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When it can pay to delay paying off debt

2 weeks ago | investsmart.com.au | Effie Zahos

Investing insights from experts like Paul Clitheroe & Effie Zahos and more Investing insights from experts Getting older has its pluses. Sure, by our 50s and beyond, the days of notching up a personal best in a marathon are likely behind us. But the good news is that we are often approaching peak wealth. Research by KPMG found baby boomers enjoy average net wealth of $2.31 million per household - significantly higher than either Gen X ($1.88 million) or Millennials ($757,000).
Paul Clitheroe's verdict on 40-year mortgages

4 weeks ago | investsmart.com.au | Paul Clitheroe

Not-so-fun fact: The French word for death is 'la mort' - and from this, we get 'mortgage', which quite literally translates to a 'debt until we die'. Happily, most of us can be confident of outliving our home loan. But just as we are living longer, our home loans are also stretching out. Not so long ago, the standard loan term was 25 years. Increasingly, it has become 30 years. Now it looks as though that timeframe could extend even further.
4 money lessons from Monopoly

1 month ago | investsmart.com.au | Ravi Sharma

I was first introduced to Monopoly when I was about four years old. The game started with everyone happy; by the end, even at that young age I knew some family members weren't going to be speaking to each other for the next few days. I feel like everyone has a similar story about playing Monopoly. However, the core learnings from the game are significant. In fact, these same learnings formed part of the reason I gravitated towards real estate so early in life.
6 ways to build wealth like a millionaire

1 month ago | investsmart.com.au | Ravi Sharma

A massive misconception is out there that millionaires are rich because of their parents, but it's just not true. In fact, many people who inherit wealth lose it because they don't have the mindset or habits to maintain it. Most of today's millionaires didn't inherit their wealth. A study by analytics provider Wealth X found that 68% of those with a net worth of $30 million or more made it themselves.
Commonwealth Seniors Health Card: $60k worth of retirement perks

1 month ago | investsmart.com.au | Effie Zahos

Investing insights from experts like Paul Clitheroe & Effie Zahos and more Investing insights from experts The Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) has been making headlines lately. Not because it's anything new - the card has been around for over 30 years. Rather, it's estimated that around one million Australians could be missing out on the savings the card provides - perks that can add up to $60,000 over the course of your retirement.
InvestSMART's new fee structure

1 month ago | investsmart.com.au | Alan Kohler

Ever since I joined InvestSMART five years ago, we've been capping fees so that unlike other fund managers, what you pay for our service doesn't keep getting more expensive the more money you give us to look after. The principle is simple, and powerful: The "product" you're buying is an investment return, and the amount you pay for it reduces the return you're buying. The higher the price, the more it reduces the "product".
3 ways to boost passive income

1 month ago | investsmart.com.au | Paul Clitheroe

Record numbers of Australians - almost one million people - are working multiple jobs to make ends meet. It's not surprising. Wages are growing at a glacial speed, up 3.2% in 2024, barely ahead of inflation at 2.4%. The thing is, earning more doesn't have to mean working more. Here are three ways to boost your passive income. Despite February's rate cut, it's still possible to earn a decent return on cash savings - up to 5.50% with ING or 5.45% with Rabobank.
Get ready for lower rates

2 months ago | investsmart.com.au | Effie Zahos

Investing insights from experts like Paul Clitheroe & Effie Zahos and more Investing insights from experts A growing chorus of economists are predicting that the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) will be announcing a rate cut on 18 February. If it happens, it will be great news for anyone with a mortgage. It will also be the first time rates have fallen since 2020, and thousands of first home owners may be unsure what to expect.
Paul's Tips: Master your 2025 money goals

2 months ago | investsmart.com.au | Paul Clitheroe

"New year. New me." If that sounds like you, you're not alone. Research by Finder shows that 85% of Australians set a financial goal for 2025. Saving more money (52%), spending less (32%), reducing expenses (24%) and investing more (17%) are among the top financial goals Aussies are aiming for this year, according to Finder, These are all worthwhile goals.
HIN vs. custodial ownership: Who really owns your investments?

Jan 15, 2025 | investsmart.com.au | Effie Zahos

At last year's ASX Investor Day, I was asked an important question: "Which is better - HIN or custodial ownership?" It was a query I welcomed because, quite frankly, I suspect many investors either don't fully grasp, or are completely unaware of, the difference - and why it matters. To answer the question, let's take a look at what happens behind the scenes when you buy ASX-listed investments.