First Financial Blog

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The ACCC’s Scamwatch website currently states there have been 131,615 scam reports in 2019… equating to over $106 million lost. The statistics indicate that even though there is regular media coverage and general scam alerts… many people are still susceptible.
We highlight some of the most recent scams that could affect you.

There’s no doubt that current interest rates are unlike anything we’ve ever experienced in Australia before.
We spoke with Graeme Quinlan, Senior Adviser and head of the First Financial Investment Committee, about the cause and impact of the low rates. Plus, he discusses how to maintain income from investments during this volatile time.

With so much constant activity within the infrastructure sector, it can be beneficial for investors to treat infrastructure as a separate asset class for investment, rather than lumping it in with the equities part of their portfolios.

While many of us expect to enter our retirement as part of a couple, there are also many people who find themselves newly single at this point in their lives.
After a divorce there are new challenges ahead for retirement planning but there are also positive aspects that can have a beneficial impact on your wellbeing.

Personal estate planning is an incredibly important undertaking. We all appreciate the significance of creating a will and making sure there’s a formal plan for our affairs when the inevitable occurs… but do you also have a Power of Attorney?

With a 24-hour news cycle constantly reporting on any small shift in tariffs, a disruption of commodity supply or even a late-night political tweet, it’s not surprising that financial markets are fluctuating.

Shirley O’Connor and her daughter Kathleen O’Connor-Lee started SoKo Designs over a decade ago. The bespoke baby linen venture has grown from its humble beginnings to have a dedicated regular client base and provide an extra source of income. We talked to Kathleen about how the business has helped Shirley enjoy her retirement.

Running your own business can be extremely rewarding. Being your own boss and knowing that all the effort you put in goes towards your success… for many people this is a dream come true. But, how would you manage if something happened and you couldn’t work for a few months?

As ethical issues such as climate change gain attention in the media, more people are considering the impact of their investment decisions. Ethical investing has been named a major trend in the financial industry in 2019.

The mind is a funny thing… it can push you forward to achieve great feats or it can pull you down into a state of inaction. Your mindset is incredibly important when it comes to your wealth building because the right mindset certainly helps you achieve financial success.