Paul Clitheroe Gives Readers A Helping Hand

Paul Clitheroe Gives Readers A Helping Hand

Money was launched in 1999, about 19 years ago. We produce 11 issues a year, with December-January being a combined edition featuring our Best of the Best awards.

So I think I must have answered about 88 x 19 questions since 1999.

It would be no surprise to anyone but most questions involve property, and they have become increasingly sophisticated in nature. I no longer need to explain offset accounts and it is pretty obvious that readers have got a strong understanding of negative gearing.

What I do love is a distinct shift towards questions from younger readers. And, no, it is not just me getting older! As you can see in this issue, they range from young people planning a family to those with young kids already. This is terrific. It shows how much progress we have made as a nation in building financial literacy skills in younger people.

At the other end of the spectrum, I get a lot more questions from older Australians. This is also great as it reinforces a fact we know. We are living longer and on average living better than at any time in history. No longer do we automatically retire at 65 and look forward to a modest lifestyle in our declining years. We “older folk” are out there, often working part time and enjoying life. In fact, as I write this, my wife Vicki and I are in Japan with friends about to walk the Kumano-Kodo pilgrim trail. And there is a bunch of people our age and older doing exactly the same.

Almost 19 years later, life is very different, meaning the questions I get are different. And that is a good thing.

1. I’M CASHED UP BUT WHERE DO I INVEST NOW?