When it comes to money… everyone has an opinion.
Whether you’re at a backyard barbeque or the water cooler at work, it feels like there’s always someone ready to pounce and give you their take on your money.
We’re not talking about professionals here… more like friends, family, colleagues or that guy with the hot share tip at the pub.
The trouble is, many commonly accepted theories could do your finances more harm than good. Here are seven common pieces of so-called “financial advice” that you should think twice before following.
- Avoid shares, they’re too risky
Yes, shares are riskier than money in the bank, but if you manage this risk correctly history shows us the rewards are more than worth it. In fact, over any 10 year period shares have outperformed all other invest asset classes.
The trick is to set clear goals, invest for the long-term and diversify your portfolio. You can also reduce risk by investing in index funds or managed funds rather than direct companies.
Of course, actual professional advice will ensure your investments are suited to your needs. Good advice is always your best investment.
- Property never goes down
While property is arguably Australia’s favourite investment, you must remember that it is much the same as any other… prices can go up or down.
Or there’s the other classic bit of advice, “property need never go down if you never sell”. Well, that’s just plain stupid. Of course, you have to sell sometime because that’s the only way to actually make a profit.
We’ve had a great run over the past decade or so with dwelling prices across the country seeing stellar growth, but don’t be blinded by past performance.
An economic downturn, proposed government changes to negative gearing or any number of other factors could serve to drive down prices… as has happened in the past.
- Avoid credit cards
It’s not your credit cards causing problems, it’s your poor spending habits and poor management of that card. You need to stop pointing the finger, and instead take responsibility for how you use your plastic.
Rewards points, convenience, fraud protection and building up a strong credit rating are just some of the benefits that the responsible use of credit cards can yield.
Develop good credit wisdom early on to avoid falling victim to the traps. That starts with making sure you have the right credit card which suits your needs.
- Start saving for your children’s education as early as you can
Your kid’s education is important, but your financial well being comes first. Always fund your own retirement first before worrying about the kids.
We know that sounds selfish, but if you can’t support yourself when you retire, your children will need to take on the burden and you’ll be miserable. In the long term, this is a cost that will likely dwarf their student loans.
- You need a financial planner
Seeking financial advice is a great idea, particularly if you have significant assets or your financial situation is more complicated.
On the other hand, if your assets are relatively simple and you’re confident managing them yourself, then you could be better off saving the money, at least in the short-term. There are just so many resources available online if you’re happy to put in the effort.
Consider your situation and act accordingly but, if you’re even a little bit unsure, good professional advice will help you make sure you’re on the right track.
- Your employer’s 9.5% compulsory super contributions will fund retirement
Depends whether you want to enjoy retirement or not.
Here are the facts. If a married couple (with no debt) needs $60,000 a year to enjoy a comfortable retirement then they’ll need $1.12 million in superannuation… assuming a 5 per cent investment return.
Go to your bank’s superannuation calculator and plug in your personal numbers. You need to get savvy with your super.
Look at salary sacrifice, or by making after-tax deposits from your savings as well. There are different caps and rules for each, so check the ato.gov.au for more details.
And make sure you close any additional accounts and consolidate your super into one place to avoid paying multiple sets of fees.
- Retire as early as you can
“Tell em they’re dreamin”, is basically the message coming from both sides of politics. An ageing population, contracting workforce and welfare cuts means reduced financial help from Government for retirement.
Rather than clock watching, make a plan.
What do you want to do when you retire? Will you have enough money to do it? Are there still things you want to accomplish in your working life?
Age is just a number, and there are many different ways to reduce your work burden as you age without calling everything off.
BALANCE TRANSFER… WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Home loan rates down. Savings rates down. Credit card interest rates extortionately high.
Every interest rate has fallen this month… except credit cards. So it’s little wonder many people find their debts quickly getting out of control.
Balance transfer cards can be a great option to pay off your debt as quickly as possible, without excessive interest payments.
So what are they?
A balance transfer card allows you to move your existing credit card debt onto a new card at a low interest rate, sometimes even 0 per cent.
The transfer rate only applies for a set period of time, generally between 6 to 18 months, after which the remaining balance on the card will revert to a higher rate.
But what’s the catch?
There are a few things you need to be aware of with balance transfer cards.
Revert rates can be higher than normal credit card interest rates, so if you don’t pay off the debt in time you could end up in a worse spot than when you started.
New purchases on the card will also attract higher rates of interest, so be careful with further spending.
To pick the right card for you, build a repayment budget and work out how long it will realistically take you to pay off your debt.
Then, look for the lowest transfer rate possible over that period of time, aiming for a card with the lowest fees.
If you don’t think you’ll be able to fully cover the debt in the time periods available, then consider a ‘lifetime’ balance transfer card. These can offer a reasonable interest rate that does not expire.
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