“Price rises” – these dreaded two words haunt Australian households every July.  Sadly, the 2017/18 financial years looks to be no different especially with the rampant boost in energy prices, which in some states (we are thinking of you SA members) has reached outrageous levels. However, with a little fiscal focus and price probing, you might be able to lessen the financial stress this y... read more>

When it comes to health insurance, there’s a rule that says two people buying the same policy can’t be charged a different premium – no matter what their health and habits are.  It’s called community-rating, and it’s designed to protect the old and sick from having to pay more. But there’s one loophole in the rule, and that’s geography. Victorians, Queenslanders and NSW residents pay the ... read more>

The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia this week released some disturbing figures indicating how much money is required to look after a pet into retirement.  ASFA estimates pet lovers will need to have an additional $34,500 of super savings at the time of retirement to cover the cost of a dog or $25,600 to cover the cost of a cat! Even a bird can be a fiscal burden in retire... read more>

For many Australians, navigating the tax system can be quite overwhelming.  But like death, tax time is inevitable – as the saying goes. So to help take the stress out of tax returns and maximise your return, H&R Block Director of Tax Communications, Mark Chapman had some tips for our listeners on The Daily Drive this week. If you have a simple tax return with not many deductions, ... read more>

Do your retirement home-work   Ask any ageing Australian and they will tell you the same thing - one of our biggest concerns in life is the inevitable prospect of relocating into a retirement home or aged care facility. So if you were one of the many FiftyUp Club members left feeling somewhat distressed following a series of media reports this week on the booming retirement village ind... read more>