The important difference between price and value
When developing a spending plan (or budget), an easy trap to fall into is focusing on the cost of something as opposed to the...
How much money do you need to retire?
Last week, I was reviewing a client who was overly worried that she would essentially be living on the poverty line in retirement. Thankfully,...
Law catches up with modern day problem
Most people consider sex to be somewhat of a taboo subject preferring not to discuss the topic publicly.
With the advent of technology including smart...
Crisis confronting our teachers
The teaching ‘profession’ has seen a dramatic transformation since I trained as a teacher in the late sixties. When I was at university, our...
Failing students
The difference between junior high school and senior high school is more dramatic than many people realise. This has been highlighted by a number...
Pensioners and the assets test
The rules surrounding Centrelink entitlements are quite complex. It is therefore extremely important, when developing retirement strategies, to be mindful of the Centrelink implications.
Most...
Time management
Time Management for students in senior years of high school is absolutely critical in realising their desired level of achievement. Time deprivation is common...
New English, Maths and Science Syllabuses in NSW
In response to the Gonski Report and the evidence of falling educational standards in the three core subjects mentioned above, the NSW Government has...
Are our Selective schools doing more harm than good for our kids?
Recently we looked at some of the differences that exist between the Finnish and Australian Education Systems (Finland is ranked sixth in the world...
Lifting standards
Could abolishing private schools and respecting teachers more help lift education standards?
Does the Finland education system have answers for the rest of the world...
Australia’s performance in the classroom
Australia may be rocking the world sporting stage, but there’s concerns about our performance in the classroom. What can we learn from other countries...
Testing in the education system
Testing is a huge part of the education system in Australia and around the world, but are we taking the wrong approach when it...
Conveyancing to move with the times
Over the next 12 months, the way that conveyancing transactions have been completed for decades is due to change dramatically.
New South Wales will be...
Fixed or variable?
In a “practice what you preach” moment, I’m currently reviewing my finances and part of that process involves addressing my mortgage. I’m happy with...
May madness for Weekender readers
We understand legal services can be expensive, so for the month of May, we have decided to give readers of the Weekender some great...
Tough week for finance industry
As a Financial Planner who is proud of what my colleagues, my competitors and I are able to do for our clients, I have...
Income streams after retirement
The superannuation system is designed to build wealth in order to provide us with income in our retirement years.
Once we retire and need income,...
Getting the right advice at the right time
As life changes, so do our financial planning needs. This week, I have created a list of some important life events that are commonplace...
Big news in real estate and how it impacts you
The country’s primary provider of real estate deposit bonds, Deposit Power, no longer has a guarantor/underwriter.
CBL Insurance, Deposit Power’s existing guarantor, is reported to...
Why you need to review your financial products regularly
I’ve written about this previously, but I never cease to be amazed at how lackadaisical many people are about their financial products despite it...