One in four Australian adults feel lonely, and the impacts can be dire. Loneliness increases our risks of depression, diabetes, dementia, self-harm and suicide. But likening it to a disease and proposals to treat it with a pill miss the point: we’ve been building for loneliness over many decades and decision-makers have been asleep at…
We live in a culture that values “experiences”. These are often promoted in the media, and by those selling them, as vital to enhancing our well-being. We all know big life events like marriage, parenthood, job loss and the death of a loved one can affect our well-being. But by how much and for how…
Are we near the peak of the interest rate cycle? We know that the Reserve Bank Board decided to increase the cash rate by 50bps to 2.35% at its September meeting. But the RBA recently signalled that the ‘normalisation’ phase of their rate rises is over. Bill Evans, Chief Economist of Westpac recently made the…
Investing in Australians’ education is far more important than immigration in resolving the nation’s skills shortages, according to leading economists surveyed in the lead-up to this week’s jobs and skills summit. The 50 top Australian economists polled by the Economic Society of Australia and The Conversation are recognised by their peers as leaders in their…
Tuesday’s national accounts show Australia ending 2021-22 on a strong note. The gross domestic product grew by a historically robust 0.9% in the three months to June, and by an unusually-high 3.6% over the year. Australia’s economy is now more than 5% bigger than it was before COVID. This is a better performance than most…
With rising costs of living, including interest rate rises, many people are really worried about their mortgage. So, what actually happens if you can’t pay your mortgage – and what are your options? Here’s what you need to know. Payment deferrals, payment plans or getting fees waived It’s not particularly rare for a borrower to…
Floods, storms, bushfires, cyclones… there’s no doubt Australia has been hit hard by natural disasters in recent years. You may have been fortunate enough to escape the direct impacts, but what you might not realise is that these disasters can affect the premiums you pay for your insurance, whether you’re caught up in the catastrophe…
The excitement you get when you purchase your first investment property is sometimes overwhelming (in a good way!). While it is important to soak up the prospect of financial freedom, new investors need to think about how they are going to protect their new assets and the income they are set to derive. The difference…
Is changing careers mid-life have benefits, especially for older Australians? The Unleash Your Second Half: How Australians are Reimagining Retirement research found that more than one in three Australians aged 45 to 65 are considering a career change in the next few years – with a further 25 per cent saying they might consider it….
There’s often a bit of confusion about who insures what when it comes to investment properties within strata complexes. Insurance for strata properties is not as straightforward as it is for detached houses. There are often questions raised about what is considered ‘common’ property, who is responsible for insuring what, and what is and isn’t…
