Australian personal finance news, tips and advices.
by AFB
Using a guarantor to borrow more than 100% of your property’s value
It is possible to borrow up to 105% of a property’s value through some lenders, with the help of a guarantor. This has a number of benefits, including allowing you to buy a property without a deposit, and – as we explore later, can also save you from the cost of lender’s mortgage insurance (LMI) that can apply to more highly leveraged loans. ... (read more)
by AFB
Guest Post by Andrew Ford, CEO of Heartland Seniors Finance
People often ask me why am I so passionate about Reverse Mortgages. I guess many Australian seniors are either wary because of the misinformation and misconceptions that still linger in the market, or don’t see how someone can be so passionate about a ‘financial product’.
The reason that I love Reverse Mortgages so much is that I have seen firsthand what they can do for people. I have spoken to, and met with, thousands of seniors whose lives have literally been changed by a Reverse Mortgage. I think that’s pretty neat. ... (read more)
by AFB
What makes the prices of currencies move on the open market? This is one of the first questions that virtually every trader tries to answer. The reality is that values fluctuate constantly in the currency markets and, more often than not, they are at the mercy of the countless trends and influences found throughout society.
Factors that Influence
Geopolitical turbulence, macroeconomic policy, government legislation, and technological breakthroughs all rank among the most influential world events on forex prices. Events which affect the forex market can be as benign as a democratic election which returns the predicted outcome, or as unpredictable as the outbreak of a war, or a natural disaster. ... (read more)
by AFB
“Brick Oven Special Pizza” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Mike Saechang
Enjoying a delicious freshly-cooked takeaway meal at home is one of life’s simple pleasures. It’s a moment in time when you can relax and unwind with family or friends and sample some of your favourite foods without even having to lift a finger in the kitchen yourself. Unfortunately, for people who need to tighten their financial belts to save money for a house deposit or to pay off that loan, takeaways tend to be one of the first things binned from the luxuries list. That’s without even attempting to find other ways of cutting back and keeping enough cash for a couple of takeaway treats each month. ... (read more)
by AFB
The NPP (New Payment Platform) is an innovative platform to give Australian consumers and institutions a new way to make everyday payments. Also known as the New Payments Platform, the NPP will allow Australians to make low-value payments 24 hours a day in less than 30 seconds. The system will operate seven days a week, 365 days a year, with no holiday breaks.
Since Australian business—just like the global economy—never sleeps, a round-the-clock payment system that can get payments into the right hands in less than a minute is a real boon for the country. The NPP is the real-time payments infrastructure that Australians need to kick their economy up to the next level. ... (read more)
by AFB
How can you make more money when investing? And how do you protect your investments from market downturns and unexpected future events? The answer is diversification. If you’re looking to build your investment portfolio, diversifying is important.
A diversified portfolio can help protect your income and wealth during various stages of the economic cycle and provide good long-term returns.
Here are seven tips for diversifying your portfolio. ... (read more)
by AFB
Open-end loans provide funds for projects, vacations, hobbies and more. They deliver access to an ongoing line of credit that can be redrawn and re-purposed anytime, if loan conditions are being met. Credit card owners may not be aware, but they also rely on a line of credit and an open-end loan. In other words, if a loan is flexible and doesn’t have an exact date for repayment, it is an open-end loan. ... (read more)
by AFB
Fluctuating fortunes mean there will always be times when assistance is required to plug financial gaps, pay bills and keep the business afloat. There are options for quick finance, such as credit cards, but interest repayments can make them cost-prohibitive in many situations. An alternative loan option is a line of credit, with lower interest rates and other budget-friendly features.
A bank line of credit provides customers the opportunity to borrow additional funds or utilise equity. Banks extend lines of credit (LOC) for a multitude of purposes, from home renovations to business expansion and more. The most well-known of this loan type is the home equity line of credit (HELOC), usually used for renovating or remodelling established residences. A line of credit is also accessible to the self-employed, those with inconsistent earnings, and people wanting to get their business off the ground. ... (read more)
by AFB
As the cost of living rises, more Australians are teetering close to the financial abyss. Our consumer driven society has generated tremendous financial rewards for a minority of the population at the expense of everyone else, and the gap between rich and poor is wider than ever. We can’t all be rich, but nobody enjoys being poor, and while opting out of capitalist society is a dream worth considering, it isn’t possible for people with ongoing expenses, obligations, or a family to feed. ... (read more)
by AFB
With the end of financial year fast approaching, and a new one right around the corner, it’s time to think about ways to cut down your business expenses. Some hacks are more obvious than others, so here is a list of the ones you might not know about.
Across the board, tax experts agree that businesses often pay more tax than they actually need to. They also agree that a great way to cut your tax bill is by capitalising on depreciation deductions on the commercial property you own or rent – something many businesses miss out on. ... (read more)