$2.2 trillion. That’s how much Australian households owe right now, according to the latest ABS stats.i Household liabilities grew by $1.2 billion in the last quarter alone. Real household debt per person has risen steadily by around 2 per cent per year, and now sits at around $79,000 per person.

It’s often said that it is better to give with a warm heart, but divesting assets while you are alive may not be the best way to pass on your accumulated wealth to your nearest and dearest.
 

Family is a risk that many don’t consider when planning for retirement. After all, you probably have little or no debt now the kids are independent and you are retired or close to retirement.

Buying a home has been heralded as the way to get ahead for generations of Australians. But with housing affordability a rising concern for would-be first home buyers and their parents, many younger Australians are beginning to weigh up whether it’s better to buy, rent or invest in residential property. 

Global ratings agencies Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s have effectively put the new Turnbull government on notice to reduce the nation’s budget deficit or risk a downgrade in Australia’s credit rating. Sounds serious, but what does it actually mean and is it necessarily a bad thing?

 

At the start of the year, many people reassess their finances in preparation for the year ahead. This inevitably involves a review of income sources. For many people, this is a bit of a sore spot as it can cause doubt or regret about career choices.

As a wise man once said, “I don't know what they want from me. It's like the more money we come across, the more problems we see.”

Planning for the end of the financial year may be a little harder this year, with a federal election just days later that could result in sweeping changes to superannuation, negative gearing and business taxation. So it's a good idea to keep up to date and make the most of the current tax arrangements while you can.