The Aqua Blog — Aqua Wealth
Financial Planning, Mortgage Finance & Life Insurance. With over 100 years combined experience, we've got you covered.
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TECHNOLOGY has made us more interconnected and reduced the importance of geographic distance. It's made gadgets smaller and our handbags and pockets less heavy. But it has also sent some things packing that we will never see again. Our children will never learn the significance a pencil plays to a cassette tape, or sticky tape plays to a VHS. News.com.au has taken a trip down memory lane with the 14 things the web has replaced. Can you feel the nostalgia? 1. The VHS player If your favourite show was on TV but you weren't allowed to stay up past your bed time, you could record it onto a tape. And no one would be able to watch TV that night anyway because you were scared that if you changed the channel it would screw everything up. Although they were bulky and took up room, you only ever needed one. Thanks to a handy...

Learning from the mistakes of others is a great way to become a successful property investor. Here's a list of what to avoid on your way to the top. 1. Putting if off 'Too busy', 'too risky' or 'not the right time in the property cycle' are common excuses for not taking action, but in reality there may never be a perfect time. Live by the slogan 'never put off tomorrow what you can do today'. 2. Not enough research Look at multiple properties and do financial analysis on many properties before committing to buy. Remember the real estate agent is there to sell the property so although they can be a good source of information, don't rely on their word alone. 3. Getting emotionally attached Don't picture yourself living in the property; instead keep your thoughts focused on the big picture: 'can I sell this property at a higher price?'; 'will this property be...

The Reserve Bank of Australia has slashed interest rates to a record low of  2.5 percent at its August board meeting today. The cut is the first since the RBA announced a 25-basis-point cut in May when the Australian dollar was above parity with the greenback. It is also only the second time the rate has been cut during an election campaign. RBA governor Glenn Stevens announced the cut, explaining: "In Australia, the economy has been growing a bit below trend over the past year. This is expected to continue in the near term as the economy adjusts to lower levels of mining investment. "The unemployment rate has edged higher. Recent data confirm that inflation has been consistent with the medium-term target. With growth in labour costs moderating, this is expected to remain the case over the next one to two years, even with the effects of the recent depreciation of the exchange rate." Economists...

If there's one topic that's bound to cause debate, it's whether you are better off buying or renting a home. Although the debate has been around for decades, the climate of low interest rates and rising rents has once again stirred discussion. Numerous studies have attempted to compare the finances of each option but with so many variables to take into account, few studies have been able to reach a substantive conclusion. Comparing like with like is a difficult task when factors such as interest rate charges, rent increases, maintenance costs and appreciation are hard to predict. Assumptions have to be made about how often rents increase, and likewise, any calculations of property purchase has to take into account costs like the deposit, loan establishment fees, property maintenance and strata/council costs. Reasons for Buying Thankfully money is not the only contributing factor in the decision about whether to buy or rent. The most obvious...

The property you want is up for auction and you are determined to buy it. What can you do to ensure yours is the winning bid? 1. Attend at least 12 other auctions It will take at least this many auctions to familiarise yourself with the process, the emotions and atmosphere. It can also help with understanding terminology like 'reserve' and 'vendor' bid, 'on the market' and 'passed in'. 2. Have your finances pre-approved If you win you will need to have the deposit ready to pay straight away. Financial pre-approval is also a good idea because it gives you a clear idea of your borrowing power and helps you set your bidding limit. As your mortgage adviser, we can step you through this process. 3. Make a limit that reflects the property's market value Pre-determine the maximum 'walk away' price you are willing to pay and make a resolve to stick with it....

As our lives become busier and our roads more congested, many buyers are prepared to pay a premium to be within walking distance of transport, shops and amenities. Homes located in 'walkable' suburbs - those with a mix of common daily shopping and social destinations within a short distance - are reported to command a price premium over otherwise similar homes in less walkable areas. Now Australian cities have been ranked by walkscore.com, a popular US website that measures  walkability on a scale from 0 - 100 based on walking routes to destinations such as supermarkets, schools, parks, restaurants and retail. With a 'walk score' of 62, Sydney comes out on top in the ranking of the most walkable Australian cities and suburbs. Melbourne rates a walk score of 56, Adelaide comes in at 53, Brisbane scores 51, Perth scores 50 and Canberra scores 39. Australia's walking culture is thought to have begun with...

[blue]Read this article and more at Dynamic Business[/blue] Australia is one of the most underinsured nations in the developed world in terms of Personal Insurance, and sadly, many small business owners are not much better when it comes to insuring themselves and their businesses. Insurance is all about getting the right balance. “You don’t want to under-insure, which occurs when the amount covered by a policy is less than the value of what’s being insured, but over-insuring is a waste of money and puts unnecessary pressure on your funds. This is why it is helpful to involve an independent broker or consultant who can help you secure the right insurance at the best price,” says Rener Lao, CEO of AccountsTeam. So where do you start?  First, you need to be able to distinguish between which insurances are required by law, which ones are essential in running a business, and which ones are just...

Too often when we criticise we cause offence because our criticism is couched in hostile, nagging or accusing terms. Most people deserve a second or third chance so if you must criticise, make sure you do it in a way that motivates rather than offends. Before you even attempt to discuss another person's failings there are four important questions that you should ask yourself. Do you have your facts straight? What do you hope to achieve? What are the pros and cons of airing the problem? How would you handle the criticism if it were directed at you? If you decide you are justified in making the criticism, it's important to wait until the right moment before airing it, because there is little to be gained from humiliating someone in front of others or adding to their woes if they are already upset. Keep in mind that your goal is to motivate so...

Negative gearing can have significant tax benefits but don't let it be your only motivation for buying an investment property. The property you choose needs to stand on its own merits so that it has the potential to make money in the long term through capital gains. What you want to achieve is a situation where tax rebates and your rental income are used to pay off your home loan, and down the track when your property has increased in value you can sell it at a profit or keep accumulating multiple properties. Indeed, one of the main advantages of negative gearing is that it may let you invest in a more valuable property than you would otherwise have been able to afford using only your cash savings. When using negative gearing, it's important to be prepared for unexpected impacts on your cash flow, such as interest rate rises, unforeseen repairs in your...