The convenience of technology has been a great benefit to our lives since Coronavirus restrictions came into effect; but it has also exposed more of us to the risk of data breaches, scams and identify theft that unfortunately comes with it. Read more about what to look out for and how to protect yourself.

With redundancy set to increase in many industries as we emerge from the COVID-19 crisis in Australia, it's reassuring to know that good financial planning can help achieve your long-term goals and minimise the impacts of late-career redundancy.

We can all relate to feeling like every day is the same, or not even knowing what day it is, as we stay at home to battle COVID-19. Adviser, David Batchelor shares his thoughts on coping with the rapid change in our lives, and recommends some great movie viewing to deliver a much-needed laugh.

It's been a turbulent ride on global markets since the onset of COVID-19, but FMD portfolios are weathering the storm and are well-placed for the future. Watch this update from the FMD Investment Committee for all the latest details.

There are now more and more online tools and apps available to help you take care of the tedious but important tasks associated with budgeting. Here is our list of the top 5 apps for efficiently managing your budget.

Daily life has been turned upside down for all of us due to COVID-19 and new ways of living, working and connecting have quickly become the norm. Whatever changes you are adapting to personally, adviser Michael Russell shares his tips on getting your budget under control in the face of new financial realities.

We continue to receive fantastic feedback about our largest-ever Annual Client Briefing held at the Park Hyatt in Melbourne in December 2019 where we welcomed over 400 guests. One of the things ...

Welcome to our new FMD Team Members! 2019 was a big year for FMD with a number of significant changes, including our move to operating under our own Australian Financial Services ...

2018-19 was a tough year for Australia’s major banks who faced margin squeeze from lower interest rates, fierce competition in mortgages and customer dissatisfaction in the wake of the ...

With one decade coming to an end and the roaring ‘20s about to begin, FMD was “Looking back to look forward” when more than 400 clients and friends joined us recently ...

The Australia Talks National Survey (fielded in July 2019) shed light on what Australians are most worried about. When presented with a list of 27 worry factors ranging from money to survival ...

The Reserve Bank of Australia and the Government may be lamenting the fact that lower interest rates and personal tax cuts haven’t had the desired effect on consumer spending, ...

What do you imagine when you think about your retirement? Do you picture yourself in a relaxing seaside town on the Sunshine Coast? Or maybe you’re drawn to the ...

Over the last few years the FMD team has donated thousands of dollars and countless volunteer hours to fundraising activities for worthy causes, and we're grateful for the continuing support ...

The Trump presidency has seen a rapid return to protectionism with the introduction of new tariffs on Chinese goods aimed at lowering net imports and protecting domestic industries. China responded ...

In July 2017, the government introduced new rules that make it imperative for higher income earners to pay close attention to their annual super contributions or risk retiring without enough money ...

People who seek out financial advice see great returns on their investment and feel confident in their financial future. Still, many Australians shy away from expert financial advice. Here's why.

Looking for smart strategies to make the most of your redundancy payment? Our advisers share tips on maximising your redundancy payment and securing your financial future.

The ACCC's Scamwatch has already received 94 reports of Coronavirus-related scams and expect that number to rise. Since the Federal Government announced measures to allow people to access their superannuation, scammers have been impersonating super funds in calls and emails asking Australians to confirm their super account details.

Super regulations are always changing - there have been 43 legislative and regulatory changes in Self-Managed Super alone in the last five years! (1) While super may still be the most tax-effective ...

The old adage that people are more likely to change their partner than their bank may not be true for much longer. In the coming years open banking is expected ...

Updated on 31st July 2019: Since this interview, the Reserve Bank cut the official cash rate by 25 basis points in June and again in July to a record low 1.00 per cent. ...

Many of us dream about retiring overseas or enjoying extended periods of overseas travel during retirement. While drawing up your travel checklist, don’t forget to consider possible impacts to ...

Negative gearing to be limited to newly built properties from 1 January 2020 if Labor wins the election. What this could mean for investors and the property market?

Will this budget result in a comeback for the Government in time for the “sometime in May” federal election? Mike Reynolds demystifies the 2019 Federal Budget

It’s always hard to take time away from the office and our clients, but once again we were reminded of the benefits of bringing our national team together to share knowledge and hone our skills at this year’s annual adviser conference in Melbourne recently.

Proposed changes to franking credits in SMSFs are on the horizon if Labor is elected in May. There could be significant impacts for retirees with an SMSF who are wholly in the pension phase. Financial adviser, Jason Calleja, explains the potential impact and what you can do to protect your wealth if the proposed changes come into effect.

Whenever market volatility increases, concerned investors naturally want to know if they should do anything different to protect and maximise their wealth. As an investor myself, I understand this. We ...

Investing in property through a Self-Managed Super Fund (SMSF) is a popular option for many people. However, recently tightened bank lending and increasing ATO regulation have made this harder. Here ...

The ‘January effect’ is a well-known phenomenon among economists and psychologists alike. Regardless of market realities, consumer optimism and share prices often see a temporary boost and so does our ...

In December 2018, the federal government announced that insurance premiums will see an average hike of 3.25% in 2019. This is not a new story. With these yearly increases, of course you want ...

If you know how much money is in your wallet, and keep a record of what you spend, you’re probably a saver. If, on the other hand, you have ...

According to research by Investment Trends, 51% of retirees expect to outlive their retirement savings. If you aim to live on more than the Age Pension (full Age Pension rates plus supplements are $35,916 for a couple, or $23,824 for a single person, applicable since 20 September 2018), you will need to use smart strategies to find the additional income. Unlocking the equity in your home can be an effective way to achieve your lifestyle goals and generate more income in retirement.

Most people believe there is a right time to seek financial advice – close to ‘retirement age,’ with a good amount of money to invest and an estate to plan. However, ...

However rewarding our careers and growing families may be, most professional women also look forward to a future where they’ll have more time for themselves. Whether the goal is ...

Purchasing a home is one of life’s greatest milestones, but it can puts the brakes on your wealth accumulation. What if you could build wealth and still pay down your home loan?

Article update: The Basic Daily Fee and means-tested care fee mentioned in this article are as per The Department of Human Services' revised aged care fees released on 21 June 2019. Making ...

The Royal Commission continues to expose the poor conduct occurring in the banking and finance industry and we’re glad the Commission is giving a voice to those impacted. Though ...

There comes a time when the kids move out, you’re ready to travel or you’re getting older and the family home starts to become too big or too ...

As busy working professionals we all want more convenience in life. The number of comparison websites and online aggregators available for every product or service under the sun is evidence ...

How active management of your super investment builds wealth faster Building wealth sooner is the best way to live the lifestyle you've worked hard to achieve for longer. Instead of ...

We all understand that certain sectors of the market do better during particular stages of the economic cycle than others. However, trying to pick the timing of a market rotation – ...

Are you Queensland born and bred? I grew up in Warsaw, Poland and came to Australia in 1999. I first lived in Adelaide where I began my FMD career in 2009 and ...

No doubt Amazon’s highly anticipated arrival in Australia will shake up an already sluggish retail sector. So what could this mean for share prices and how should investors prepare? ...

Many people are not aware of the full costs of buying a retirement village unit, particularly some of the extraordinary costs that only come into play when you try to ...

Despite the downturn in residential property prices in Sydney and Melbourne, buyer behaviour indicates that many Australians still believe that an investment property is all you need to be set ...

They say there's no formula for success, but with years of experience offering personalised investment advice and now with over $1 billion of funds under management, our investment committee has learned ...

The information in this article is superseded by the latest superannuation information published in our article, Everything you need to know about superannuation to live the dream. New superannuation laws ...

How often do you think about your super balance? Twice a year? Less often? Does it matter, I hear you think? I can’t access it for 20 years, right? Right, ...

Romance may be in the air, but it’s not all wine and roses when two people combine their finances and aspirations in the name of love.     According to Relationships ...

Research shows 46% of employees worry about their finances and that worry can stop them achieving at work and feeling positive about their job. It's a statistic that is motivating employers ...

It is no surprise we’re spending more on Christmas each year and it seems Gen Xers, at the peak of their careers and earning power, typically spend the most. ...

From 1 January 2017, if you receive an Age Pension and are asset tested, your pension may change. What will change from 1 January 2017? The value of assets you can own before your ...

Could technology innovation and demographics be the best investment indicators in a uncertain world? Recently the Australian head of one of the most forward thinking global investment firms spoke at ...