Penny Pryor
Contributor
Advisor
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Virgin Velocity Vs Qantas Points: How Do They Compare?
When it comes to frequent flyer programs, Australians have a choice between Virgin Velocity or Qantas Frequent Flyer. While frequent flyers can opt for membership of both, most Australians focus on putting their points to use in just one to... -
How Long Does An International Transfer Take From Australia?
The introduction of PayID and Osko have made it possible to make almost immediate domestic money transfers—those within Australia. However, these methods are not available for international transfers. Fortunately, many fintechs are entering the international money transfer market with a... -
Guide To Super Contributions In Australia
Australia’s superannuation system provides most Australians with a decent income in retirement. Employers are required to pay a set percentage of your pay packet into your fund each pay cycle—called the superannuation guarantee—but there are also a number of other... -
How Does Debt Consolidation Work In Australia?
When I was in my twenties, juggling a number of credit cards with different interest rates, a bank manager suggested I do the smart thing and consolidate. They pointed out that if I took out a personal loan, at a... -
Which Banks Offer Personal Loans In Australia?
A personal loan allows you to pay for life’s large expenses, such as a car, home renovations or perhaps even a much-needed holiday. They usually come with lower interest rates than your credit card, and can be a good way... -
Determined To Retire At 60? Some Super Tips To Help You
Forbes Advisor's superannuation writer, Penny Pryor, has used Australia's tax-friendly super system to build up her balance in preparation for early retirement at 60. A lot of people enjoy their work, but for those that don’t, or at least those... -
My Step-By-Step Guide To Building A Shopify Store From Australia
Forbes Advisor writer, Penny Pryor, set out to discover how easy it is to set up a Shopify store for her made-to-order craft items. As more of us look to make money from our side hustles, many Australians are looking... -
The Complete Guide To Product Liability Insurance In Australia
If you’re over a certain age you will probably have heard of The McDonald's Hot Coffee Lawsuit in the early 1990s, in which a US woman sued the fast food giant after she spilled a hot coffee in her car... -
How To Send Money To Canada From Australia
There are many reasons why you might want to send money to Canada—to give cash to friends and family, to purchase property, or for business transactions. Whatever the reason, it’s important that you find the most appropriate method that suits... -
Where To Exchange Currency Without Paying Huge Fees
The currency conversion options for Australians travelling abroad have increased vastly in the past two decades but some are still more expensive than others. Our guide rounds up what you need to know about the available options and how to... -
Will The Australian Property Market Crash?
The past four years have been bumpy for residential property. There was a boom during Covid, followed by a minor bust, and then prices started rising again in 2023 only to taper off later that year. As for 2024, the... -
What Is Travel Insurance? The Complete Guide For Australian Travellers
Travel insurance, like any other type of insurance, protects you if unfortunate events happen while you are travelling. It can help cover the cost of theft of property and accidents that might require medical attention, along with medical expenses if... -
Can I Use My Super To Pay Off My Mortgage?
Generally speaking, you cannot access your superannuation until you reach your preservation age, which is between 55 and 60 depending on when you were born. However, there are some very limited, and potential dire, circumstances under which you may be... -
What Is Lifetime Health Cover Loading?
Lifetime health cover was introduced by the Howard Government in 2000 with the intent of encouraging more of us—particularly younger Australians—to take out health cover for life and to reduce the burden on public hospitals. Lifetime Health Cover Loading (LHCL)... -
Family Home Guarantee Scheme Explained
Last year, Australia’s housing market was one of the most unaffordable in the developed world, with the Demographia International Housing Affordability 2024 report ranking Sydney second to Hong Kong as the least affordable property market. As the report noted: "Middle-income... -
Top ASX Stocks To Watch In 2024
The S&P/ASX 200 ended last year in a better place than it started, but it has certainly was a bumpy ride. Morningstar head of equity research, Peter Warnes, says that 2023 was a better year for equities than most people... -
Life Insurance Outside Of Super: Pros And Cons
Life insurance is one of those things that nobody likes to talk about but most of us need. It is the cover that will pay out an amount—designed to support your dependents or cover outstanding debts—on your passing. There are... -
What Is A Self-Managed Super Fund?
Self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs) are private superannuation funds with no more than six members that you can set up yourself. Your employer will pay your superannuation guarantee into your SMSF, instead of a larger retail or industry fund, and you... -
Credit Card Cash Advances Explained
There were a whopping 15,750,456 personal credit cards on issue in Australia in February 2023 and 988,553 credit card cash advances made, according to RBA data. But while many people are using their credit cards at the ATM, it’s really... -
Find Lost Super: Everything You Need To Know
Despite the ATO publicity campaigns urging Australians to check and claim lost super, the size of the nation's lost super pile continues to mount in ghost accounts across the nation. New ATO data released a month ago has found that... -
Private Health Insurance Rebate Explained
The private health insurance rebate has been with us for almost 25 years, having been introduced by the Howard Liberal Government back in 1999. The rebate is a percentage amount the federal government will contribute towards your private health insurance... -
What Is Probate Of A Will In Australia?
When somebody dies it will usually be an emotional and upsetting time. Unfortunately, even if the person has left a detailed Will, it can also be a complicated one when it comes to administering the deceased’s estate. It’s not enough... -
Guide To Salary Sacrificing Into Super
The superannuation guarantee, which is the amount your employer must contribute into your superannuation fund by law, currently sits at 10.5% of your salary. While that’s a far cry from the 3% it was when the SG was introduced in... -
What Is The Capital Gains Discount?
Capital gains tax is the tax you pay on capital gains made when selling assets. As an individual you will be taxed on the capital gain at the same rate as your personal income tax rate. You can read more... -
Buying Off The Plan: Everything You Need To Know
One way to dip your toe in the property market if you want to buy a brand new property is to buy off the plan. This involves entering into an agreement with a developer when a property has yet to... -
Buying An Apartment: What To Look For
Entering the property market is becoming more difficult than ever thanks to higher interest rates and still high property prices. While prices across the board have seen falls over the past 12 months, property—and especially houses—are still out of the... -
Early Release Of Super: Everything You Need To Know
Superannuation is intended to support you in your retirement so it is only in very limited circumstances that it can be accessed before you retire or reach your preservation age. But that doesn’t mean early access is impossible, and if... -
First Home Super Saver Scheme Explained
There is no doubt that buying into today’s property market is hard, but the government is aiming to help first home buyers through the tax-friendly savings vehicle that is superannuation. The first home super saver scheme (FHSSS) was introduced in... -
Industry Super Funds Explained
When it comes to choosing your superannuation fund, there are several different types of funds to select from, and one of the most popular is industry funds. Industry superannuation funds are the largest fund type by assets under management, holding... -
What Is The Superannuation Guarantee?
Superannuation is designed to provide an income for all Australians in their retirement. And the superannuation guarantee, or SG, is the percentage amount of your salary that all employers are required to pay into your superannuation fund to fund your... -
How Does Buy Now, Pay Later Work?
Buy now, pay later (BNPL) is pretty much exactly what it says on the tin. With BNPL you can take home a purchase on the basis that you will pay for it in a series of instalments. It’s a little... -
How To Manage Your Super In Retirement
The sole purpose of superannuation is to provide members with the financial security to live secure and self-funded lives during retirement. Yet because we spend years of our working lives attempting to maximise the performance of our contributions — and...
Virgin Velocity Vs Qantas Points: How Do They Compare?
How Long Does An International Transfer Take From Australia?
Australian Ethical Super MySuper Review: Features, Pros & Cons
Guide To Super Contributions In Australia
Youi Comprehensive Boat Insurance Review: Features, Pros & Cons
How Does Debt Consolidation Work In Australia?
Which Banks Offer Personal Loans In Australia?
Determined To Retire At 60? Some Super Tips To Help You
My Step-By-Step Guide To Building A Shopify Store From Australia
The Complete Guide To Product Liability Insurance In Australia
How To Send Money To Canada From Australia
Where To Exchange Currency Without Paying Huge Fees
Will The Australian Property Market Crash?