Rick Maggi

5 July 2018

Causes, Health

It's ok not to be ok...

Rick Maggi

5 July 2018

Causes, Health

Phil Waugh is an ambassador of the R U OK campaign, which seeks to encourage all Australians to meaningfully connect with people around them and support anyone struggling with life. He talks about the power of conversations to change lives for the better…

Rick Maggi

4 July 2018

Economics, Educational, Financial Planning, Financial Advice, Investing, Market Risk, Market/Economic Update, Monthly Newsletter/Snapshot, Shares, SMSF, Stats, Strategy, Superannuation, Wealth Accumulation

Strong returns, but storm clouds gather...

Rick Maggi

4 July 2018

Economics, Educational, Financial Planning, Financial Advice, Investing, Market Risk, Market/Economic Update, Monthly Newsletter/Snapshot, Shares, SMSF, Stats, Strategy, Superannuation, Wealth Accumulation

Strong returns, but storm clouds gather...

After reviewing the returns of the last financial year, this note looks at the investment outlook for 2018-19 financial year…

Rick Maggi

3 July 2018

Banking Royal Commission

A Quick Word On The Royal Commission...

Rick Maggi

3 July 2018

Banking Royal Commission

A brief comment from Rick Maggi, Managing Director of Westmount Financial, on the recent findings in the Royal Banking Commission…

Rick Maggi

3 July 2018

Interest Rates, Investing

23 Months Later, Rates Still on Hold...

Rick Maggi

3 July 2018

Interest Rates, Investing

July is the 23rd month that the Reserve Bank has kept interest rates on hold at 1.5%…

Rick Maggi

29 June 2018

Family Finances, Financial Advice, Financial Planning, Goal Setting, Insurance/Risk, Lifestyle, Superannuation, Wills & Estate Planning

So you're starting a family...

Rick Maggi

29 June 2018

Family Finances, Financial Advice, Financial Planning, Goal Setting, Insurance/Risk, Lifestyle, Superannuation, Wills & Estate Planning

Starting a family will bring you plenty of joy, but it will also create many challenges. In addition to possible sleepless nights and changes in your lifestyle, it could also affect you financially…

Rick Maggi

28 June 2018

Interest Rates

Should the RBA raise rates?

Rick Maggi

28 June 2018

Interest Rates

It’s nearly two years since the Reserve Bank of Australia last changed interest rates – when it cut rates to a record low of 1.5% in August 2016. So should they raise rates to prepare households for higher global rates?

Rick Maggi

26 June 2018

Budgeting, Lifestyle, Financial Advice, Financial Planning, Finance

Spend more to save

Rick Maggi

26 June 2018

Budgeting, Lifestyle, Financial Advice, Financial Planning, Finance

The old saying “penny wise, pound foolish” couldn’t ring truer than in today’s throw-away world of overconsumption and excessive production of disposable items…

Rick Maggi

21 June 2018

Economics, Event Driven Update, Taxation

Tax Cuts Passed

Rick Maggi

21 June 2018

Economics, Event Driven Update, Taxation

The Senate has approved the Government's budget promise to progressively cut income tax, with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull welcoming it as a "great day"…

Rick Maggi

20 June 2018

Shares

Australian share market hits a 10-year high

Rick Maggi

20 June 2018

Shares

Australian share market hits a 10-year high

THE Australian share market has hit its highest level in 10 years as gains by the major banks outweigh a sharp drop for Telstra following its announcement of a major restructure…

Global Debt: Be alert, but not alarmed

As global interest rates bottom, concerns about rising inflation and interest rates, quite naturally, come to the fore, particularly in a time where global debt (country, corporate and personal debt) are an all time high. So as investors, retirees and superannuation members, how concerned should we be? AMP’s Dr Shane Oliver gives 7 reasons to be alert, but not alarmed…

Rick Maggi

19 June 2018

Event Driven Update, Investing, Superannuation, Strategy, Trade War

US/China: Circling The Drain

Rick Maggi

19 June 2018

Event Driven Update, Investing, Superannuation, Strategy, Trade War

After months of negotiations, China and the US are on the brink of an all-out trade war. On Friday, the US unveiled a list of $50bn in Chinese goods to target with 25% tariffs, pledging more duties if China retaliated…

Rick Maggi

19 June 2018

Career Advancement, Well Being

Identifying the signs of workplace burnout...

Rick Maggi

19 June 2018

Career Advancement, Well Being

Identifying the signs of workplace burnout...

Stress in the workplace affects 78 per cent of Australians, which has a knock-on effect on productivity and business costs. But identifying the signs of stress and appropriately responding to them can help more employees thrive in the workplace…

Rick Maggi

17 June 2018

Career Advancement, Educational, Financial Stress, Financial Planning, Financial Advice, Financial Planning Assoc, Well Being

Is working more the answer?

Rick Maggi

17 June 2018

Career Advancement, Educational, Financial Stress, Financial Planning, Financial Advice, Financial Planning Assoc, Well Being

When working more means earning more, it makes sense to take that promotion or extra shift to get ahead financially. But when expenses go up and quality of life goes down, is the price you’re paying for longer hours too high?

Rick Maggi

14 June 2018

Superannuation

Super: Which way to go?

Rick Maggi

14 June 2018

Superannuation

A straight forward pros and cons pictorial of the various super options out there. Take a look...