The rising cost of living is grabbing all the attention right now as people struggle to pay the increasing prices. But in the meantime, our collective wealth has been growing steadily and is being transferred to the next generation at increasing rates.

In fact, the value of inheritances as well as gifts to family and friends has doubled over the past two decades.

Tax measures were less central to this year’s Federal Budget than they have been in recent years.

While there were some new tax measures, the Budget this year was more about the first surplus in 15 years and various spending measures.

Buying your first investment property can be a bold step towards a more prosperous and secure future. But it also poses risks. The Successful Investor’s Michael Sloan outlines five strategies to help you take the right path.

As the winter sets in and the end of the financial year approaches, it’s a good chance to spend some time tidying up and reviewing your finances.

Concerns that the Reserve Bank may lift interest rates this month, along with the drama over the US debt ceiling and the worry that the US Treasury may run out of cash, have affected local markets and the Australian dollar.

Join Citadel Adviser, Jack Mascitelli, and T. Rowe Price's Global Equities Portfolio Specialist Sam Ruiz as they unpack current market conditions, the drivers behind Global Equities recent positive performance and what it means in the near future.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers bills his 2023 Federal Budget as an economic strategy to help ease cost-of-living pressures.

To that end, he has delivered a modest but welcome package of cuts to healthcare, housing and energy costs as well as boosts to welfare payments for single parents and the unemployed.

When life tosses up an unexpected event – such as retrenchment, a medical emergency or even just a big bill to fix the car – it can be nerve-wracking worrying about how to deal with the crisis. And, if funds are short, that just adds to the stress.

But imagine that you have a secret cash stash – an emergency fund – that will cover the costs, giving you the mental space to deal with the problem.

Here are some tips that can help you build confidence in your investing approach, no matter what the markets are doing.

Emotions always play a role in investing. For some investors, especially newer ones, it can be hard to separate the idea of investing from “losing it all.”

Superannuation has dominated recent headlines, with proposed changes announced by Treasurer Jim Chalmers. While the details of these changes still need to be released, it’s worthwhile turning our focus to superannuation balances as we approach the end of financial year.

There are lots of different ways to top up your super, but if you want to take advantage of the opportunity to maximise your contributions, it is important not to wait until the last minute.

Just like your car needs a periodic service to stay in tune, here's why you should rebalance your portfolio from time to time.

Over time, market fluctuations can affect your asset allocation weightings and change the risk/return profile of your portfolio.

As the days get shorter and temperatures begin to fall, Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers is working to complete his second Budget, due to be delivered on Tuesday 9 May.

All eyes will be on the Reserve Bank board next week as it meets prior to the Federal Budget to decide whether or not to increase the cash rate. The board decided last month to pause its relentless increase of rates designed to reduce inflation to 2-3%.

It should be a buyer’s market, so why are property buyers holding back?

Even though buyers face less competition and enjoy more affordable prices during a downturn, some find that the uncertain conditions magnify the risks of short-term loss and induce anxiety, making it seem less attractive to buy.

Working out how much you need to save for retirement is a question that keeps many pre-retirees awake at night. Recent market volatility and fluctuating superannuation balances have only added to the uncertainty.

Teaching good financial habits, such as saving and budgeting, is one of the best ways to prepare children to have a secure financial future. Helping kids establish sound money management skills and strong financial acumen is important, regardless of wealth level.

A capital gain or loss is the difference between what you paid for an asset and what you sold it for. This takes into account any incidental costs on the purchase and sale. So, if you sell an asset for more than you paid for it, that’s a capital gain. And if you sell it for less, that is considered a capital loss.

Interest rates are an important financial lever for world economies. They affect the cost of borrowing and the return on savings, and it makes them an integral part of the return on many investments. It can also affect the value of the currency, which has a further trickle-down effect on other investments.

Welcome to our April update and, as the days are getting shorter, there’s definitely a bit of a nip in the air.

Share markets in Australia and overseas have rallied to end the month in a better position as the global banking system steadies itself and there are expectations of a tempering in rate rises.

With the discomfort experienced last year, questions around a recession—are we already in one or will we enter one—seem to be the most pressing this year.

Professional economists forecast the possibility of a recession at a higher rate than anytime over the past decade and Google searches of the word “recession” hit an all-time high last year.

Getting more money into superannuation is a proven way of building wealth to spend in retirement.

But how much extra money can you put in each year, and what’s the best way of doing it?

The concept of retirement is changing, with fewer people working towards a final retirement date and then clocking off for good.

Instead, those who have the flexibility to choose are often transitioning out of the workforce over several years, or even returning after a break.

Whether you simply want to wind back your working hours to explore other interests, or don’t want to cut your ties with work completely, to make it work you need to plan.