Uncategorized Archives - Page 35 of 53

14/01/20

From George Lucas, Raiz CEO

Markets react to US-Iran tensions

There has been significant market drama to begin the new year, including hefty swings in oil and havens such as gold, largely on the back of escalating tensions between Iran and the US.

For instance, in the wake of Iran’s recent missile strikes on US forces in Iraq, Brent crude posted a peak-to-trough drop of almost 9 per cent, sending crude back to near $65 a barrel.

However, for investors, despite the recent rising US-Iran tensions initially sparked by the killing of Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani, it remains important to focus on long-term strategy.

Lessons from the US-China trade war

The ongoing US-China trade war is a case in point here. Over the past 18 months, while the US and China have played out a protracted trade war, there have been regular bouts of weakness in equity and bond markets. Buying in these dips has been rewarding.

We must also acknowledge the crucial role played by very supportive central banks against a backdrop of low government bond yields and interest rates at present. In such an environment, with interest rates so low, if you sell out of equities it can be difficult to decide where to put your money.

This context also applies to the current geopolitical stoush between the US and Iran. In short, asset allocation committees need to be convinced that a pullback in equities is a longer-term correction given the limited upside from holding expensive bonds that provide meagre fixed rates of interest.

It should also be noted that, in practice, the risk that Iran attacks oil shipments in the Strait of Hormuz is low given that China — one of the few friends Tehran has — derives nearly half of its crude imports from the region.

Indeed, according to Bloomberg, less than 5 percent of the 16.5 million barrels a day of crude and condensate oil that flowed through Hormuz last year went to US refineries, making Iranian action there as a move against the US of little utility.

US Federal Reserve’s balance sheet expands

In other news, the US Fed has started to expand its balance sheet once more, with its most recent monetary stimulus spree taking its balance sheet close to its all-time high of $4.5 trillion. This has caused recent weakness in the US dollar and has been boosting prices of US equities.

The weakness of the US dollar will be closely watched by the RBA here and increases the likelihood of a cut in official interest rates here in Australia.

Finally, 2020 is an election year in the US. Given this, the last thing US President Donald Trump will want is protracted volatility in oil prices that dents consumer and business confidence.

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Important Note: The information on this website is provided for the use of licensed financial advisers only. The information is general advice and does not take into account any person’s particular investment objectives, financial situation or investment needs. If you are an investor, you should consult your licensed adviser before acting on any information contained in this website.

Investors only: The information in this Document is confidential it must not be reproduced, distributed or disclosed to any other person unless it is part of their statement of advice. The information may be based on assumptions or market conditions and may change without notice. This may impact the accuracy of the information. In no circumstances is the information in this Document to be used by, or presented to, a person for the purposes of making a decision about a financial product or class of products.

General advice warning: The information contained in this Document is general information only. It has been prepared without taking account any potential investors’ financial situation, objectives or needs and the appropriateness of this information needs to be considered in that context. No responsibility or liability is accepted by Instreet or any third party who has contributed to this Document for any of the information contained herein or for any action taken by you or any of your officers, employees, agents or associates.

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When it comes to starting out investing, it’s critical that you know the basics before jumping in, including getting across the difference between stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

The concepts may seem tricky at first, but both stocks and ETFs are at their essence investment vehicles that can give you a way to begin investing. Here are a few more things you should know about these common products as you look to build your portfolio.

What exactly are ETFs?

Stocks and ETFs have some similarities. They both are traded on the stock market in Australia, their prices move up and down and they are linked to the performance of companies. Even so, it’s key to appreciate that stocks and ETFs are different in many ways.

ETFs, one of the fastest growing investment products in the world, are comprised of baskets of different types of investments that are pooled together into a single entity, with each share of an ETF giving its owner a proportional stake in the total assets of the ETF.

Although an ETF is a type of investment fund that can be bought and sold on a securities exchange market, like a stock, many of them are described as “’passive” investments. Passive ETFs commonly track a market index and do not try to outperform the market. Hence, they will tend to go up or down in value in line with the index they are tracking.

How are ETFs different from stocks?

Stocks don’t work like this. Think about what a stock tracks — a single company. That’s because a stock is a type of investment that represents an ownership share in one company. So, when you by a company’s stock, you’re purchasing a small piece of that specific company not a share in a proportional stake in the total assets of a fund.

These differences bear on the volatility of both investment types. For instance, when it comes to individual stocks, they can be impacted by things like a bad report, negative profit guidance or even the appointment of a new chief executive. By contrast, ETFs tend to be less volatile than an individual stock because of the diversity involved in the fund.

Are ETFs or stocks better for me?

What product you choose depends on your particular financial circumstances and risk tolerance. A big upside of ETFs is that is that you don’t need to have heaps of money to invest and each share in an ETF gives you exposure to a diversified portfolio of investments.

Another plus is that there are ETFs that cover nearly the whole range of available investment assets in the financial markets. While stock ETFs are most common, there are also funds that target many other asset classes like bonds or commodities.

ETFs are popular with millennials

It’s for these reasons that more millennials are being drawn to ETFs. Indeed, industry research has shown that over 90 per cent of millennials now choose ETFs as their investment vehicle of choice, a rapid rise over the past decade.

The popularity of ETFs among those aged 18-35 is likely due to a mix of factors. For instance, younger investors may opt for growth ETF portfolios to aim for higher potential returns of around 10 per cent per annum if they do not need to access the money for several years.

There’s also the rise of micro-investing platforms, like Raiz, that have contributed to the increasing popularity of ETFs among younger investors. Such platforms have made ETFs widely available and accessible via your smart phone. For more information on Raiz fees, click here.

They have also removed much of the leg work from investing. For instance, in the case of Raiz, our expert team has selected a basket of widely traded ETFs and then combined them into six different risk-adjusted portfolios ready for your selection.

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Important Information

The information on this website is general advice only. This means it does not take into account any person’s particular investment objectives, financial situation or investment needs. If you are an investor, you should consult your licensed adviser before acting on any information contained in this article to fully understand the benefits and risk associated with the product.

A Product Disclosure Statement for Raiz Invest and/or Raiz Invest Super are available on the Raiz Invest website and App. A person must read and consider the Product Disclosure Statement in deciding whether, or not, to acquire and continue to hold interests in the product. The risks of investing in this product are fully set out in the Product Disclosure Statement and include the risks that would ordinarily apply to investing.

The information may be based on assumptions or market conditions which change without notice. This could impact the accuracy of the information.

Under no circumstances is the information to be used by, or presented to, a person for the purposes of deciding about investing in Raiz Invest or Raiz Invest Super.

Past return performance of the Raiz products should not be relied on for making a decision to invest in a Raiz product and is not a good predictor of future performance.

Computer screen with stock market information

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The end of the year is the ideal time to make some financial resolutions for 2020. One of the most common resolutions, when it comes to personal finances, is to be a better saver for the year ahead. This sounds easy in theory, but can be harder to achieve in reality.

With that in mind, here are five simple tips to help you achieve your saving goals in 2020.

Have a concrete goal

It’s basic but often overlooked — you’re much more likely to shift your spending habits and get better at saving if you have something to aim at. While the particular goal is up to you, it could be a holiday, a new car, or some new clothes, make sure it’s clear and achievable.

Budget wisely

A budget is also important. That’s because it allows you to see where your money is going and then allocate more to saving and less to spending. Once you’ve examined your income and expenses, you’ll be in a position to know how much income you have to work with at any given time, which will help you to save more effectively in the future.

What also helps, when it comes to maximising your savings, is to look closely at your budget and figure out how much you spend on discretionary items like clothes, holidays and eating out to see where your expenses in these areas can be trimmed.

Analyse your expenses

While reducing expenses opens up more opportunity to save, so does some lateral thinking. For instance, it’s a good idea to keep on the lookout for cheaper deals when it comes to banking, insurance providers or memberships on things like gyms and streaming services.

It also pays to stay on the lookout for cheaper brands of clothing and food as well as savings on utilities, like power or water, by switching providers or using services off-peak.

Get out of debt

It’s simple — debt is not your friend if you’re trying to save. Indeed, you’ll be amazed how much easier saving is when you’re not fighting against spiralling debt.

If you’re in this boat, try and get across how the interest on your debt is calculated and when it’s charged as this can help you manage your repayments and avoid paying unnecessary interest. It’s also a good idea — if you have several debts – to try and pay off the debt with the highest rate of interest first.

Phone a friend!

Even for the most disciplined person saving can get difficult at times, especially with brands constantly trying to get you to open your wallet. That’s why it can help to team up with a family member, mate or colleague who’s also got a saving goal and work together.

Still, if you do have to go it alone, think about imposing some hard spending rules on yourself. For instance, when it comes to impulse buys, one option is to impose a 24-hour ban on splashing cash after it hits your account. If you impose such a “cooling-off” period on yourself, you may realise that what you wanted to buy was not so essential after all.

Additionally, think about taking some of the pressure off yourself by automating saving for next year. It’s easy to schedule a recurring amount of money to transfer from your transaction account to a linked savings account. Doing this can be a convenient way to keep money landing in your savings account on a regular basis.

Don’t have the Raiz App?

Download it for free in the App store or the Webapp below:

Important Information

The information may be based on assumptions or market conditions which change without notice. This could impact the accuracy of the information.

Under no circumstances is the information to be used by, or presented to, a person for the purposes of deciding about investing in Raiz Invest or Raiz Invest Super.

Past return performance of the Raiz products should not be relied on for making a decision to invest in a Raiz product and is not a good predictor of future performance.

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17/12/19

From George Lucas, Raiz CEO

2019: a ‘dramatic’ year in review

This week is an ideal time to reflect on the events of 2019. It’s certainly been an eventful year, including mounting fears of a global recession, turnarounds by the US Federal Reserve and European Central Bank on monetary policy, and the escalation of the US-China trade war.

Elsewhere, it’s been dramatic in the UK where two Brexit deadlines have come and gone, the US economy weakened by more than expected and the eurozone economies slowed, while the Chinese economy has held up a bit better than forecast over the past 12 months.

Despite the geo-political drama, asset prices have risen across the board, with global bonds rallying and equity markets hitting new highs. The reason for this seems to be that equity markets are taking their cue more from central banks than the real economy and growth in corporate earnings.

Indeed, the speed and the scale of the response by central banks this year suggests that policymakers are more attuned to downside risks to growth than the market previously thought.

Swift Brexit resolution unlikely

In the UK, the big general election win by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservative Party now means that the Withdrawal Agreement will pass UK parliament — a significant step towards Brexit.

Nonetheless, a major break-through on trade or a swift resolution of Brexit next year is still unlikely given the election win sets up a new cliff edge at the end of next year when a free trade deal with Europe will have to be agreed.

Signs of global recovery on horizon

Looking ahead, there are signs that the global economy is slowly stabilising, helped by monetary policy moves and it’s my view that we will start to see global growth recover in late 2020.

In the US, the Fed, which cut interest rates three times this year, will probably leave rates unchanged for the foreseeable future as inflation globally doesn’t seem to be an issue.

Australian economy tipped to remain weak

In Australia, economic growth is probably bottoming out but wage growth is likely to remain weak in the period ahead. Annual GDP lifted to 1.7 per cent in the September quarter, but still remains well short of what is needed to drive down unemployment and boost wages.

If this scenario continues, the Reserve Bank of Australia will have room to cut rates to 0.25 per cent early next year and launch quantitative easing, which markets have yet to factor in. Any strength in the Australian dollar will cause this to happen sooner as the RBA knows that movement in the currency is a much more effective stimulus tool than interest rates.

The Australian dollar is linked to commodity prices and, like other asset classes, oil and commodities have fared better than expected recently, putting upward pressure on the AUD. If this trend continues, the RBA will likely look to monetary policy to help weaken the local currency.

Indonesia: central bank open to more rate cuts

Finally, Bank Indonesia’s Deputy Governor Dody Budi Waluyo recently indicated that the central bank remains open to more interest rates cuts after this year’s four rate cuts.

Similar to Australia, we will probably see a 25 basis-point cut by Bank Indonesia as the Indonesian rupee continues to perform well against the US dollar.

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You may have heard about active and passive investing, but if you’re new to investing you may not be sure exactly what these terms mean or how they work.

We get that. There are lots of concepts associated with financial markets and understanding them all can get tricky. When it comes to passive and active investing here’s the basics.

What is active investing?

In a nutshell, active investment funds are run by portfolio managers who are experts in making investment decisions to take advantage of price fluctuations in the financial market.

Active investors try to beat the returns of the index to which it relates — commonly known as its benchmark. The index, for instance the S&P/ASX 200, contains the companies whose shares the fund is buying and selling. With this style of investing, the manager picks stocks to buy then compares the returns they make against the benchmark.

The benefits of this style of investing include the potential for greater profits and returns than market and index funds and greater control over an investment. But be aware, it can also involve much higher management fees and expenses than other investments. It can also underperform the market due to suboptimal investment strategies.

What is passive investing?

Passive investing is a completely different approach. A common example of passive investing is an index fund that invests in major companies such as those included in the S&P 500 (top 500 US public companies) or ASX 200 (top 200 AUS public companies). Typically, the fund will buy all the stocks in the given index in the same proportion they appear in the index.

Investing in an exchange traded fund (ETF) is also considered a type of passive investing when the ETF is tracking an index. ETFs are essentially a combination of assets (such as stocks, cash or bonds), bundled together under one roof to form a single financial product that can be traded on the stock exchange. The ETF is like an index fund, and their value will go up or down in line with the index they are tracking.

Some advantages of passive investing include reduced expenses compared to active investing and the benefits of diversification that comes with index funds. Warren Buffett, the all-time active investor legend advocates for passive investing on the basis even if active investing can yield significant profit quickly, often it is the portfolio manager who is rewarded with high remuneration, not the investor.

Which style is best for me?

Like anything else when it comes to investing, you need to make the right decision for your particular financial needs and circumstances.

Some investors, especially those with more knowledge, are comfortable selecting their own portfolio of funds or taking an active approach to investing. Others, particularly those starting out, may want to take a passive approach to investing.

Don’t have the Raiz App?

Download it for free in the App store or the Webapp below:

Important Information

The information may be based on assumptions or market conditions which change without notice. This could impact the accuracy of the information.

Under no circumstances is the information to be used by, or presented to, a person for the purposes of deciding about investing in Raiz Invest or Raiz Invest Super.

Past return performance of the Raiz products should not be relied on for making a decision to invest in a Raiz product and is not a good predictor of future performance.

Women sitting atop cliff overlooking valley with path

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Investing can be intimidating for those who are new to it, including getting your head around the many concepts used when discussing financial markets.

But don’t worry — getting across the basics is much easier than it may first appear. Here are some super simple analogies that can help you get across some key investing terms.

A dog off a leash

One important financial concept to understand is the interplay between investors, stock prices and the fundamentals of a company. It can be tricky to figure out why share prices might fluctuate even though not much appears to have changed in relation to the company.

So, what’s going on here? Let’s think about these three elements like someone taking their dog for a walk at the park. We can liken the other people at the park to investors, the dog to the company’s share price and the dog owner to the company itself.

Naturally, if the dog gets off its leash, it’s likely to become the focus of attention as it runs around the park. Even so, the dog’s owner is ultimately in control. Similarly, while it’s tempting for investors to be concerned about fluctuations in the price of a stock, their focus should actually be on the company’s fundamentals in determining a course of investment.

Snowball effect

Compound interest is another concept that can be a bit of a brain buster. It’s usually explained as interest that’s calculated on the initial principal amount, including all of the accumulated interest of previous periods of a deposit or loan.

If you’re not keen on deciphering what that means, it might help to think about compound interest as being like a snowball rolling down a ski field — it builds and builds as it rolls.

Here’s how it works. Imagine you have $100 with annual interest of 10% compound interest. Your interest at the end of Year 1 will be $10 but the overall value is $110. The next year the interest will be $11 and you have $121 in your bank account. We can keep going:

End of Year 3: $121 + $12 = $133; $12 yearly interest earned

End of Year 4: $133 + $13 = $146; $13 yearly interest earned

End of Year 5: $146 + $15 = $161; $15 yearly interest earned

As you can see, with compound interest the total amount quickly gathers momentum, just like a snowball rolling down a hill.

Growing a plant

From the snow to the garden, when it comes to the concept of dollar cost averaging, it can be helpful to think about it like growing a plant.

An investment strategy, dollar cost averaging involves making regular investments over time, for instance $100 every month, regardless of market conditions. This strategy can be smart because the short-term moves of the market, which can be volatile, are less important using this strategy given it’s based on a regular investment plan.

Like the regular nourishment you need to give a plant to make it grow, consistent dollar cost averaging can be an effective way to make your investment reach its full potential.

Collecting seashells

Want to understand why comments by US President Donald Trump about, say, international trade can impact the stock market? It’s all about perception. And actually, although it may not seem it at first glance, it’s a bit like collecting seashells at the beach.

At the beach, there are shells of many different colours and there’s no reason that one type of shell should be more valued by beachgoers than other type. But what if everyone starts collecting purple shells, and no one considers the other colours?

In that case, the value of the purple shells is likely to go up, despite nothing intrinsically having changed about the shells themselves — it’s all about how they’re perceived. So, when it comes to the stock market, remember that moves in prices are often about market anticipation and perception, rather than changes in the underlying companies themselves.

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Raiz has always prided itself on turning customer feedback into features, it’s how we continue to grow with our community. This timeline illustrates the introduction of new features into the Raiz app since our inception in early 2016.

If have any feedback you want to share with us, the best way to get in contact is to send an email to support@raizinvest.com.au.

For more information on Raiz fees, click here.

Don’t have the Raiz App?

Download it for free in the App store or the Webapp below:

Important Information

The information may be based on assumptions or market conditions which change without notice. This could impact the accuracy of the information.

Under no circumstances is the information to be used by, or presented to, a person for the purposes of deciding about investing in Raiz Invest or Raiz Invest Super.

Past return performance of the Raiz products should not be relied on for making a decision to invest in a Raiz product and is not a good predictor of future performance.

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Plant a Tree is back! For the entire month of June, for every person you refer that receives the $5 referral bonus, we will also plant one new tree on your behalf!

Thanks to our Raiz community, we have so far planted 3,658 trees in Western Australia on our users’ behalf!

For a rough rule of thumb, it is estimated 10-15 trees will sequester 1 tonne of carbon over 30 years.

The trees, which are native to the region, will be planted in the Yarra Yarra Biodiversity Corridor, located in Western Australia.

To do this we have partnered with Carbon Neutral, who by revegetating degraded farmlands, plan to eventually link small patches of remaining vegetation and 12 nature reserves to create a green corridor, a 200km long stretch of trees that will reconnect coastal and drier inland habitats.

So far, Carbon Neutral have planted 440,000 trees, restoring more than 300ha of cleared land.

Trees bring many valuable benefits to the environment. The trees that you help plant:

sequester carbon
help reduce soil salinity
help combat wind and water erosion
enhance biodiversity
restore habitat for native animals

If being a socially responsible investor is also important to you, Raiz offers an Emerald portfolio, which focuses on companies that are socially responsible. To view, go to the Home Screen or Side Menu > Invest > Portfolio within the Raiz App. For more information on Raiz fees, click here.

Thanks for your support,

The Raiz Team

Don’t have the Raiz App?

Download it for free in the App store or the Webapp below:

Important Information

The information may be based on assumptions or market conditions which change without notice. This could impact the accuracy of the information.

Under no circumstances is the information to be used by, or presented to, a person for the purposes of deciding about investing in Raiz Invest or Raiz Invest Super.

Past return performance of the Raiz products should not be relied on for making a decision to invest in a Raiz product and is not a good predictor of future performance.

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Black Friday has started! Many of our Raiz Rewards partners are participating in this limited time online sale. That means you can get cash rewards on top of Black Friday deals.

All the available offers are on the retailers website, or see some of the best deals our Raiz Rewards partners are offering below. Remember to login to your Raiz account via the mobile or web app then click the “SHOP ONLINE HERE” links so we can track your rewards as well.
Adore Beauty – Up to 4.2% reward + many offers including 20% off the entire Benefit Cosmetics range (ends 02 Dec).

Adrenaline – 3.5% reward + save up to 50% sitewide plus an extra 10% off use code: BLACK10

Apero Label – 10.5% reward + 72 Hour Flash Sale. Up to 30% off storewide (ends 30 Nov).

ASICS – 7% reward + 20% Off Selected Styles (ends 02 Dec).

ASOS – 3.5% reward + Get up to 70% off everything at ASOS during our Black Friday Sale! (Ends 03 Dec).

BCF – 5.25% reward + 20%-50% off storewide Sale (ends 01 Dec).

Ben Sherman – 4.2% reward + Black Friday 30% off sitewide (ends 01 Dec).

Bendon – 6.30% reward – 50% off Sitewide* (ends 02 Dec).

Best&Less – 3.5% reward + Everyday Fashion 2 for the price of 1! (Ends 02 Dec).

Billini – 5.6% reward + 30% off selected styles .

Bonds – 5% reward + 40% off everything + free shipping.

Boohoo – 3.5% reward + 50% off Absolutely Everything (exc Sale) at Boohoo! (ends 02 Dec).

BoohooMAN – 6.3% reward + Get 60% off Everything (exc. Sale) at BoohooMan (ends 02 Dec).

Booktopia – Up to 3.5% reward + Save 50% off RRP on selected Christmas bestsellers, plus up to 85% off RRP on thousands of titles (ends 02 Dec).

BWS – 4.9% reward + Get 25% Off ANY 6 or more bottles of Wine* (ends 02 Dec).

CAT Workwear – 5.6% reward + 20% off sitewide with code: TAKE20 (ends 01 Dec).

City Beach – 6.3% reward + up to 60% off thousands of styles.

Cotton On – 3.5% reward + 30% Off Everything (ends 30 Nov).

Cover-More – 7% reward + Use promo code PRESENTS when you buy a policy for your chance to win a $2,000 eftpos voucher.

Crabtree & Evelyn – 4.9% reward + 10% off $70 with code BLACKFRIDAY10, 15% off over $110 with code BLACKFRIDAY15 and 20% off over $150 with code BLACKFRIDAY20 (ends 02 Dec).

Cue – 5.6% reward + 25% off everything (ends 02 Dec).

Dell – 2.8% reward + up to 40% off systems (ends 01 Dec).

ECHT – 7% reward + Up to 60% off outlet page (ends 02 Dec).

Europcar – 5.60% reward + Up to 40% off (ends 02 Dec).

Forever New – 4% reward + 25% Off Full Price Styles (ends 01 Dec).

General Pants – 2.5% invested + Get 30% OFF storewide with code SALE30 (ends 03 Dec).

Glassons – 5.6% reward + 20% off Everything. (ends 30 Nov).

Hallenstein Brothers – 5.6% reward + 30% off full price items (ends Dec 01).

Harris Scarfe – 3.5% reward + 90% Off Feelvita Food processor, 50% Off Cookware,Cutlery & Dinnersets, 50% Off Sheet Sets, Quilts, Pillows & Toppers (ends 01 Dec).

Hello Molly – Up to 7% reward + 15% off (ends 02 Dec 9am).

HP – 2.5% reward + Save up to 43% on selected HP products (ends 05 Dec).

Jeanswest – 5.6% reward + 40% off storewide (ends 01 Dec).

Jo Mercer – 4.2% reward + 25% off storewide (ends 02 Dec).

Lacoste – 4.2% reward + 30% off full-price styles, sitewide! (ends 02 Dec).

Lee Jeans – 4.2% reward + 40% off full price (ends 02 Dec).

Lenovo – 3.19% reward + Up to 50% off (ends 01 Dec).

LookFantastic – Up to 7% reward + 40% off Dermalogica products (ends 02 Dec).

Lorna Jane – 30% off everything (ends 02 Dec).

Matchesfashion – Extra 10% off in the Matchesfashion sale over Black Friday with code EXTRA10 (ends 3/11/10 9.30am GMT).

Missguided – 4.20% reward + 50% off sitewide (ends 02 Dec).

MyProtein – 10.5% reward + 50% off (ends 29 Nov).

Nautica – 4.20% reward + 40% off sitewide (ends 01 Dec).

Nike – Up to 4.9% reward + extra 15% off sales items with code FINALS15.

Petbarn – 5.6% reward + Up to 50% off* selected online products at Petbarn! (Ends 03 Dec).

Riders by Lee, 3.50% reward + 40% off full price (ends 02 Dec).

Ryderwear – 7% reward + up to 70% off everything (ends 02 Dec).

Sanity – 2.8% reward + 20% off sale (ends 02 Dec).

Saucony – 5.6% reward + 20% Off Sitewide (end 01 Dec).

Sephora – Up to 7% reward + 15% off sitewide (ends 01 Dec).

Sparesbox – 3.5% reward + 15% off when the code ‘CYBER15” is applied (Min spend $150) (ends 02 Dec).

Speedo – 4% reward + 40% off almost everything sitewide (ends 02 Dec).

Superdry – 4.90% reward + 20% OFF Everything (ends 02 Dec).

The ICONIC – 3.5% reward + take up to 30% off (ends 01 Dec).

Tigerlily – Up to 5.6% reward + 30% Off Full Price (end 02 Dec).

Timberland – 5.6% reward + Up to 50% Off selected styles.

UGG – 4.2% reward + Save 30% off full-price styles sitewide, limited time only!

Under Armour – 5.6% reward + 30% Off Black Friday Exclusives.

Wiggle – 2.45% reward + extra 10% off select prime wheels & bike parts (ends 02 Dec).

Witchery – 3.15% reward + 20% Off Everything + Free Standard Delivery (ends 02 Dec).

Wrangler – 4.2% reward + 30% off full price.

*Please refer to all T&Cs including promo codes and time periods for each individual offer on the retailer’s website.

For more information on Raiz fees, click here.

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Important Information

The information may be based on assumptions or market conditions which change without notice. This could impact the accuracy of the information.

Under no circumstances is the information to be used by, or presented to, a person for the purposes of deciding about investing in Raiz Invest or Raiz Invest Super.

Past return performance of the Raiz products should not be relied on for making a decision to invest in a Raiz product and is not a good predictor of future performance.

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It’s one of those eternal financial questions with no easy answer — is it better to focus on earning more or prioritise spending less?

While most personal finance advice focuses on cutting expenses, it’s also a good financial strategy to find ways to boost your earnings. Or, ideally, do both at the same time.

Spending less

There’s no reason to wait on cutting your spending back — you can spend less immediately. It doesn’t take any special financial knowledge and you can start right now.

For instance, think about scaling back your discretionary spending. This will look different for different people, but it could include cutting back on buying takeaway lunches, cancelling unused subscriptions or returning those fancy sneakers you just bought online.

If you’re really serious, it also helps to distinguish what you really need from what you want, especially in a society that suffers from so-called “affluenza”. By taking a good look at this, you may also be able to significantly reduce your weekly and monthly outgoings.

However, there is a limit, especially for the millions of Australians living in large urban centre like Sydney and Melbourne, where cost of living is high. If this is you, it’s likely your fixed costs — things like rent and transport — could be tough to dramatically reduce.

Earning more

The benefit of earning more isn’t hard to see — the more you earn, the more financial options you have, which potentially puts you on a path to financial security and abundance. However, one downside of aiming to earn more is that it involves risk.

Often, looking to earn more involves stepping out of your comfort zone, whether that means retraining, changing jobs, starting your own company, or going out solo as a freelancer in the gig economy.

Also, just because you earn more doesn’t mean you’ll have more money at the end of the day. Sometimes it’s the case that you end up spending more when your earnings increase, making fiscal discipline all the more important as you climb the ladder of wealth.

Why not spend less and earn more?

Remember, there’s always the danger that you end up having less time — and an inferior quality of life — if your increased earnings mean you end up working around the clock.

Ultimately, it’s about balance. Aim to get to a point where you have enough money to spend on the things you love to do, while working at a healthy and sustainable level.

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Important Information

The information may be based on assumptions or market conditions which change without notice. This could impact the accuracy of the information.

Under no circumstances is the information to be used by, or presented to, a person for the purposes of deciding about investing in Raiz Invest or Raiz Invest Super.

Past return performance of the Raiz products should not be relied on for making a decision to invest in a Raiz product and is not a good predictor of future performance.

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