Mark Bristow

Can you find your bank account number online?

If your bank offers online services, you should be able to find your bank account number online by logging into your account on your bank’s website and checking your details there.

Why this could be the time to invest in solar

The cost of living is high and rising, with energy bills playing a significant role. With this in mind, could the potential financial benefits of a solar power system be worth the installation costs?  

Investing in serviced apartments

Buying an investment property can let you benefit from both rental yields and capital growth, though there’s always a risk that there could be periods where your property fails to attract tenants. Investing in serviced apartments could potentially help to offset this risk, as someone else will be managing the tenants for you, though there are other complications to consider.

What is a home insurance premium?

Your home insurance premium is what you pay your insurance provider for covering your home under their home insurance policy. It is calculated based on the type of coverage you choose for your home as well as any additional coverage you buy for either your possessions or specific incidents. Your premium can either be paid annually or in smaller instalments.

What do mortgage brokers do?

Mortgage brokers are finance professionals who help borrowers organise home loans with lenders. As such, they act as middlemen between borrowers and lenders.

Do Buy Now Pay Later companies run a credit check?

Not all Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) companies run a credit check when you sign up for memberships, and these checks may not always affect your credit score. However, your BNPL activity could still make an impact on your credit history, which could affect your chances of seeing future credit applications approved. 

Some of the best home loans in November 2022

The November 2022 meeting of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Board saw the national cash rate increase by 25 basis points, bringing it to 2.85% - the highest level since April 2013. And with inflation now expected to peak at 8 per cent by the end of 2022, the RBA has indicated that more rate hikes are coming. 

Does car insurance cover driving while intoxicated?

Will your car insurance pay out if drunk driving causes an accident? Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is illegal, however some insurers may still offer cover within the limits of their policy.

5 ways to protect yourself from fraud

With high-profile data breaches in the news and the RBA describing cyber-attacks as a significant threat to Australia’s economic stability, it’s easy to feel concerned about the safety of your personal information. Criminals with access to your details could steal your identity, fraudulently run up debts in your name, and ruin your credit score, making accessing money and credit in the future much harder.

How do you pay off credit cards?

Credit card debt can quickly spiral out of control if you’re not careful. If you can’t clear your balance on time, interest charges will increase how much you’ll need to pay. As time passes, interest may start being charged on your interest charges, and before long you could find yourself unable to pay enough off your debt to keep it from growing further.