For many of us, 2020 is the year we’d rather forget! But with the festive season fast approaching, it seems fitting to celebrate the end of a particularly tough year in a meaningful way. If the thought of dusting off the decorations or hosting a lavish feast is something you’d rather not think too much about, take heart and check out these 3 simple ways to make this festive season more meaningful.

With the end of year in sight and a number of lenders offering cashback, rebates and special deals, there’s never been a better time to review your home loan or apply for a first home loan. To help you make an informed decision about your future finances, here are some of the offers currently in market.

Despite a lengthy lockdown in Victoria and the ongoing battle against COVID, all signs are pointing towards a more positive economic outcome than previously anticipated. Mortgage deferrals are down as more homeowners return to repaying their mortgage, unemployment in certain regions appears to be recovering to pre-COVID levels, and a new report has highlighted opportunities that some industries could capitalise on in the years to come.

Most people don’t like to think about making a Will or what will happen when they pass. But an effective Will is an important legal document that needs serious consideration. Without a Will, your assets will be distributed according to state law, which may not be in line with your wishes. So that you understand the importance of a Will and how to write one, take a look at these 5 things to consider when preparing a Will.

Earlier this month, the Federal Government handed down the 2020/2021 budget, which outlined a range of measures designed to get the economy moving again post-COVID-19. Amongst those measures announced were new write-offs for businesses and an additional 10,000 places in the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme, good news for many Australians. Below are some of the key measures of the 20-21 budget and what these might mean for you.

A surge in cyber-attacks, particularly in the financial sector, has been attributed to the recent shift to remote working and digital banking in response to the COVID-19 crisis. While most financial institutions have developed “good cyber risk awareness and mitigation measures”, it’s a timely reminder for anyone accessing online services just how important it is to be aware of cyber-safety. Here’s how you can protect yourself from cyber-attacks.

Every time you apply for credit, spend using credit, or make (or miss) a repayment on a loan or a utility bill, you influence your credit score. In turn, your credit score is used by lenders to determine whether or not to give you more credit. That’s why keeping a good credit score is so important. It can mean the difference between an approval or a decline next time you apply for a loan. So, when did you last check your credit score? And do you know how creditworthy you are?

In the wake of COVID-19, banks have changed the way they interact with customers, including how they do lending. A number of key innovations include things like online mortgage applications, video calls instead of face to face meetings, and electronic documentation rather than the usual paper-based option. Find out here how obtaining a mortgage has changed in recent months and what you can expect when you apply for your next home loan.

Thousands of Australian mortgage holders took up the offer of a mortgage repayment deferral when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March 2020. Since then, banks have deferred approx. 780,000 Home Loans, totaling a massive $236Bn. The big question now is what happens to those mortgages when the six-month deferral was meant to run out in September this year?

With Financial Year End just around the corner, it’s a good time to start preparing for tax time. If you worked from home during the COVID-19 pandemic, there are some tax deductible expenses you may be able to claim. Tax concessions for small businesses have also changed so it’s important you understand these. Here are 5 handy tips to help you prepare for tax time.