The Australian Energy Market Commission insists consumers are protected in its final ruling. The National Seniors Association begs to differ, arguing these changes will punish those who don’t understand how to change their energy use.
With Australia in the early stages of a $3.5 trillion wealth transfer, there are significant opportunities for charities to benefit. Luckily for them, a growing number of families agree that their wealth should be more equitably shared.
Industry funds played a deft hand when the bulk of their members were in the accumulation phase. With members now retiring in growing numbers, a new skill set is urgently needed – and the reforms to overhaul the decumulation phase announced by Treasurer Jim Chalmers could help.
Increasing e-commerce penetration, population growth and rising construction costs will ensure supply for this commercial real estate sector remains tight.
A new research report finds many older Australians are deeply worried about the cost of care and don’t understand how it interacts with the aged pension. For most, the best solution is to remain in the family home.
While less and less people use cash, for many seniors, uncomfortable using debit or credit cards, banking online or simply fearful of potential scams, it remains the payment system of choice.
With no cure in sight, and the WHO predicting increasing cases of dementia as the population ages, it is critical society becomes more adept at dealing with this illness, especially with research showing many of those afflicted can respond positively to myriad activities and the right living environment.
While a surging gold price is on hold as the world adjusts to a Trump presidency, all the factors that saw its price rise more than 50 per during his first term in office – trade disputes, fiscal deficits and geopolitical tensions – are almost certainly guaranteed the second time around.
Beating the market benchmark is never easy, with 72 per cent of Australian actively managed global equity general funds trailing the S&P World Index in the six months to June 30, 2024. Domestic equity funds performed slightly better, albeit against a significantly lower bar set by the S&P/ASX 200 Index.
History suggests that economics, not politics, has the biggest influence on markets. But that thesis could be tested when the 78-year-old Republican returns to the White House with a suite of proposals that will have implications for geopolitics, globalisation and financial markets.