The data shows that investing small amounts consistently over time and riding out the ups and downs of the market by holding onto your investments for the long term, can produce a healthy return.

Over the past two decades, the top 500 US companies averaged a 10 per cent annual return and Australia’s S&P ASX All Ordinaries Index recorded an average annual return of 9.2 per cent.

While the Federal Government’s recent announcement about providing some relief for those with student debt is anticipated to help those with student loans, debt can hold you back financially, so let’s look at some ways to free yourself if debt is becoming a burden.

Retiring without a mortgage has a large positive impact on retirement confidence.

For decades the “Great Australian Dream” has been the general desire by most Australians just to own a home.

But that dream has morphed over time. These days it’s not just about owning a home but having the mortgage paid off either before retirement or soon after.

You can dispose of your shares in the following ways:

• selling them

• giving them away (gifting shares)

• transferring them to a spouse as the result of a breakdown in your marriage or relationship

• through share buy-backs

• through mergers, takeovers and demergers

• because the company goes into liquidation.

It's important you keep records of acquiring and disposing of shares.

Many Australians expect an inheritance, but their parents may have a different view. 

Around one in two Australians have received or expect to inherit money or property, either from their parents or others.

That’s one of the key findings from Vanguard’s 2024 How Australia Retires research, but it shouldn’t come as a great surprise.