From “AI Bowl” to AI Bubble
The 2026 Super Bowl was more “AI Bowl” than football: 23% of ads – 15 of 66 spots – featured AI, from OpenAI and Anthropic to Google and Meta, at USD 8–10 million per 30 seconds. This blitz, where rivals jabbed at each other amid USD 2.52 trillion global AI forecasts, spotlights a boom with bubble edges. This is the perfect timing for Australian investors to rethink how much of their portfolio rides on one hot theme.
February 2026 Market Updates
The first month of 2026 has been a masterclass in market adaptation, as the initial optimism of the new year met a series of significant economic "reality checks." While the ASX 200 and S&P 500 both reached historic peaks, they finished the month with late-session pullbacks as global investors pivoted away from pure growth toward the resilience of hard assets. Domestically, a surprising rebound in headline inflation to 3.8% and a remarkably tight labour market have shifted the conversation from potential rate cuts to a decisive 3.85% cash rate hike by the RBA. The Australian property market remains remarkably defiant, recording a 0.8% increase in values in January as a chronic shortage of supply continues to act as a floor for prices.
Strengthening Your Position for 2026
With the first RBA meeting of the year just around the corner on 3 February, there is plenty of speculation regarding interest rate paths. However, the most successful investors and households don't spend their energy trying to predict the unpredictable. Instead, they focus on resilience. This means structuring their finances so that they remain in a position of strength, regardless of what the headlines say.
Habits to Build vs Habits to Break Wealth
Most financial success isn't the result of one lucky break or a single "win" on the market. Instead, it’s built on the small, repetitive choices you make every day. As we move further into 2026, let’s analyse which behaviours are helping you grow and which might be quietly holding you back.
The Mid-January Financial Reset
Welcome back! It’s wonderful to be writing to you again as we kick off a brand-new year of financial updates. I hope you had a relaxing break and a fantastic start to 2026. By the third week of January, the initial excitement of New Year’s resolutions often starts to fade. If your financial goals feel a little harder to stick to than they did on January 1st, don’t worry, you’re certainly not alone. Now is the perfect time for a "mid-month reset" to ensure your bank balance and your goals are heading in the right direction for the rest of the year.
High-Level Financial Objectives for 2026
As the year wraps up, it's the ideal moment to transition from day-to-day money management to strategic wealth building. If you're currently generating strong income and have achieved basic financial security, your 2026 goals should centre on optimisation, expansion, and protection. We'll use the S.M.A.R.T. framework to set some sample goals that could move you closer to financial independence or early retirement.
Budgeting for the Holidays Without the Debt Hangover
Christmas is a wonderful time, but it’s also the most financially draining period of the year. It's easy to get swept up in the festive spirit, promising yourself you’ll worry about the bills in the New Year. The problem is, that post-holiday stress and high-interest debt can linger long after the decorations are packed away. You don't need to cut back on joy to have a financially responsible Christmas. You just need a practical, realistic budget. Let's look at how you can plan for the holidays now and avoid that unpleasant debt hangover in January.
November 2025 Market Updates
November 2025 has presented a stark divide for Australian investors, with significant volatility shaking the share market while the property sector continues its relentless climb. As the ASX 200 suffered a drop of nearly 5% due to banking sector weakness and global uncertainty, residential values surged on the back of supply shortages and the government’s expanded 5% Deposit Scheme. Underpinning these movements, the RBA kept the cash rate on hold at 3.60%, dashing hopes for a pre-Christmas cut as persistent inflation delays any easing of monetary policy until 2026.