Three Steps to Determine your Financial Position
Whether you’re new to the financially focused club, or you’ve been a member for a while- odds are that you’ve heard about the term “net worth”. It’s also very likely that you’ve probably heard it discussed, and compared, frequently. It’s an integral part of any financial journey, and knowing your own personal net worth (aka financial position) is a major stepping stone towards sorting out your finances and working for financial freedom. So how exactly does one calculate their personal financial position?
To Afterpay or not to Afterpay?
If you haven’t heard of Afterpay then you have either been living under a rock, have purchased anything new and exciting, or possibly you are just responsible with your money!
Monday Market Madness 7th May 2018
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) left interest rates unchanged at 1.50% in line with consensus expectations. Notable callouts include the focus on maintaining the RBA forecasts for growth and inflation at above 3 per cent and above 2 per cent for 2018 respectively. Drivers of still low inflation growth that were highlighted include the competitive retail landscape with food and consumer goods prices falling year on year while the RBA drew comfort from leading economic indicators that, in their eyes, point towards some lift in wages growth this year that should feed into economic demand.
Monday Market Madness 30th April 2018
Australian CPI data was out last week with headline inflation rising 0.4% over the quarter (consensus: 0.5%) disappointing market expectations. Housing (up 0.7%) and Transport (up 1.1%) rose, driven by rising gas and fuel costs respectively. This however was offset by declines in recreation and culture (down 0.7%) and household furnishings (down 0.4%) driven by cheaper international travel costs and retail competition in the furniture space respectively.
Monday Market Madness 23rd April 2018
Australian labour force data was out last Thursday with the unemployment rate falling to 5.5% (consensus: 5.5%) as the employment number rose, in net terms, by 4,900 jobs (consensus: 20,000). The participation rate fell by 0.1% to 65.5%. The momentum in full time employment creation observed over the past year dissipated with almost 19,900 full-time roles lost in contrast to 24,800 part-time roles being created.
Monday Market Madness 16th April 2018
The Westpac Melbourne Institute Index of Consumer Sentiment fell slightly by 0.6 per cent to 102.4 in April, down from a March reading of 103. Sentiment continued to remain optimistic for a fifth consecutive month but remains below the stronger 105-115 levels seen in previous years with Australians more uneasy about the outlook for household finances and employment.
Monday Market Madness 2nd April 2018
Some concern about the growth emerged over the week with the print of European and Japanese manufacturing and services data highlighting weakness in the month of March.
Financing your proposal – 101 to buying an engagement ring
Heart pounding, palms sweaty, legs unstable as you slowly lower onto one knee to ask a special someone a very important question. They say yes, there are tears (of joy) and then the fun stuff. Champagne, telling family and of course your social media announcement of choice (hello Gen Y).
Monday Market Madness 13th November 2017
The Australian market outperformed major global markets last week with the ASX 200 index rising above 6,000 points and finishing the week higher. Despite hovering around near decade highs, the market still lags its record-breaking offshore counterparts this year. Local investors were encouraged by a number of positive corporate outlook statements and Chinese inflation data that showed that the world’s second-largest economy was still motoring along.
Are you an Ant or a Grasshopper?
Ever heard of the Ant and the Grasshopper?
Well for those who can’t remember this childhood tale, it goes a little something like this: