Inheritance. It came up twice this month. Here's what it made me think about.

Your Money & Property Update | August 2026

The first time was at a business networking event.

I was chatting with a pest controller - yes, a termite specialist. And he said something that stopped me mid-conversation.

"Termites will eat your inheritance."

He meant it literally. He was talking about what happens to a property when it isn't maintained. The structure quietly deteriorates. The value erodes. And by the time anyone notices, the damage is done.

The second time was through a conversation with an Estate planning lawyer.

A client had received a partial distribution from an estate. A meaningful sum. Within a few weeks, $50,000 was gone. And when asked about it, the person genuinely couldn't account for where it went.

Not one big purchase. Not one bad decision. Just... gone.

Both stories stuck with me. Because they're about the same thing.

Inheritance isn't just about receiving money. It's about what happens next.

Three things worth reflecting on

1. Wealth without a foundation doesn't last

A windfall - whether it's an inheritance, a bonus, or a property sale - arrives with possibility.

But possibility without financial literacy disappears faster than it arrived.

It's not about the amount. It's about the habits, the knowledge, and the structure you bring to it.

Most people focus on earning more. Very few ask: do I actually know what to do when money arrives?

Reflection: If a significant sum landed in your account tomorrow, do you have a plan for it?

2. Your assets need protecting, not just growing

Property is often the biggest thing people leave behind - or receive.

But protection isn't just about insurance policies and legal documents. It's also about the physical asset itself. Maintenance. Structure. The things that quietly determine whether a property holds its value or quietly loses it.

The termite conversation was a reminder that wealth preservation is just as important as wealth creation.

Reflection: When did you last review whether what you own is actually protected - financially and physically?

3. The gap between receiving and keeping

Most conversations about money focus on building it.

Very few focus on what happens when money arrives unexpectedly.

$50,000 gone in weeks. No single moment of recklessness. Just the absence of a plan, a structure, and someone to talk it through with.

Financial literacy isn't just for the building phase. It's for every phase - including the ones you didn't plan for.

Reflection: Do you have a structure that would hold if something unexpected landed - good or bad?

What's happening in the economy right now

Rates on hold - but don't get comfortable

The RBA held the cash rate at 4.35% at its August meeting - a unanimous decision.

But Governor Michele Bullock was clear: this is a pause, not a pivot. The door to further hikes remains open if inflation doesn't continue to ease.

Three rate hikes already this year (February, March, May) have taken the cash rate from 3.60% to 4.35%. Cuts are not expected until 2027 at the earliest.

Inflation - still hurting in three key areas

Headline CPI came in at 3.8% for the year to June 2026. Still well above the RBA's 2-3% target.

The three areas hitting everyday Australians hardest:

• Housing - up 6.8% annually. Rents up 3.6% year on year and showing no sign of easing.

• Fuel - up 18.6% annually. You've noticed it at the pump. It's real.

• Food - up 3.3% annually. Meals out and takeaway up 4.0%, driven by ingredient costs, wages and operating costs flowing through.

The cost of living squeeze is not over.

Property market - prices are now falling

This is no longer a slowdown. It's a correction.

Sources: Domain House Price Report June Quarter 2026, Cotality Home Value Index July 2026

ANZ has revised its full year forecast to a 4.3% fall across capital cities for 2026.

Good properties are taking significantly longer to sell. Buyers are negotiating harder. And with spring listings about to hit the market, that pressure is unlikely to ease quickly.

For buyers who are prepared - this is a market worth paying attention to.

For owners - now is the time to understand where your property sits and what your options are.

What does any of this mean for you?

Whether it's inheritance, inflation, interest rates or property - the common thread is the same.

The people who navigate these moments well aren't necessarily the ones who earn the most. They're the ones who have a plan, understand their numbers, and know who to talk to.

If any of this has prompted a question - about your mortgage, your borrowing capacity, your structure, or just where to start - let's have a quick chat.

No agenda. Just a conversation.

Send me a message and let's talk.