Each stage of life holds unique financial opportunities – but to take advantage of them, someone needs to let you in on the secrets of how they work and what they can do for you.
This article takes you on a journey through five financial phases of life so you can unlock the financial secrets to benefit your wealth.
From the magic of compounding interest for young adults to saving strategies for single life. The importance of insurance for the family guy to how to supercharge your super before retirement and finally, vital investing strategies for your golden years.
One of the keys to financial success is to adopt the right strategy at the right time. Here are some tried and tested ‘secrets’ that will help you build and protect your wealth as you move through these stages of life.
Teens and young adults
Time is on your side, so get saving. Through the magic of compound interest, a little bit invested now can grow into a big amount over time.
Most young people don’t want to think about life in 50 years’ time, but if a 15-year-old starts saving just $10 per week into an investment returning 5 per cent pa (after fees and tax), when they turn 65 their total outlay of $26,000 will have grown to over $116,000.
Contributing those savings to a tax-favoured vehicle such as superannuation may provide an even higher final return on investment.
Single life
Saving is still a key strategy as careers are established, but usually with a shorter timeframe and a specific purpose in mind – buying a home, for example.
This is a time when savings strategies can be brought undone by the allure of desirable things and the ease with which one can go into debt.
Take care not to indulge in too many luxuries, and avoid taking on any high interest debt, such as credit cards. Rather, commit to the rather boring, but highly effective ‘secret’ of working out a budget and sticking to it.
Family focus
The time of kids and mortgages is also the time of peak responsibility. It’s likely that your most valuable asset is your ability to earn an income, and illness, disability or death could deprive you and your family of that income.
The financial consequences of each of these possibilities can be managed with a blend of income protection, total and permanent disability, trauma and life insurances.
Preparing for retirement
With offspring launched into the world and earning capacity often at a peak, a wealth of opportunities open up for pre-retirees.
By all means, enjoy some lifestyle spending, but don’t forget to supercharge your super in anticipation of a long retirement.
For additional tax benefits, salary sacrifice contributions may be of benefit.
In times of normal interest rates, using surplus income to pay off any outstanding home loans is often recommended.
However, when interest rates are very low, investing spare income into super and leaving debt repayments until later may deliver a better outcome.
Golden years
Australians are up there with the leaders when it comes to enjoying long and healthy retirements. That means retirement savings need to last, so:
a) Don’t go too hard too fast when it comes to spending your hard-earned super; and
b): Don’t invest too conservatively, particularly in times of ultra-low interest rates.
On the plus side, if you’ve employed the above secrets in each phase of life, you should be in good shape to enjoy a long, financially comfortable retirement.
Financial secrets don’t have to be secrets. Speak to one of our expert financial advisors about a financial strategy to suit your lifestyle. No matter what phase of life you’re in, it’s never too early to start.
General Advice Disclaimer:
This information has been provided as general advice. We have not considered your financial circumstances, needs or objectives. You should consider the appropriateness of the advice. You should obtain and consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and seek the assistance of an authorised financial adviser before making any decision regarding any products or strategies mentioned in this communication.