As the festive season approaches, there is a noticeable shift in the air. The days grow longer, school terms wrap up, and communities across the country begin to prepare for end-of-year celebrations in all kinds of ways.

Investing may be all about the numbers – growth, returns and risk – to build a secure future but increasingly investors are interested in an even more meaningful approach.

Four out of five respondents to a 2024 survey wanted their investments to have a positive impact in the world.ⁱ

It’s the season for gifts, sharing meals and spreading cheer. But what if your festive generosity could do more? What if it could ripple through generations, perhaps shaping futures and maybe reduce your tax bill?

Giving isn’t just an act of kindness; it can also be a smart financial move. From helping loved ones today to creating a legacy for future generations, strategic gifting can align with your broader financial goals.

An SMSF is a trust generally run for the sole purpose of providing retirement benefits to its members. Generally, it's illegal for anyone to benefit from the SMSF outside this arrangement.

Individuals are being targeted to start an SMSF for a range of inappropriate and illegal reasons.

Get the right amount of home insurance and protect yourself from costly surprises.

When disaster strikes, the last thing you want to discover is that your insurance doesn’t stretch far enough. Underinsurance is very common in Australia and most people don’t know they are underinsured. And it can leave you significantly out of pocket when you make a claim.

Recently, there was an alert about the ASIC Moneysmart website being impersonated. It’s part of a growing – and increasingly sophisticated – trend of scammers targeting reputable, high traffic websites.  

These days, websites can be very easily set up and look quite professional without much effort, thanks to templates. 

When school holidays come along, there are plenty of cheap and cheerful things to do.

With some planning and creative thinking, there are ways to keep your kids busy at home.

How much super should I have is a common question. But when it comes to how much super (or other savings) you’ll need for retirement there’s no single right number - because everyone’s retirement looks different. It depends what your big costs are likely to be, and what sort of lifestyle you want.

Did you know that there is around $2.6 billion in lost shares, bank accounts and life insurance in Australia?

Some of it could belong to you, and it’s free and easy to check using the unclaimed money search tool on the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) website.  

Australia’s latest dividends stream was flowing strongly recently as many listed companies and exchange traded funds (ETFs) collectively paid out income returns directly to their investors.

The bulk of those payments were the dividends that were declared in August during the latest company reporting season and related to announced earnings from the operating period that ended on 30 June.

Low interest rates have intensified the search for higher income returns.

Noted in a recent article, Australian households are now holding record amounts of cash.

Reserve Bank data shows the weighted average interest rate being paid on term deposit amounts up to $10,000 held in authorised deposit-taking institutions (ADI) such as banks and credit unions was just 2.85% per annum at the end of August.

In a world of constant financial noise, from market updates and interest rate speculation to economic forecasts, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and choose to do nothing.

But inaction can be costly when it comes to building long-term wealth. Whether it’s leaving money in cash, delaying investment decisions or ignoring the power of regular contributions, the financial consequences of sitting still can quietly erode your future goals.

Sweeping reforms to aged care are set to begin on 1 November to help improve the quality, transparency and flexibility of care.

With more care levels, clearer pricing, and greater control over how your funding is used, the new system aims to better match services to individual needs. Providers will be required to offer detailed cost breakdowns, empowering you to make informed decisions about your care.

When you think about the markets, do you see promise or peril? Are you the type to believe the glass is half-full, or do you focus on the half that is not there?

Your investing outlook can shape your decisions, influence your risk tolerance, and impact your long-term results. But which approach truly works best? Should investors lean into optimism or prepare for the worst?

Vanguard’s newly released How Australia Retires 2025 report explores how Australians prepare for and experience retirement.

Based on a nationally representative survey of 1,800 Australians aged 18 and over conducted in February 2025, the research reveals a significant gap in sentiment between working and retired Australians.

If you receive the Age Pension, changes that came into effect on 20 September could affect your payments.

Deeming rates used by the government to estimate the income pensioners earn from savings and investments have been frozen since May 2020. But recently changed.

Mortgage debt is impacting the confidence of many retirees

Vanguard’s How Australia Retires 2025 report reveals a concerning trend: more Australians are expecting to enter retirement with mortgage debt, and it’s having a real impact on how they feel about their financial future.

Australia has seen a dramatic transformation of retirement over the past 20 years, with more Australians delaying retirement than ever before, reshaping expectations for later life.

This shift matters because it marks a fundamental change in how people transition out of the workforce — with important implications for financial security in later life.

Navigating the money side of buying a home can be daunting – especially if it’s your first time. Unless you’ve recently come into a small fortune, you’ll need to have saved a deposit and take out a home loan.

That means engaging with the world of banks and mortgage brokers, and grappling with what might be intimidating-sounding jargon – terms like “pre-approval”, “offset accounts” and “serviceability buffers”.

Buying a first home is one of the biggest financial decisions a person can make. There are so many questions to consider it can be hard to know where to begin.

Where should I be looking to buy? Should I buy a house, or an apartment? And should it be an established home, an apartment off the plan, or a new build?