After starting October on a cautious note, markets became a little more optimistic about global economic conditions as the month progressed. News that the ...
The Trump presidency has seen a rapid return to protectionism with the introduction of new tariffs on Chinese goods aimed at lowering net imports and ...
Summary September’s market action was in clear contrast to the previous month. August’s concerns about global growth, trade wars and geopolitics gave way ...
Latest ASIC research adds to the growing body of evidence around the high value of financial advice. *Over 80% agreed that planning their financial future made ...
Summary August was a turbulent month for global financial markets with heightening concerns in relation to the ongoing trade dispute between the US and China, ...
For information about scams directly related to the COVID-19 outbreak, see our regular update post. Most of us like to think we’re too smart ...
The Summary July was all about central banks cutting interest rates to support growth. This spurred equity markets to new highs in both Australia and ...
Super regulations are always changing - there have been 43 legislative and regulatory changes in Self-Managed Super alone in the last five years! (1) While super may ...
The old adage that people are more likely to change their partner than their bank may not be true for much longer. In the coming ...
Updated on 31st July 2019: Since this interview, the Reserve Bank cut the official cash rate by 25 basis points in June and again in July to ...
The Summary May was not a good month for global equity markets. The prime source of concern was the escalating trade dispute between the US ...
The Summary With the Federal Election victory now confirmed for the Liberal–National coalition, we no longer need to plan around changes to franking credits, ...
Many of us dream about retiring overseas or enjoying extended periods of overseas travel during retirement. While drawing up your travel checklist, don’t forget ...
The Summary In March, the world’s financial markets continued coming to grips with the implications of the sudden slowdown in global growth in recent ...
18 May 2019 Update: With the Federal Election victory now confirmed for the Liberal–National coalition, we no longer need to plan around changes to franking credits, ...
18 May 2019 Update: With the Federal Election victory now confirmed for the Liberal–National coalition, we no longer need to plan around changes to franking credits, ...
The Summary February saw further signs of slowing global growth, muted inflation and ongoing geopolitical risks. Key policymakers have responded with more of the “patience ...
It’s always hard to take time away from the office and our clients, but once again we were reminded of the benefits of bringing ...
18 May 2019 Update: With the Federal Election victory now confirmed for the Liberal–National coalition, we no longer need to plan around changes to franking credits, ...
Investing in property through a Self-Managed Super Fund (SMSF) is a popular option for many people. However, recently tightened bank lending and increasing ATO regulation ...
Whenever market volatility increases, concerned investors naturally want to know if they should do anything different to protect and maximise their wealth. As an investor ...
The Summary After a very difficult month in December, markets bounced back strongly in January as fears about US monetary policy and a potential recession ...
In December 2018, the federal government announced that insurance premiums will see an average hike of 3.25% in 2019. This is not a new story. With these yearly ...
The Summary 2018 was a year in which global investors significantly reduced their appetite for risk in the face of slower than expected growth, a tightening ...
The Summary Speculation about US monetary policy was the key factor driving markets in November. Comments from senior Federal Reserve officials led the markets to ...
Most of us are managing more of our finances - and many other aspects of life - online and enjoy the convenience of using the ...
In their Retirement Income Report based on a survey of 7,305 Australians over the age of 40, Australian research firm, Investment Trends, revealed that only 46% of Australians ...
The Summary October saw the most significant pull-back in global equity markets since 2015. A wide range of issues contributed to this, including the US/China “...
The Summary Following a strong rally in August, September proved to be a mixed month for world financial markets, with a modest retracement in a ...
Most people believe there is a right time to seek financial advice – close to ‘retirement age,’ with a good amount of money to invest and ...
Updated on 4 June 2019: The information contained in this article is accurate for the financial year 2019-20 If your role has been made redundant, you don't ...
However rewarding our careers and growing families may be, most professional women also look forward to a future where they’ll have more time for ...
The Summary It’s been a decade since the peak of the Global Financial Crisis and the legacy remains clear. While equity markets have had ...
In July 2017, the government introduced new rules that make it imperative for higher income earners to pay close attention to their annual super contributions or ...
For most Australians, purchasing a home is one of life’s greatest milestones. Unfortunately, it also marks the beginning of one of life’s biggest ...
There comes a time when the kids move out, you’re ready to travel or you’re getting older and the family home starts to ...
As busy working professionals we all want more convenience in life. The number of comparison websites and online aggregators available for every product or service ...
The Summary Diversified portfolios performed well in July with all major markets producing solid returns. US shares did particularly well and some underperformance in emerging ...
To use a well-worn sporting analogy, the 2017/18 financial year was a feature of two halves. The Summary The first half: 2017 saw a general swing among ...
No doubt Amazon’s highly anticipated arrival in Australia will shake up an already sluggish retail sector. So what could this mean for share prices ...
Article update: The Basic Daily Fee and means-tested care fee mentioned in this article are as per The Department of Human Services' revised aged care ...
Many people are not aware of the full costs of buying a retirement village unit, particularly some of the extraordinary costs that only come into ...
The ‘January effect’ is a well-known phenomenon among economists and psychologists alike. Regardless of market realities, consumer optimism and share prices often see a temporary ...
From 1 January 2017, if you receive an Age Pension and are asset tested, your pension may change. What will change from 1 January 2017? The value of assets ...
Yes, after months of debate of debate and a federal election we finally have some certainty on Superannuation. On November 23, superannuation legislation was passed by ...
There is now an update to the below information as new superannuation legislation was passed on 23rd November 2016 Here's everything you need to know. Yes, ...
From 1 January 2017, if you receive an Age Pension and are asset tested, your pension may change. What will change from 1 January 2017? The value of assets ...
At FMD, we are always talking to our clients and community about the importance of setting financial goals and taking small steps now towards the ...
What do Australian couples really argue about? Research shows finances are one of the leading causes of marital conflict in Australia, with 34% of respondents saying ...
In September 2015 a study conducted by the Financial Planning Standards Board in association with the Financial Planning Association (FPA) found 70 per cent of Australians did ...
There are many moments in our lives where we find ourselves at financial cross-roads. At these times we become committed to being more disciplined about ...
The information in this article is superseded by the latest superannuation information published in our article, Everything you need to know about superannuation to live ...
Despite growing media coverage about the gap in women’s super and the necessity to start growing your super blanance as soon as possible, it ...
Mistakes are a normal part of life but financial mistakes can be expensive, financially and emotionally - bringing about feelings of regret and a lack ...
Australia’s world-beating life expectancy rates and the high quality healthcare system that underpins them are impressive. Unfortunately, the downside of our longevity is the ...
Retirement is something people often wait for all their working lives, yet few consider how they will spend their time once the freedom to do ...
Whilst there are media conversations aplenty about the gap in women’s super it seems the message, whilst acknowledged, is not spurring women to take ...
It’s been 15 years in the making, but the vision which inspired FMD founders Greg Fagan, David Murray and Adam Davenport to build a relationship-driven, ...
A move into aged care raises many complex issues that can be confronting and difficult to navigate. Both emotional and financial challenges can be faced, ...
It is hoped that a rise in interest rates on investment loans will act as a disincentive and cool speculative investment in the property market. ...
More research is coming to light that raises serious questions about the long-term investment performance of self-managed super funds (SMSFs). Recent analysis reported in the ...
While the Australian banking system came through the crisis relatively well and interest rates remain positive, the RBA’s latest cut sees us adopting a ...
We interview FMD adviser, Lauren Abela, who works with busy, established professional and entrepreneurial women, passionate about life and gaining confidence around their money. What ...
Over 40% of life insurance in Australia will be purchased online by 2021. The advertising is fierce and the market competitive but can you buy life insurance ...
As the education sector faces a shortage of teaching staff, the challenges to keep up with constantly changing technology and growing governance demands, fees can ...
The RBA met yesterday and have cut rates by 25 basis points. This takes the official cash rate to a new historical low of 2.25%. It is ...
There may not be a formula for creating health, wealth and happiness, but nearly two decades of providing personalised financial advice to clients across Melbourne, ...
The information in this article is superseded by the latest superannuation information published in our article, Everything you need to know about superannuation to live ...
The recent rate cut was anticipated by the overall market, but perhaps not this early in the year. A cut of 25 basis points is a ...
Financial markets are back in the headlines for the wrong reasons. A variety of concerns has led to a level of volatility that hasn’t ...
Earlier this month the Australian Dollar (AUD) traded at its lowest against the US in more than six years with experts forecasting it will remain ...
The end of financial year period is a great time to take stock, reflect on past events and tie up loose ends - and it’...
Volunteering has a resounding effect on a community, and as it happens, good deeds lead to good grey matter. ABS research shows 61% of Australian volunteers ...
There has been much commentary on the changing family unit in Australia but the reality is 70% of primary carers of children are women. Although many ...
There are now more and more online tools and apps available to help you take care of the tedious tasks associated with managing your money. ...
Dear FMD, I have been thinking about purchasing a second residential investment property, and my friends suggested that I can use my super for a ...
From 1 January 2015, account based pensions will have new rules in place, changing the way Centrelink determines assessable income under the income test. The change means ...
It comes as no surprise that we’re paying much more for property today than any generation before us. With housing prices surging in Australia’...
Finding the right person to manage your finances can be a difficult and time-consuming process for many people. Understandably, your money and assets are vitally ...
Divorce costs the Australian economy $14 billion a year, and recent figures estimate taxpayers now pay close to $1100 per annum to support families in crisis. While ...
We recently got talking about the reasons why people avoid seeking financial advice. Here are our top six. 1. You can do it yourself The thousands ...
People aged 65 and over are our nation’s fastest growing age group and one million Australians already receive Aged Care – a figure set to soar ...
Is it time to get a plan?The focus around the 14th Annual Financial Planning Week this year is aimed at educating Australians on what ...
An article from The Australian last week highlighted the impact on pre retiree’s super balances from the Government's last minute deal with Clive Palmer ...
Wondering if self-managed super is for you? FMD Director and Financial Adviser, Mike Reynolds, answers common questions about SMSFs. Who is the ideal candidate for ...
The title 'financial adviser' is often misunderstood. This is partly because the title is used to describe advisers that work for - or are affiliated ...
The information in this article is superseded by the latest superannuation information published in our article, Everything you need to know about superannuation to live ...
If you or your children have insurance through an Industry Super Fund (e.g. Australian Super) now is the time to review the included insurances. ...
No debt is good debt - a popular principle our parents were taught, our politicians regularly preach and one many of us aim to apply ...
Purchasing a home can be one of life’s greatest milestones. Home ownership brings a sense of achievement and adds to your asset portfolio. A ...
Australians now enjoy longer, more active lives than previous generations – a fact which has helped transform retirement as we know it. Recent figures by the ...
With change on the horizon, early preparation and sound financial advice has never been more important to managing aged care with confidence. From July 1, 2014, changes ...
Estate Planning is not something we think about every day and it’s all too easy to put off. So when should you begin thinking ...
The Government’s 2014-15 Budget announcements shook up much of the Australian economic landscape. Surprisingly – yet pleasingly – superannuation appears to have escaped without any major ...
In Summary March 2014 proved to be a relatively benign month for investment portfolios as conflicting market outcomes neutralised diversification. In particular there was an unexpected ...
The end of financial year period is a great time to take stock, reflect on past events and tie up loose ends - and it’...
The information in this article is superseded by the latest superannuation information published in our article, Everything you need to know about superannuation to live ...
With the RBA announcing the cash rate will remain at a record low 2.5 per cent and continued economic recovery providing supportive conditions for good share ...
Earlier this month the Federal Government introduced the most significant changes to privacy laws in over 25 years. If you’re currently borrowing money from a ...
Before they came to see us, many of our clients wondered if it was too early to get advice. They worried about whether they had ...
The information in this article is superseded by the latest superannuation information published in our article, Everything you need to know about superannuation to live ...
Changing role of Australian grandparents The generation of free thinkers who changed the world are now busy transforming retirement into the very antithesis of a ...
