Ask Leon
Ask Leon is where I answer your financial planning and money questions.
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4 for 40: Simple strategies to fine-tune your finances at 40
Turning 40 is a milestone moment and a cause for celebrations – or commiserations, depending on your outlook! Don’t despair if doing this makes you feel financially unprepared for the future – I’ve got four easy strategies to help you fine-tune your finances in your 40s!
Lessons learned from my Dad’s close call
It was the late 1990s and I was in my final year of university when my dad suffered a major and unexpected heart attack. He was 48 years old…
To fix or not to fix?
The 4th of July may have been a national day of celebration for Americans, but they weren’t the only ones kicking up their heels on that particular date this year.
While US citizens were celebrating their constitutional independence, Australian residents were charging their glasses …
Are you at risk of flaming out in retirement?
You spend half your life working hard to make a living. So when the time comes to down tools and put your feet up for a while, you want to be able to afford to live life to the fullest. When Barnesy wrote …
Changes to super that could put your retirement at risk
Have you been meaning to start making contributions to your superannuation fund, but somehow just keep putting it off until later? While you might comfort yourself with the thought there is plenty of time left to…
What can soccer goalies teach us about investing?
Sometimes in life when you’re faced with a tough decision, you’ve just got to go with your gut. Investing is not one of those situations. As humans we have evolved over thousands of years to possess an instinctive…
Why you didn’t get the ASX 300 return last year?
Did you receive your 2016 annual statement earlier in the year and wonder why your super fund’s return failed to match the performance of the ASX 300 Index? With Australia’s benchmark equities index rebounding in 2016…
Do I really need a Financial Adviser?
One of the most common questions I get asked by potential new clients is “Do I really need a financial adviser?” The answer, just like the advice I provide, is tailored to the individual’s specific situation. But consider this: if…
Break in Case of Emergency
Did your mother ever tell you to put something aside for a rainy day? While the value of many home grown wisdoms may be questionable – I’m not sure knocking on wood will do anything other than bruise your knuckles – there is no doubt setting…
Money & Mindfulness
Are you a saver or a spender? Do you see something you want and plan how much you need to put away each week to save up for it? Or is your first impulse to whip out your credit card – and worry about whether you can actually afford it later?…