Sat, 18th Jan 2025

In this episode of Weekly Finance News Wrap, Paige Estritori discusses the mounting financial pressures on Australians, with living costs and interest rates rising and consumer confidence dipping amid economic uncertainties. The growing financial stress is apparent in the surge of assistance requests to debt help services, especially from younger demographics. To combat this issue, there's a push to incorporate financial education in school curriculums. In the business sector, companies are creating value promotions and loyalty programs for customers as a response to inflation and fluctuating prices. The episode also notes recent legislative changes by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) aiming to refine financial advice standards, leading to nearly 3,000 financial advisers enhancing their qualifications ahead of a 2026 deadline.n