On 1 February 2026, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) introduced new limits on how much high‑debt lending banks can do.[1] In simple terms, only a portion of new loans can now go to borrowers whose total debt is six times their income or more. Most Australians borrow well below this level, so the majority […]
Concerns around the US Federal Reserve Independence
The US Federal Reserve is under unusual political pressure at the moment, and when the world’s most influential central bank looks shaky, global markets pay attention. But for Australians, this isn’t all about American drama – it’s about how that uncertainty can ripple through interest rates, the Aussie dollar, and investment markets here at home. […]
Extended shopping season for Christmas
If you feel like your Christmas shopping has started even earlier this year, you’ve probably picked up on a recent trend. According to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) household spending jumped 1.3 per cent in October 2025[1] – the largest monthly rise in nearly two years, driven by what appears to be […]
News on interest rates
With its final interest rate decision for 2025, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has announced that the official cash rate is to remain on hold at 3.6 per cent[1]. As you’d expect, commentators have already started divining what future rate announcements might be for the coming year. So should you be following their commentary […]
A matter of trust
As a financial adviser I meet a lot of people and each one has their own individual relationship with money. Some are confident. Some are cautious. Some want to know as much detail as possible. Others are comfortable just understanding the bigger picture and are happy having someone with the experience and expertise to look […]