Income protection insurance comes across most people’s radar when they’re starting out in their career. Often, people take out this type of policy when they buy a house, so if a serious illness or a bad accident strikes, your children and your spouse are covered.

There are lots of things to consider when you’re looking at aged care.

You’ll need to think about the type of care that’s available, depending on how healthy you are. You’ll also need to factor in different options for paying for your accommodation, based on your means.

1 July 2014 marks the start of a new financial year. But it’s important not to leave wealth accumulation and wealth protection until the last minute. There are many things you can do in the lead up to the end of this financial year to prepare for the new one.

Grandparents really are the jewels in the crown of our community. Having raised their own children, many are now helping raise their grandchildren. This often extends to providing financial support to the grandkids. If you’re in this situation, how can you make sure your generosity is as financially effective as possible?

One plan of particular importance regardless of your life events is your financial plan. This living document helps you map out your income against the investment milestones you would like to achieve to help you reach and maintain your desired lifestyle.

As a nation, both our level of savings, as well as our level of investment, are higher than many other developed countries. But over the last five years there has been a shift in the relationship between how much we save and how much we invest.

Sydney’s property market may be running hot but there are still ways to buy real estate “trash” and turn it into real estate “cash”, according to celebrity home renovation queen Cherie Barber.

Most people believe you can make money on property but it’s usually through capital growth, which you often have to wait for the market to deliver.

When you read headlines about Australia’s rising unemployment or the slowdown in the mining boom, it’s easy to lose confidence in investment markets. But there’s a lot to be gained from ignoring the background noise and sticking to your long-term goals.

Do you know what's going to happen with your estate? Here are 10 things to consider in your planning.

Low interest rates are giving many investors an added incentive to look at investing in property – either directly or through their SMSF. We look at some of the things you should look out for before you sign on that dotted line.

When buying a house, it is standard to consult the help of a local real estate agent and a home loan specialist because you want expert help with one of the biggest financial decisions in your life.

Why then wouldn't you also enlist the services of a financial adviser?

Planning for the future while you are still young can have a lot of benefits for you in the long term, particularly when it comes to your retirement. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), in 2006, 31% of young people in their twenties were still living with their parents, mainly for financial reasons.

When you take out life insurance, it’s an investment for your future. With that cover in place, you know that if you ever experience a serious accident or illness, you have financial support to help pay your medical bills and maintain your lifestyle.

I have been trying for years to poach the perfect egg. Don't get me wrong, nobody does an Eggs Benedict better than Sirocco in Ballina, but to be able to cook a couple of poached eggs on toast on a Sunday morning has always eluded me.

If you have a Self-Managed Super Fund (SMSF), you should be keeping a close eye on your contributions throughout the financial year – not just at year-end.

There’s always a lot of talk about super contributions towards the end of the financial year. But 30 June doesn’t have exclusive rights on super strategies.

No longer is it enough to simply make money, we want to know how that money is being made. In particular, that the money isn’t being made at the expense of people and the environment.

This socially-responsible mindset is changing the way people choose what they buy, which companies they want to work for, and where they invest their money.

With the new financial year upon us, we thought it would be a great time to update you on the new Fee Disclosure Statements.

Beginning 1 July 2013, all clients who pay a fee for ongoing advice and services will be provided with a Fee Disclosure Statement.

Financial markets have experienced a solid run in the last six to 12 months, with both higher (i.e. equities) and lower (i.e. fixed income) risk investments all performing relatively well.

Financial planning is all about making it easier for you to be who you want to be and live the lifestyle you aspire to.

Insurance is much more than just protecting the family home and car. Here are some insurance facts you should know.