Parents naturally want to help their children, even when those ‘kids’ are well in to adulthood. So, when parents see their adult children struggling to get a foothold in Australia’s red-hot property market, many of them lend a hand – so much so, that the so-called Bank of Mum and Dad is now the country’s fifth-largest lender.
Investors remained cautious in September as markets felt the headwinds of rising bond yields, global trade uncertainty and growing debt concerns in Italy.
As a parent and grandparent, it’s only natural that you’d want to share your financial wisdom with your children/grandchildren, to protect them from making the same mistakes you may have.
The September quarter delivered mixed performance across markets around the world with the US stock market posting its strongest quarterly performance since 2013 and Japan delivering a stand out market return on the back of a weakening yen.
Asian markets are facing elevated risk through the contagion effect of the Trade war outcomes between the US and China, mainly through uncertainty that impacts confidence and positive business activity.
The US stock market finished the year with strong momentum, driven by robust global economic growth, healthy company earnings and the passage of President Trump’s tax-reform package in December.
Despite a further rise in global bond yields, continued strength in the US dollar and concerns of escalating trade tensions between the US and China, global stock markets mostly pushed higher in July.
Watch as James Kerr, Head of Asset Allocation for BT Financial Group, gives you his insights into the financial environment, geopolitical tension and the threat of ongoing trade wars and how these may affect the markets in 2018.
Downsizer contributions mean you could consider investing the proceeds of the sale of your family home to your superannuation (if you are eligible). Find out more.