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Investing can be one of the most powerful ways to build long-term wealth, create financial security and work towards the lifestyle you want in the future.
But investing successfully is not about chasing hot tips, reacting to headlines or trying to predict exactly what markets will do next. It is about understanding the fundamentals, having a clear strategy and making informed decisions over time.
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A year into retirement, something had changed.
The novelty of waking without an alarm had faded. The long-awaited holiday had been taken. The jobs around the house that had accumulated over twenty years were slowly disappearing from the list.
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Estate planning is often treated as something to deal with later in life. A task for retirement. A legal document to sign, file away and hopefully not think about again for many years.
But good estate planning is far more meaningful than that.
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For many business owners, Business Activity Statements can feel like just another administrative task competing for attention.
But BAS mistakes can create unnecessary stress, disrupt cash flow and make it harder to understand the true financial position of your business.
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We often think about wellbeing in terms of what we eat, how much we exercise and whether we are getting enough sleep.
But there is another part of wellbeing that can be just as important.
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Forget Bali, Fiji and the Maldives. If your family has reached the stage where the kids are adults and everyone is craving something a little more adventurous, it might be time to look somewhere most Australians have barely heard of.
Welcome to São Tomé & Príncipe — two tiny volcanic islands floating in the Gulf of Guinea, off the west coast of Africa.
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Financial stability doesn’t usually come by chance; it requires preparation and strategy. Most of us depend on a steady paycheck, but few consider what would happen if it disappeared suddenly.
Protecting yourself against financial disaster means planning ahead.
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Superannuation is an essential part of planning for retirement in Australia. For most people, it quietly grows in the background through employer contributions and investment earnings.
But did you know there’s more than one way to manage your super? While most Australians are in a conventional super fund, others choose to take more control with a Self-Managed Super Fund (SMSF).
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Getting your first job is an exciting and stressful time. Kids don’t always know what to do or how to act. Giving them some advice can help them get off to a good start.
Explain that they’ve already gotten through the hard part. They made it through the interview and someone decided they had the qualities they wanted in a new employee. Now, they just need to get through the first day. Below are some tips you can give them to make their first day more successful.
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Global share markets mostly rose over the last week helped by strong US economic data, a return of AI optimism and renewed hopes for a diplomatic solution to the Strait of Hormuz blockage. For the week US shares rose 1.2%, Eurozone shares rose 0.8% and Japanese shares rose 2.1% but Chinese shares fell 1.5%. The Australian share market remained under pressure falling around another 0.8% not helped by ongoing expectations for RBA rate hikes on top of worries about the impact of rising oil prices, rising bond yields which act as a drag on share market valuations and falling property prices. The falls in the ASX 200 were led by utility, telco, energy and bank shares.
Source: Macrobond, AMP
Expert insights and commentary from the Russell Investments Team
How advisers can help Gen X manage financial pressure
Our 2026 Value of an Adviser research found Gen X was the least confident generation about achieving their long-term financial goals. Neil Rogan looks at how financial advisers can help them make clearer financial choices across competing priorities.
Webinar recording: AI is changing active management. Is your investment partner ready?
Our U.S. colleagues discussed how AI is being applied across active management and manager research, and what this evolution could mean for institutional portfolios. They looked at how AI can help investment teams analyse more information, uncover deeper insights and develop a more forward-looking view of risks and opportunities—while keeping human expertise and judgement at the centre.
Multi-manager investing: Good portfolio management or closet indexing?
By combining differentiated managers, investors may reduce dependence on any single manager, investment style, or return pattern while maintaining the potential for excess returns and more consistent outcomes over time. Our article puts the closet indexing myth to the test.
A hawkish hike from the RBA to 4.6% - this is likely the top, but the risk of another hike is very high
The key points are:
As widely expected, the RBA hikes 0.25% to 4.6%, as upside risks to inflation have “materialised.”
The RBA retained a tightening bias noting that inflation Is “still too high” and that it will do what it considers necessary to achieve its mandate, “including increasing the cash rate target further if needed”.
Our base case is that rates have peaked as the RBA has likely now done enough to weaken demand sufficiently to push inflation back to target by the end of next year.
But with inflation being above target for five of the last six years the RBA is likely to retain a tightening bias for a while to come, so the risk of another rate hike is very high.
Advice Evolution & Fintegrity Newsletter
Stay up-to-date with the tips, news and updates from Advice Evolution and Fintegrity’s latest newsletter.
Don’t let tax catch you out: 5 things to keep in mind
BAS matters: Why being organised and on time is good for business
Investing with confidence: Understanding the fundamentals and the value of advice
Moneysmart Tips: Cash settlements | Private credit| Accessing super early
An ASIC report has revealed that accepting a cash settlement on a home insurance claim may leave you exposed to higher repair costs. Approximately two-thirds of ASIC-reviewed home insurance claims involved a full or partial cash settlement, with more than half those settlement offers being based on just one quote.
Below, we outline how cash settlements work, the pros and cons, and what to do if you’re not happy with the settlement amount offered.
Private credit in the spotlight
The current funding challenges for development and construction group Bathla have highlighted some of the risks associated with investing in private credit. In June, ASIC warned that the private credit sector overall was facing its first real test. Below is a simple explainer on how investing in private credit works and what to know before you invest.
The scoop on super withdrawals
Early access to superannuation is also in the news right now. If you’re thinking about taking money out of super early, we outline how to check your eligibility.
Cash settlements should not short-change homeowners
If your insurer offers a cash settlement instead of organising repairs, it's important to understand what you're agreeing to.
Choosing home insurance
Home insurance protects one of your most important assets. It’s worth spending some time to check your policy is right for you.
How private credit works
Private credit is often promoted to investors as providing regular, steady payments. But it carries risk.
Complex investment products: Understand what you’re investing in
Online trading can make it easy to invest in financial products that may be more complex than you realise. From futures contracts to CFDs to exchange-traded options, read our series of explainer articles before you invest.
When you can access your super early
There are several reasons you may be able to access your super early, but there are strict rules around it.
Accessing your super from age 60
Learn when you can generally access your super (excluding early access) and what you can do with it.
The Fed looks like it’s going to hike – implications for investors & Australia
The key points are:
The Fed is likely to start raising interest rates to combat sticky inflation and affirm its credibility.
First Fed rate hikes in a tightening cycle don’t normally signal the end of the bull market in shares but are consistent with volatility and the risk of a correction.
A Fed hike is unlikely to impact the RBA which started hiking before the Fed & was already likely to hike again this month.
Oliver's Insights: The super cycle bear market in bonds and the return of “bond vigilantes” – implications for investors
The key points are:
Bond yields are being pushed higher by concerns about inflation, high public debt, rising corporate borrowing, rising Japanese bond yields and increasing economic uncertainty.
This is part of a super cycle rise in bond yields that started in 2020, partly reversing the super cycle from the 1980s.
The rising trend in bond yields could dampen other asset classes as it leads to a higher yield structure in the economy. This includes residential property.
Cash settlements | Private credit | Accessing Super early
An ASIC report has revealed that accepting a cash settlement on a home insurance claim may leave you exposed to higher repair costs. Approximately two-thirds of ASIC-reviewed home insurance claims involved a full or partial cash settlement, with more than half those settlement offers being based on just one quote.
Below, we outline how cash settlements work, the pros and cons, and what to do if you’re not happy with the settlement amount offered.
Private credit in the spotlight
The current funding challenges for development and construction group Bathla have highlighted some of the risks associated with investing in private credit. In June, ASIC warned that the private credit sector overall was facing its first real test. Below is a simple explainer on how investing in private credit works and what to know before you invest.
The scoop on super withdrawals
Early access to superannuation is also in the news right now. If you’re thinking about taking money out of super early, we outline how to check your eligibility.
Advice Evolution & Fintegrity News Update
Compound interest and returns are an investor’s best friend
If there is “one thing” investors should know about investing, it’s the power of compound interest or returns. In the ever-rising obsession with short-term developments impacting investment markets around the economy, interest rates, profits, politics, etc, it’s often forgotten about.
Key points
Compound interest is an investor’s best friend but can be a borrower’s worst nightmare.
The higher the return, the earlier and bigger the investment contribution and the longer the period the more it works.
To make the most of it, ensure an adequate exposure to growth assets, contribute early & often to your investment portfolio and turn down the noise around investing.
Taxation, cash flow and the value of good accounting advice
For many business owners, profit is the headline number. But in day-to-day business, cash flow is often what keeps the doors open.
A business can be profitable on paper and still experience financial pressure if customers are slow to pay, tax obligations are underestimated, expenses arrive at the wrong time or too much cash is tied up in stock and equipment.
Your money has a Job: Make it work harder
Most of us work hard for our money. We earn it, save it, spend it and hopefully put some aside for the future. But there comes a point when saving alone may not be enough.
Your money can have a job too.
Wellbeing: Investing in the life you want to live
Wellbeing is one of those things we often take for granted until something feels out of balance.
We can become so focused on work, finances, family responsibilities and the never-ending list of things that need to be done that looking after ourselves quietly slips down the priority list.
Caring for ageing parents: Why planning and advice matter
Caring for an ageing parent can be one of the most important roles you ever take on. It can also become one of the most complicated.
For many families, it doesn’t happen overnight. It starts with helping Mum with shopping, taking Dad to a medical appointment, paying a bill online or checking that everything is okay at home.
Eight weeks of extraordinary: A journey for two
For couples approaching retirement, there is a particular pleasure in travelling while time, curiosity and a little indulgence are all on your side.
Eight weeks is long enough to go beyond the highlights, yet short enough to keep the journey exciting.
Life after work: Finding the right time to retire
For much of our working lives, retirement can feel like a distant destination. Then suddenly, it becomes a very real decision.
Do you retire at 60? 65? 67? Keep working part-time? Finish when the mortgage is paid off? Or wait until your superannuation reaches a certain figure?
Estate planning beyond the will: What happens to your digital life?
Most of us understand the importance of having a Will. It can help determine what happens to our property, investments and possessions and provide greater certainty for the people we leave behind.
But modern estate planning may need to go much further.
Will your digital memories survive? 10 tips for protecting your photos and home videos
We take more photos and videos today than any generation before us.
Birthdays, holidays, weddings, grandchildren, pets, family gatherings and everyday moments are captured almost constantly. Yet there is an interesting contradiction: while we probably have more photographs than our parents and grandparents ever did, there is no guarantee those memories will survive as long.
Life insurance: Protecting the people who matter most
Life insurance is one of those financial topics many people know is important, yet often put off thinking about.
It can be uncomfortable to consider what might happen if you were no longer around, became seriously ill or were unable to work for an extended period.
Advice Evolution & Fintegrity Newsletter
Stay up-to-date with the tips, news and updates from Advice Evolution and Fintegrity’s latest newsletter.
From business owner to entrepreneur: The habits that drive long-term success
The top 5 tax mistakes small business owners make
Direct shares or managed funds: What is the difference?
Oliver's Insights: The economics of happiness – why it’s been falling and what to do about it?
The key points are:
Despite rising in GDP per person over the last 20 years, surveyed measures of happiness have been flat to falling.
Key drivers are likely to be rising expectations, the rise of social media and falling housing affordability.
It may be driving the rise of extreme political parties.
Some suggest we are on an “hedonic treadmill” and want a broader policy focus on something like Gross National Happiness, but by suppressing individual freedom and achievement which could in turn depress happiness.
Advice Evolution & Fintegrity News Update
Understanding the taxation of shares: Why your accountant matters
Investing in shares can be an effective way to build long-term wealth, but it also brings tax obligations that every investor should understand.
Defining your retirement dream
After years of work and responsibilities, retirement offers the freedom to pursue what matters most. Discover how to turn your retirement vision into reality.
Understanding life insurance, TPD, trauma and income protection
Your ability to earn an income may be your most valuable asset. Learn how personal insurance can help protect you and your loved ones from life's unexpected events.
Greece and Italy: A mediterranean journey to remember
From Greece's island charm to Italy's rich art and history, discover two iconic destinations that offer unforgettable experiences at every turn.
Setting up and securing a business: Seven questions to ask your legal professional
The legal decisions you make when starting a business can have lasting consequences. Discover seven key questions that can help you build a strong foundation from the outset.
Renovate, move or build? Choosing the right way to change your home
When your home no longer suits your lifestyle, deciding whether to renovate, relocate or build can be challenging. Explore the key factors to help you choose the option that's right for you.
5 steps you can integrate into your life for greater happiness
Happiness is shaped by the choices we make each day. Discover five simple steps that can help improve wellbeing and create a more fulfilling life.
Investment markets and key developments – Weekly market update 24/07/2026
Global markets experienced another volatile week, driven by geopolitical tensions, shifting interest rate expectations and ongoing uncertainty around technology stocks. Read the latest market insights and key developments.
Source: Macrobond, AMP
Labor backs super boost for youngest Aussie workers
Proposed changes could allow all workers under 18 to receive superannuation contributions on every dollar earned, regardless of hours worked. Find out what the changes could mean for young Australians.
Can you spot an AI scam?
Scammers are using generative AI to create convincing fake websites, celebrity endorsements and investment platforms at an unprecedented scale. ASIC is warning Australians that a quick online search is not enough to verify an investment opportunity.
In the last financial year alone, ASIC took down more than 19,400 scams, including:
• 7,051 fake investment platforms
• 3,106 cryptocurrency investment scams
• 5,476 phishing scam hyperlinks
Explore our interactive AI investment scam journey to see how a single scam can spread across the web and learn the warning signs to watch for.
This week is Scams Awareness Week and an opportunity for everyone talk more openly about scams and how to stay safe. Scams are serious crimes and anyone can become a victim.
What to do if you've been scammed
If you think you may have been scammed, act fast to minimise the loss.
Stop. Check. Protect.
Australians reported losing more than $837 million to investment scams in 2025 and anyone can be a victim. Use our investment scam checklist before you hand over your money.
Explore an AI investment scam journey
Scammers use generative AI to create vast networks of deepfake websites and endorsements. Know how to check if an investment is real.
Spot the signs of a crypto scam
During FY26, ASIC took down more than 3,000 cryptocurrency investment scams. Learn how crypto scams work and how to spot the signs.
4 ways your super might be targeted
The $4.4 trillion in superannuation funds is a ripe target for scammers. Those scams can take several different forms.
ASIC’s investor alert list has the names of more than 4,000 companies, businesses and websites that may be unlicensed or impersonating a real company or licensee.
Oliver's insights: Why investors need to treat forecasts with caution
The key points are:
The increasing noise around investing – associated with a messier economic and geopolitical backdrop along with an explosion in information flow and the rise of social media – is arguably accentuating a desire for investment experts (or “influencers”) to show us the way with forecasts.
But while forecasts are often seen as central to investing, they should be treated with caution and are no substitute for having a disciplined approach to investing.
The real value in investment experts – at least the good ones – is to provide an understanding of the issues and to put things in context to help avoid making silly mistakes.
Oliver's insights: Another hawkish RBA hold at 4.35% – expect one more hike later this year
The key points are:
The RBA left the cash rate on hold at 4.35% for the second meeting in a row. Some softer than expected readings for underlying inflation, jobs and home prices allowed it to remain in wait and see mode as it “assesses” the impact of the three rate hikes earlier this year.
However, the RBA retained a tightening bias noting that inflation Is “still too high” and is likely to remain so for “some time” and that it will do what it considers necessary to bring inflation back to target, “including increasing the cash rate further”, but with no reference to cutting.
We expect a further rate hike in November because underlying inflation is likely to take too long to fall to target and the RBA will need to do more to boost its credibility.
The post meeting statement had 16 references to inflation and just 2 references to the labour market – which reinforces where the RBA’s concerns are at present.
Moneysmart Tips: Two recent ASIC reports have highlighted hip-pocket issues for Australians.
A review released today found many Australians are being left in the dark about rising car insurance costs. Premiums increased by 8% in the year to July 2025, after rising more than 42% between 2019 and 2024. ASIC found insurers often do not clearly explain what's driving these increases or how consumers can reduce their premiums. Below we explain what you can do.
Read the full report here.
ASIC has also found banks paid more than $55 million in compensation for mortgage offset account failures over a recent two-year period, with further compensation expected. Millions of Australians rely on offset accounts to reduce their home loan costs.
Is your mortgage offset account working for you? Click here to find out more.
Australia’s high inflation is troubling
Australia's consumer inflation remains persistently high, continuing to put pressure on households and the broader economy.
In this client-friendly update, Senior Economist Bob Cunneen explains why borrowers and investors should be prepared for the possibility of another interest rate rise later this year.
Read full article
Moneysmart July Newsletter
Pump and dump scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, with ASIC warning investors to treat unsolicited stock tips shared via WhatsApp, Telegram, or social media as potential scams. This article explains how these scams work, key warning signs to watch for, and highlights recent changes to income tax and superannuation from 1 July, along with tips for starting the new financial year positively.
A hot share tip could cost you more than money
How to spot the signs of and protect yourself against a pump and dump scheme.
Investment platform pros and cons
ASIC recently identified gaps in how some super fund platforms monitor high-risk switching activity. Learn how investment platforms work to make informed decisions.
Australia’s high inflation is troubling
Inflation remains above the Reserve Bank of Australia's target range, continuing to place pressure on household budgets. Rising costs across food, healthcare, housing and energy are contributing to ongoing cost-of-living challenges, while global events and higher fuel prices add further uncertainty. With inflation remaining persistent, there is also the possibility of further interest rate increases in the months ahead.
Why have Australian living standards “fallen” and how do we fix it?
The key points are:
Falling real wages and a surge in tax and interest payments over the last five years have led to a slump in Australians’ living standards.
But a broader driver of the malaise in living standards has been a slump in productivity growth from over 2% pa in the 1990s to near zero since 2016.
Amongst other things this has led to a worse growth/inflation trade-off than was the case prior to the pandemic and higher than otherwise RBA interest rates.
Key policies to boost productivity growth include: tax reform; reducing the size of the public sector; deregulation; greater incentives to invest; and competition reforms.