Mark Bristow

Fewer Australians paying extra into super

The number of Australians paying more than the minimum required amount into their superannuation fund has been on the decline in recent years, leaving more Aussies at risk of an unstable retirement, according to Roy Morgan.

Suncorp raises home loan rates

Suncorp is the latest Australian bank to increase its interest rates on home and small business loans, in response to increased funding costs as well as regulatory changes.

More Aussies considering new cars with alternative fuels

More Australians have made plans to buy a new car this year, according to Roy Morgan. But as well as considering the costs of car loans and financing for their new vehicles a growing number of Aussies are also considering vehicles with alternative fuel supplies.

App-using bank customers more likely to share the love

Do you mostly do your banking on an app? If you do, you may be more likely to be satisfied with your bank, and more likely to recommend their services to a friend, according to a new study.

DIY super making money for the wealthy, leading to losses for battlers

Australians wanting to take a “do it yourself” approach to their superannuation may be better served by a self-managed super fund (SMSF) if they already have healthy retirement savings available, while those with smaller super balances may not get the best returns from a SMSF, according to a new report.

Home buyers overlooking property problems

Nearly one in four Australian home buyers has experienced buyer’s remorse after purchasing their property, with a significant percentage overlooking potentially expensive issues when inspecting their property, according to new research from ME Bank.

Bank super returns lag behind not-for-profit funds

If your superannuation is held by a bank-owned fund, the value of your retirement savings may not have grown at the same rate as a not-for-profit fund, according to new data.

Is your home loan in one of Australia's top performing suburbs?

If you have a mortgage in Cockatoo, Victoria, your investment may be performing well, according to CoreLogic. The town in the Dandenong Ranges has topped the new CoreLogic Top Performing Suburbs Report, based on its consistent capital growth, and leads a strong contingent of Victorian towns and suburbs.

First home buyers taking the place of property investors

The investors abandoning the Australian housing market are being replaced by first home buyers, according to the Housing Industry Association (HIA).

Could interest rate rises put Australia's economy in mortgage stress?

The risk that household debt and mortgage stress represents to Australia’s wider financial stability may be smaller than expected, according to the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), though a percentage of owner occupiers and investors could be impacted by changes to economic conditions, with the risk to investors expected to increase over the coming years.