Ridgway Financial Services

Quick Summary The official cash rate dropped to 1.00% as: ·          Consumer price inflation hovers around 1.3%; ·          The Australian dollar fell to 70.01c US; and ·          Unemployment dropped to 5.2%.   The recently published ANZ-CoreLogic Housing Affordability Report shows how housing affordability and Reserve Bank announcements are linked . Despite being released in June, prior to the Reserve’s announcement that they were dropping the official cash rate to 1.00%, data published in the report signifies how housing affordability is a crucial driver of monetary policy. According to the report, factors that have eroded housing affordability in Australia include interest rates and inflation, along with financial deregulation. However, the report notes that housing affordability is its best since 2016, and this improvement sign...

Quick summary The official cash rate dropped to 1.25 as: ·          Consumer price inflation hovers around 1.2%; ·          The Australian dollar fell to 69.12c; ·          Unemployment increased to 5.2%; ·          Housing price declines stabilise; and ·          Home lending continues to cool. Unemployment Rise Forces Rate Drop The Coalition winning the Australian federal election not only came as a surprise, but it also meant that Australian’s dodged unwanted negative gearing changes. A move that many financial and property experts have said would have a profound impact on housing investment. Given this unexpected result, consumer confidence has improved. But despite this unemployment rates rose, forcing the Reserve Bank to drop...

When you’re exploring aged care options for a loved one, the process can seem overwhelming. Here’s how to make it a bit easier. Choosing when to place an elderly relative into a retirement home may be one of the toughest decisions you have to make. And while you want your loved one to be as comfortable as possible in their final years, it’s also important to be financially prepared. With so many choices available and so many decisions to make, it helps to break down the process into a series of steps. And remember, when the time comes to begin your own aged care journey, you’ll want to be ready – so the sooner you start planning, the better. Step 1. Finding the right place The first step is to have your loved one’s needs assessed to determine the right level of care – from semi-independent living to round-the-clock nursing. Free assessments are conducted by community- or hospital-based Aged Care Assessment Teams. You should also consider any additional services your relat...