Claire Panillo

Everyone slips up Whether it’s a forgotten tax bill, a credit card that quietly spiralled, a poorly timed investment, or raiding your superannuation when you really didn’t need to. Financial mistakes are a universal human experience. The good news? A stumble doesn’t have to become a fall. The most common culprits The financial errors we … Read more

The sale you’ve worked your whole life for For most business owners, the day you sell is the single largest financial event of your life. It’s the moment when decades of sacrifice, risk, and relentless effort are converted into a number. And yet, an extraordinary number of Australian business owners arrive at that moment underprepared, … Read more

The silent wealth drain hiding in your bank account There’s a particularly insidious kind of financial leak, one that never feels painful because each individual charge is so small. Subscriptions. Westpac customer data reveals that average monthly household spending on subscriptions increased 11% in 2025[1] against a backdrop of a cost-of-living crisis where every dollar … Read more

Here’s a truth most Australian 30-somethings discover too late, the super contributions you make this decade will outperform those you make in your 40s and 50s, even if you contribute less. Why? Because time is your secret weapon, and compound returns are doing the heavy lifting. The power of early contributions Think of your super … Read more

Make smarter moves before 30 June and set yourself up for a stronger financial year ahead. Self-managed superannuation Pensions If you currently receive a pension, check you have withdrawn at least the minimum pension before 30 June 2026. If you fail to do so, the account will be considered to be in accumulation phase for … Read more

When you start investing, two crucial questions determine your strategy: how long until you need the money, and how much risk you can handle. Time horizons Your time horizon is how long you plan to invest before needing your money back. Saving for a house deposit in three years? That’s a short time horizon. Building … Read more

You don’t need to keep wondering if it’s too late to make a real difference to your retirement. If you’re approaching your later working years or have recently retired, you might have access to some of the most powerful superannuation strategies available. The window of opportunity In certain ways, our superannuation system becomes more generous … Read more

Last month, Sarah broke her ankle playing netball on Saturday afternoon. Without the ability to drive or stand for long periods, her job’s impossible right now. Workers’ compensation? Won’t touch it. Why? The injury didn’t happen at work. She’s one of the lucky ones. She has income protection insurance. According to Insurance Watch, fewer than … Read more

Three months after moving in together, Tom discovered his partner had $18,000 in credit card debt. She thought he knew. He assumed everything was fine. The argument that followed wasn’t really about the debt; it was about trust. Research from eharmony found that 58% of Australian couples cite money as their biggest cause of fights[1], … Read more

Retirement is the time to enjoy the fruits of decades of work, whilst ensuring your garden continues to provide for years to come. The art lies not in hoarding every bit of produce, nor in consuming it all at once, but in finding the right balance between present enjoyment and future security. The gardener’s wisdom … Read more