Have you ever bought or sold something online, only to find that the person at the other end isn’t the real deal?
National Consumer Fraud Week 2013 is all about helping you ‘Outsmart the Scammers!’ by learning how to buy and sell safely online without being duped.
Australians are increasingly going online to buy goods and services, taking advantage of the speed, convenience and greater choice that the internet can offer. Unfortunately scammers like shopping online for their victims too. Read more…
Posted on June 18, 2013
Money Expert Security
Debit cards are certainly in the limelight, fast becoming a popular option for Generations X and Y, who enjoy the flexibility and low fees the cards offer, along with the ability to buy online.
For those aged between 18 and 25 who don’t have a credit card, debit cards are particularly handy for buying items like clothes and concert tickets. Certainly advertising campaigns have targeted this age group and so that’s one of the reasons we have seen this option take hold amongst young adults.
Aside from being interest-free, debit cards also offer a series of other features and benefits not generally found with other account access methods. For example: Read more…
Posted on June 11, 2013
Money Expert Saving
As the final weeks of the 2012-13 financial year come around, it’s the perfect time to review our top 10 tips to minimise your tax. While you should maintain a year round focus on maximising your financial situation, some strategies need to wait until June to implement.
The following key tax tips are worth investigating – after all, the money is better in your pocket than in the taxman’s!
1. Maximise concessional contributions
If you have the cash flow, it makes sense to make the most of concessional contributions to super without breaching the current $25,000 universal cap. Read more…
Posted on May 29, 2013
Money Expert Tax Advice
Congratulations to Eastwoods Wealth Management, a subsidiary of Community CPS Australia Ltd, who recently won the National Licensee Select Financial Planning Practice of the Year 2013.
Licensee Select is a division of Westpac and provides various financial planning support services to independent financial planning firms across Australia. Eastwoods Wealth Management has previously won seven SA/NT state based awards and one National award.
The criteria used for judging the National Best Practice award involved an independent review of of the business and the outcomes of the assessment showed that Eastwoods has the following:- Read more…
Posted on May 29, 2013
Investing Money Expert
Next month thousands of Australians will take advantage of end of financial year car sales, but all buyers should do some homework first to make sure they’re actually getting a good deal.
With June consistently being the most popular month to buy a car – particularly in 2012 when sales rose 17 per cent compared to June 2011* and with demand in Europe slumping by as much as 20 per cent – Australian car prices are falling, making it a buyers’ market.
It’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of shopping for a car, particularly during the promotional periods, but buyers could save hundreds of dollars more if they sort out their finance first. Read more…
Posted on May 21, 2013
Car Loans Money Expert
Stay Smart Online
This week is National Cyber Security Awareness Week – an annual Australian Government initiative held in partnership with industry, community and consumer organisations and all levels of government.
The aim of Awareness Week is to help Australians using the internet – whether at home, the workplace or school – understand the simple steps they can take to protect their personal and financial information online. Read more…
Posted on May 21, 2013
Money Expert Security
The current uncertain economic climate and recent spate of natural disasters is a reminder for Australians to assess their insurance cover to make sure they have adequate protection.
As your lifestyle changes, it’s important that your insurance cover adapts with it – otherwise you risk being underinsured, which can have devastating financial effects on you and your family.
Here are four types of insurance and why they are ‘must-haves’: Read more…
Posted on May 2, 2013
Insurance Money Expert
If you are approaching retirement, you should consider protecting your retirement plans and finances by ensuring your children have sufficient cover for their own families, such as life insurance, trauma, and income protection.
In the event something was to happen to your son or daughter which left their family without any means of support, it would most likely be you who the family turns to for support.
We encountered a situation recently with a retired couple whose financial situation was well secured with a self-funded pension arrangement. Unfortunately, their daughter suffered a serious and sudden long term health issue and they are now looking after the two grandchildren, both physically and, to a worrying extent, financially. Read more…
Posted on April 24, 2013
Insurance Money Expert
Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show the number of Australians switching their home loans to other financial institutions has increased by 16% in the past financial year, meaning more home owners are looking for a better deal to save money on their mortgage.
Late last year, we saw the number of refinanced loans almost double when compared to the same period in 2011 and we experienced a 20% increase in the number of people bringing their home loans across from another lender.
We predict the trend towards switching will continue, particularly following the Federal Government’s new legislation on switching financial institutions, which came into effect from 1 July 2012.
The new legislation gives homeowners the ability to change financial institutions without having to go back and forth with their current provider. The new provider now arranges the switch, making it easier for the homeowner. Read more…
Posted on April 18, 2013
Home Loans Money Expert
If you are starting to look around for a home loan you might be deciding whether to choose a fixed or variable loan. Here are the benefits for each option.
Fixed rate home loans
Fixed interest rates allow you to lock in an interest rate for an agreed period (usually 1-5 years). For the fixed rate period you select, your interest rate does not change and your regular repayments remain the same. At the end of any fixed rate period you can have your loan convert to a variable interest rate or select another fixed rate period. Read more…
Posted on April 11, 2013
Home Loans Money Expert
Personal loans and credit cards are both good options to finance smaller projects, such as a holiday or minor home renovations. Which one is the best solution for you depends on your personal circumstances, so here are some points to consider to make your choice a little easier.
Personal loans are a once-off, lump sum payment to be paid off over time. Some benefits include: Read more…
Posted on April 4, 2013
Money Expert Personal Loans
The arrival of cooler weather often prompts many people to start considering a winter getaway to break up the year.
Planning ahead not only allows you to save for your holiday, it can also allow you to take advantage of special offers and shop around to get the best price on airfares and accommodation.
Here are some tips on how you can stretch your holiday budget further: Read more…
Posted on March 27, 2013
Money Expert Saving
Congratulations to the Eastwoods Group a subsidiary of Community CPS Australia Ltd who recently won the Licensee Select SA Practice of the Year 2013.
Licensee Select is a division of Westpac and provides various financial planning support services to independent financial planning firms across Australia.
Eastwoods Wealth Management has previously won seven SA/NT state based awards and one National award.
By winning the State award Eastwoods is now eligible for the national title which is announced in May.
The award represents an outstanding team effort dedicated to the provision of quality financial planning advice across Australia. I’m very proud of our team and the service we provide our clients.
^ Michael – Practice Development Manager
Posted on February 25, 2013
Financial News & Updates Investing Money Expert Saving Tax Advice
We all want to make sure we are trusting the right financial institution with our hard earned money, but the growing number of products and services make it increasingly difficult for consumers to compare apples with apples.
With constantly evolving product packages and changing interest rates, being able to simply compare institutions and their offering is important when seeking the best financial institution for your individual needs and lifestyle.
Here are some handy tips on what to look for in a financial institution: Read more…
Posted on January 23, 2013
Financial News & Updates Money Expert
With Christmas Day just a few weeks away, it’s a good idea to plan your spending and stick to a budget to avoid falling into the festive season debt trap.
With festive spirits high, the Christmas period is the time when families are most likely to under estimate the financial burden. Often people forget about the myriad of other expenses beyond presents, such as food and drinks and of course any travel expenses such as petrol and accommodation.
The good news is that it’s never too late for those who haven’t yet considered budgeting for the Christmas period. Here are a few tips: Read more…
Posted on December 14, 2012
Financial News & Updates Money Expert Saving
Find Us Online