Articles

Farmers should protect anything that they cannot realistically afford to replace, and should seek professional advice to decide just what type and level of insurance is required for their specific needs.

A look at the trends showing business banking recovery and growth in 2010, after the global financial crisis.

Although the financial gloom has not evaporated completely, it has lifted and this has eased pressure on the country's business sector.

The smaller banks are now actively fighting back to regain market share post-GFC, with an alternative to a package home loan from the big banks.

The major banks are once again dominating the home loan market. It would be fair to say that most home loans sold by the big banks are packaged products.

In general, you will be offered a low-fee credit card and a fee-free transaction account in your package home loan deal.

Wonderful though the thought may be, the elimination of risk in farming enterprises is as likely as the Australian Taxation Office closing down. Plan B, managing the risk, is the next best thing.

There seems to be no end to foolish behaviour exhibited by humans not thinking things through before acting. Equally foolish is the notion that “it will never happen to me”. Both reasons are behind the very existence of insurance for death and trauma.

Tailoring a life insurance plan for individual situations requires the skill of a licensed financial planner or adviser.

What is the difference between stepped and level premiums for life insurance?

Cancer is the leading cause of claims under critical illness insurances in Australia, according to GenRe Life Health.

Most income protection policies inside super provide for only 2 years’ worth of income protection.

Explains the different types of life insurance, what they cover and why you may need life insurance.

The main credit channels available are a personal loan, a credit card, store finance or, if you have a mortgage, redraw facility on that mortgage.

Personal debt levels seem to be coming off the boil, with Australians owing significantly less than they did a year ago.

The following explanations should clear up any confusion about the various new credit card payment methods in Australia.

Some reductions to credit card over-limit and late-payment fees have been initiated.

Over the past 7 years though, we have seen a gradual shift away from credit, toward EFTPOS and debit cards.

A contract for difference, or CFD, is a leveraged instrument that enables you to gain exposure to shares, indices, commodities and currencies.

Taking a long CFD position simply means you expect the value of the underlying security to increase. Taking a short CFD position simply means you expect the value of the underlying security to decrease.

There are a few different type of CFDs and it pays to know the fundamental differences before choosing the one that's right for you.

There's no doubt this is a risky business. A contract for difference, or CFD, is a legally-binding contract between two parties, buyer and seller, where the seller agrees to pay the buyer the difference between the current value of an asset and its value at contract time.

Things are by no means bright, and there have been plenty of casualties of all sizes and shapes so far in the global financial crisis. But for those businesses left standing, how bad is the current state of affairs?

With big rate discounts, it's not surprising that package loans make up a large proportion of home loan business written by the banks, with around half of all home loans written as part of a package. The burning question is, does the interest rate saving compensate for the higher fee?

Now that mortgage rates have dropped 40% in one year, the impact of the package discount is even more significant.

We look at the top 7 excuses people give for not seeing a financial planner, and discuss the implications of failing to plan for your financial future.

When the end of financial year is approaching it may be a good time to think about the Government superannuation co-contribution scheme.

It's always interesting to hear the answers people give when asked to name their most valuable asset. Unsurprisingly, age and lifestyle play key roles in the variety of answers given.

Having life insurance represents part of good financial planning. Here are some of the reasons that many investors and other individuals apply for life insurance.

If you're planning your finances and investigating life insurance options, it's worth checking your life insurance policy wording to ensure you know exactly which type of contract you're getting yourself into.

A quick overview of exactly what direct life insurance is, how it can be purchased, who it could be suitable for and how to compare direct life insurance policies in Australia.

If your debt is out of control or you simply want to better manage your finances, should you get a personal loan or do a credit card balance transfer? We do some calculations to answer this question.

Proving just how fiercely competitive the car insurance market is, last year's winners have retained the top honours nationally in our latest car insurance star ratings.

Gone are the days of, heaven forbid, actually saving up for a purchase. The consumer credit society is well and truly entrenched. But where does that leave us?

epump allows drivers with a Woolworths Everyday Money credit card to instantly pay for petrol at the pump by waving their card over the epump reader.

A year ago, the odds of receiving a margin call were 1 in 10 over a 12-month period. Not surprisingly, the odds have now dramatically shortened to 1 in 100 every day.

If we are anywhere near the bottom of the market, then now is the time to start considering whether margin lending offers one of the better routes towards wealth creation.

Hunting down a better rate and doing a credit card "balance transfer" could be the first step towards debt-free living.

The end of the road is nigh for any lender who now pushes credit onto vulnerable consumers.

Following this roller coaster year many investors with margin loans are picking up the pieces in readiness for the next hurdle – tax time.

Prospective travellers are urged to check their insurance before setting foot outside Australia, as the impending Swine Flu pandemic could leave them out in the cold.

Seven steps and a checklist to help you get the most out of the initial meeting with a financial planner, and subsequent meetings.

Recently we have seen huge popularity and extensive choice of simple rewards – cash back or shopping voucher rewards. These rewards provide cardholders with a simple means of redeeming rewards points for easy-to-use vouchers, or even "cash" credited straight to their account.

Transferring your rewards to Qantas Frequent Flyer points is now a thing of the past. Much-publicised changes to Qantas Frequent Flyer (QFF) programs, in place as of 1 April 2009, have seen a complete overhaul of frequent flyer redemption, as we know it.

When trading shares online, not only should you know what your broker is doing to keep your money safe, but there are also a number of things you can do at your end.

There are premium systems available that offer 'live pricing'. These systems generally cost more, but for the keen investor they can provide more accurate data.

Many online share trading brokers offer several different bank accounts, to complement their trading and investment offerings. Check out our guide to cash, investment and debit card accounts.

Common terms and definitions used in relation to the Australian share market.

A brief look at what caused the GFC, the credit crunch, the US housing bubble and other recent economic phenomenon, and how government has responded.

Small businesses seeking new or additional finance are now having to jump through extraordinary hoops to access funds.

What the new fees are, and how to avoid them where possible when withdrawing cash from an ATM.

The recent bushfires that devastated large parts of Victoria saw Australians rally in their thousands to help out in whatever way they could.

Pruning premiums doesn't necessarily trim your cover.

Under-insurance is rife in Australia and it's not choosey. It has pretty much infiltrated every area of insurance but it's the home and contents horror stories we see in the media that really attract attention.

A major cause of under-insurance in Australia is the set-and-forget factor. We take out home and contents insurance initially and then simply forget about it. There are no updates done when renovations are finished, refurnishing takes place and other improvements are made.

Having a new-for-old replacement clause in the policy is essential when insuring your contents. With depreciation eating into the value of your goods, it's likely that they may be worth as little as 20% of what you originally paid.

It doesn't necessarily follow that doubling the amount you're insured for will double your insurance premium. That's the beauty of shopping around, particularly with the help of the CANSTAR CANNEX home & contents star ratings.

Flood cover is a major exclusion from most home insurance policies. Confusion arises the different terms insurers use to explain what they will and won't cover in relation to floods.

As we're all too well aware, even superheroes aren't completely invincible. We mere humans must therefore take certain precautions.

Private Health Insurance is one logical and growing avenue of help in achieving health related resolutions, with many funds providing wellness programs and support.

The two leading credit card companies in the world today are the competitors Visa and MasterCard. They both operate in a very similar way. So what are the differences between the two?

Stop and think about what plans you have put in place for your home insurance while you are away.

Motorists with colourful claims histories or licences showing traffic demerit points may not be completely responsible for their track records. If you've had trouble obtaining cheap car insurance in the past, a recent study may interest you.

The shrinking pool of car yard finance could catch out potential car buyers who leap into a commitment before looking at the best way to finance their shiny, new car purchase.

The 2008 Melbourne Cup horse race is an Australian tradition. But what are the odds of betting on a winner?

Here's a breakdown of what fees you could be up for, should you decide to sell, move or refinance.

Definitions and helpful tips on getting the best life insurance cover, with information on cover from income protection to total and permanent disability cover. If you're shopping for life insurance, read this before you start to compare policies.

General wisdom would suggest that the greater the value life insurance you purchase the more you would have to pay but this is not necessarily the case. In fact, you could actually end up paying less for more cover.

Finding a financial planner that meets your needs may be easier than you think. There are a number of ways to search for a planner in your local area. You should also know what to look for when selecting a financial planner.

Choosing the right home and contents insurance involves more than simply valuing your assets and choosing the cheapest premium on offer. Insurers design different insurance products to suit a broad customer base so it is important to make sure that the cover you end up buying covers those inclusions that are important to you.

Definitions of everything from "accidental glass breakage" to "obsolete electrical appliances", to help you understand all the finer points of home and contents insurance policies and details of cover.

Home and contents insurance, like all other forms of insurance, takes several variables into consideration when determining the premium you have to pay to get the level of cover you want. We’ve put together a short list of 5 of the most important of these variables insurers use when determining how much you should pay.

A guide to the Australian government deposit guarantee scheme, how it works, what is covered and how to find out if your bank or credit union is included.

The recent bushfires that devastated large parts of Victoria saw Australians rally in their thousands to help out in whatever way they could.

Finding the right health insurance policy that fits your individual situation can be a laborious process which is, even at the best of times, confusing. Here are 5 tips to help you to find the hospital and extras cover that is just right for you.

Free health insurance for kids might seem like one of those deals that are too good to be true but this is no hoax. Most private health insurance funds in Australia charge the same premiums for families with children as they do for couples without children which effectively means you can get free private health insurance for your kids.

Tough times often result in financial stress, as consumers struggle to make ends meet and try to ride out the bad times in the hope that something better is just around the corner. The smart thing to do, however, is to address the problem upfront before it gets to the point of no return.

The fact that all rewards points across the board don't add up to the same value not only makes it confusing but also sheds little light on the true value of the program to you. You can, however, work it out for yourself using our easy equation.

Credit card rewards programs that accumulate points are not for everyone. If you don't spend enough each month, or you pay interest regularly on your credit card, the cost of your credit card rewards program – interest rate plus annual fee – is probably higher than the value of rewards gained.

It's no secret that times are tough at the moment in the area of one of life's basic necessities – shelter. Buying and renting are both becoming more complicated but sooner or later, you will arrive at the point where you need to make the big decision to remain renting or buy a home of your own.

For would-be first home owners, setting a savings goal for a few years in advance is a must. As a general guide, your mortgage repayments should not exceed 30% of your before-tax income.

Transaction accounts, cash management accounts and online savings are all very different in what they offer and selecting the right one for your purposes is essential if you are to make the most of your money.

Transaction accounts, cash management accounts and online savings are all very different in what they offer and selecting the right one for your purposes is essential if you are to make the most of your money.

Should you fix your home loan or leave it in the hope that the variable rate will settle, or even come down, in the near future?

If you suspect your personal debt level is in danger of becoming obese very soon, now is the time to take action.