|
||
Do you need to get ready for recessionWilson Luna For people still experiencing money trouble as a result of the GFC, there’s no scarier word than ‘recession’. While it’s impossible to be certain what the future holds, warning signs from the global markets suggest Aussies should be prepared. Wouldn’t it be great to be able to predict the future? Science fiction is full of people who get to make great financial decisions with the advantage of that good old 20/20 hindsight. Imagine what it would be like to time travel to advise Great-grandpa to adjust his investment portfolio on 28 October 1929, or tell Mum and Dad to invest in Microsoft or Apple when they were just starting out. While there’s no way of predicting what will happen in the future, we do know what’s happened in the past, and every now and then we get reminded just how delicate the balance between good economic times and bad ones can be. In early June, the collective gasp of stockholders across the country – and the world – was clearly audible as the Australian stock market took more of a swan dive than a tumble, dumping close to $33 billion in just one day, following a crash on Wall Street. Losses were felt across the board: financials dropped 2.6 per cent, energy sank 2.2 per cent and industrials and materials recorded a 2.3 per cent fall in the worst market plunge since June 2010. Then, barely two weeks later, our market dumped another $25 billion. While it was a far cry from the $50 trillion that vanished from the international market during the Global Financial Crisis, it served as a very real reminder that although Australia was reasonably well insulated from the full brunt of the GFC, we are still heavily influenced by the world economy, and a recession could very well be in our future. Many people are still experiencing money trouble as a result of the GFC – and the current market instability is definitely a cause for concern. But, depending on the kind of investments you have, rushing for the exits may not be the best strategy. The best thing you can do right now is stay calm, take a cautious approach and seek professional advice before taking any action, because there’s no such thing as a ‘one-size-fits-all’ financial approach, no matter what the market is doing. Your strategy should depend on two things: the recommendations of your financial adviser and your personal financial circumstances. Until someone invents a reliable crystal ball, coming up with an accurate share market, economic or interest rate forecast is never going to possible, but it always pays to heed the warning signs, keep an eye on the global economy and be prepared for whatever comes your way – starting with these three simple steps: Reduce your risk Get professional advice about your investments! The ‘panic-button’ approach to a downturn in the share market may be ‘sell, sell, sell!’ but shares are a medium- to long-term investment – and selling your assets when they’re at a low point may not be a good option. At the same time, changes in the economic climate could also affect how much money you’re prepared to risk. You need to assess both your investment timeframe and profile to develop the best strategy for reducing your risk. Be ready If you don’t already have one, now is the perfect time to set up an ‘emergency fund’. This fund forms your ‘buffer zone’ against increased interest rates and redundancy, and should hold around three to six months’ worth of living expenses. Keep your fund in a bank account with the best interest rate you can find, and don’t worry if you’re starting from scratch: every dollar you put aside will provide a little more security for your family. Increase your value Redundancy and recession go hand in hand, but valuable employees are typically more protected from economically driven redundancy. Investing in increasing your skills in your area of expertise, or learning an entirely new skill set altogether, will make you more valuable to your current employer and make it easier for you to find a new job if you are ever made redundant. No one can predict the future, but when it comes to your finances it’s always better to be prepared than caught out. By making some simple changes you can get your family finances ready for whatever comes your way without having to rely on your great-great-grandkids to invent a time machine!
Want to make this the most powerful financial year you've ever had?
Then you can't miss our LIVE Financial 'Game of Life' Bootcamps! Click here to redeem your FREE ticket!  If you liked this article you might also be interested in these other money management articles:
Money management - a straightforward guide to a better future
Want more? Take a look at the rest of our money management advice articles.
Tags: money trouble, best interest rate, interest rate forecast
|
 |
|
Author's Biography |
||
|
Wilson Luna is an author, wealth adviser and founder of Your Family Your Money. Your Family Your Money’s goal is to simplify traditionally complex financial strategies, demystify financial jargon and debunk common financial myths, becoming every family’s first stop for financial advice, information and inspiration |
 |
|
| Go back to the list | ||
 |
