While less and less people use cash, for many seniors, uncomfortable using debit or credit cards, banking online or simply fearful of potential scams, it remains the payment system of choice.
With no cure in sight, and the WHO predicting increasing cases of dementia as the population ages, it is critical society becomes more adept at dealing with this illness, especially with research showing many of those afflicted can respond positively to myriad activities and the right living environment.
While a surging gold price is on hold as the world adjusts to a Trump presidency, all the factors that saw its price rise more than 50 per during his first term in office – trade disputes, fiscal deficits and geopolitical tensions – are almost certainly guaranteed the second time around.
Beating the market benchmark is never easy, with 72 per cent of Australian actively managed global equity general funds trailing the S&P World Index in the six months to June 30, 2024. Domestic equity funds performed slightly better, albeit against a significantly lower bar set by the S&P/ASX 200 Index.
History suggests that economics, not politics, has the biggest influence on markets. But that thesis could be tested when the 78-year-old Republican returns to the White House with a suite of proposals that will have implications for geopolitics, globalisation and financial markets.
Older Australians are the beneficiaries of a Services Australia initiative that has greatly improved service delivery for a wide range of government benefits.
With many economists expecting the Reserve Bank to start cutting interest rates in early 2025, returns on term deposits could feel the pinch. Private credit is an alternative, but those pursuing this investment option will need to do their homework – thoroughly.
Gold stocks have long appealed to market aficionados, and there’s no shortage of choice with 185 miners publicly listed. To assess what’s value, and what’s not, there are some key metrics to help sort the wheat from the chaff.
Merchants’ card payment costs and surcharges are hurting seniors in their wallets and purses, especially as cash transactions dwindle. This could be set to change with two powerful statutory bodies setting inquiries into motion.
Fixed interest investment by the SMSF sector has been akin to oil and water, comprising a miniscule one per cent of the sector’s net assets. But a growing cohort of these investors are slowly finding the fees, flexibility and returns can make debt a compelling investment story.