Paul's Insights

When it comes to investing, Australians are pretty conservative. Just over one in four of us invest directly in shares. This may seem high, but it's modest on a global scale.

Over the past 12 months, scams have cost Australians $201 million. In the first three months of 2021 alone, crims fleeced their victims out of $63 million.

Consumer protection is not a bad thing when it comes to investing.

We don't just need to protect our physical health during COVID. Our financial wellbeing could also be at stake as scammers try to profit from the pandemic.

It's that time of year when the one in two Australians with private health insurance will cop a rise in premiums.

Women's financial wellbeing is on the rise, but there is still a significant gap compared to men.

Paying off your home loan early can make good sense. But in a low rate world it's a strategy that can come at the expense of personal wealth.

Managing investments can become a juggling act as we get older. We need a portfolio that generates regular income. But we also need assets that let us keep up with increases in the cost of living. At the same time, we tend to feel less comfortable about risk, with more of a focus on preserving capital.

Rising property values across much of Australia are likely to attract the interest of investors in 2021. But buying in a 'hot' market calls for extra care.

There's nothing like a fast-rising market to attract interest. But when it comes to Bitcoin's latest meteoric rise, could history repeat?

As competition between lenders heats up, some are offering cashback payments of up to $5,000 when you refinance a home loan. But does it offer good value?

To raise or not to raise? That's the question facing the Morrison government as it grapples with whether or not to increase employer-paid super contributions.

The Coronavirus pandemic has seen one in two Australians rethink their financial goals.

Back-to-school costs can take the shine off those first few weeks of term. Parents often have mixed emotions around their kids returning to school. Along with a much anticipated (by parents) return to routine, the end of the holidays brings the inevitable round of education costs.

If there's one goal to set yourself for 2021, it's to take a good look at the rate you're paying on your home loan.

Hear from our Chairman Paul Clitheroe as he summarises learnings from 2020 and wishes everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.