Strangers have donated almost $2 million (and counting) to a GoFundMe to help an 88-year-old supermarket worker retire.
Illustration by Thomas Fuller/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
A content creator set up a GoFundMe for an 88-year-old veteran working at a Detroit supermarket.
Strangers have donated almost $2 million in less than a week.
Economic uncertainty and financial pressures are prompting older Americans to delay retirement.
Before December, Ed Bambas was among the sizable swath of older Americans still working with retirement nowhere in sight. Then, he met content creator Samuel Weidenhofer.
Weidenhofer, who has 12 million followers across social media, set up a GoFundMe fundraiser for Bambas on Monday to help him leave his job at a Detroit supermarket and retire.
"I'm opening a fundraiser to help Ed live the life he deserves to finally give him some relief, comfort and the peace of mind that comes from knowing he can enjoy his later years without constant struggle," Weidenhofer wrote on GoFundMe.
The fundraiser had a $1 million goal.As of Sunday, over 65,000 people have donated, reaching a total of almost $2 million.
In a video shared to Weidenhofer's social media accounts, Bambas said he's an 88-year-old veteran who works at the supermarket five days a week, eight hours a day. Bambas said he retired from General Motors in 1999, but lost his pension after the company went bankrupt in 2009.
Bambas told Weidenhofer that his wife, who died seven years ago, had been sick around the time his pension stopped. Without his pension, Bambas had to re-enter the workforce.
As part of Business Insider's "80 over 80" series, reporters interviewed nearly 200 workers over 80 — in addition to conducting surveys and receiving emails — in an effort to understand why.
While some older Americans are driven by a personal desire to work, others take on jobs to combat financial insecurity. Some workers over 80 told Business Insider that they use their income to supplement their Social Security and other retirement payments. They fear that without the income, they can't afford the cost of living.
Weidenhofer shared a video of Bambas receiving his GoFundMe check on Friday.
"It's something dreams are made of," Bambas said in the video.
Bambas also thanked everyone who donated to the fundraiser.
"I cannot express in any words how thankful I am to all the people," he said.
If you’re just starting your investing journey, the share market can feel intimidating. There are endless stocks to research, endless opinions to sort through, and endless fear of getting it wrong.
That’s why, for most beginners, the smartest move isn’t trying to pick individual winners. It is building a simple, diversified ASX ETF portfolio that quietly compounds in the background, with no guesswork required.
With 2026 fast approaching, now could be a perfect time to set up a clean, low-maintenance portfolio that can grow with you for decades. And the best part? You only need a handful of high-quality ETFs to cover the world.
Here’s what could be the ultimate ASX ETF portfolio for beginners in 2026.
Having some local exposure is always a good idea and the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF is a great way to achieve this. It tracks the S&P/ASX 300 Index, meaning you instantly own a slice of the nation’s leading 300 stocks. This includes Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), BHP GroupLtd (ASX: BHP), Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), and Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW).
The iShares S&P 500 ETF could be another top holding for a beginner portfolio. It tracks Wall Street’s S&P 500 Index, which has historically outperformed most global markets for decades.
With this ASX ETF you instantly get exposure to US giants like Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX), and Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA). These companies are shaping the future of AI, cloud computing, entertainment, and software, which are sectors that continue to expand at a rapid pace.
Once your base is built, adding a layer of quality can significantly improve long-term returns.
The Betashares Global Quality Leaders ETF selects stocks with exceptionally strong balance sheets, consistent earnings, and durable competitive advantages. These are businesses that tend to outperform during downturns and accelerate when markets recover.
Its top holdings typically include global leaders like ASML (NASDAQ: ASML), Visa (NYSE: V), and Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL). This fund was recently recommended by analysts at Betashares.
The Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF could be a powerful option for beginners.
This ASX ETF holds the region’s most influential tech innovators, including Tencent Holdings (SEHK: 700), Baidu (NASDAQ: BIDU), PDD Holdings (NASDAQ: PDD), SK Hynix, and Taiwan SemiconductorManufacturing Co. (NYSE: TSM). As millions more consumers across Asia move online, this sector is positioned for multi-decade expansion.
Should you invest $1,000 in Betashares Capital Ltd – Asia Technology Tigers Etf right now?
Before you buy Betashares Capital Ltd – Asia Technology Tigers Etf shares, consider this:
Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Betashares Capital Ltd – Asia Technology Tigers Etf wasn’t one of them.
The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*
And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…
Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Betashares Capital – Asia Technology Tigers Etf and Woolworths Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended ASML, Alphabet, Apple, Baidu, Microsoft, Netflix, Nvidia, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Tencent, Visa, Wesfarmers, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Woolworths Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended ASML, Alphabet, Apple, BHP Group, Microsoft, Netflix, Nvidia, Visa, Wesfarmers, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.
Genuine long-term wealth rarely comes from trading in and out of whatever is popular.
Instead, it often comes from owning a handful of elite businesses, the sort that keep expanding their markets, improving their earnings power, and strengthening their competitive edge year after year.
On the ASX, several ASX growth shares fit that description, but two in particular stand out as long-term compounders with momentum firmly behind them.
Here are a couple of unstoppable ASX growth shares to buy and hold for years.
Life360 has transformed from a family-tracking app into a full-scale digital safety platform with growing subscription muscle. What makes the company so unstoppable isn’t just its massive user base, it is the rate at which that base is evolving.
Recent updates show explosive momentum. It reported accelerating subscriber growth, rising average revenue per user (ARPU), strong cash generation, and global monthly active users approaching the 100-million mark. This scale gives Life360 significant optionality.
With a platform that already lives on the smartphones of tens of millions of families, Life360 can expand into adjacent categories such as home security, insurance partnerships, vehicle telematics, and commerce integrations. Very few consumer apps enjoy this type of engagement or monetisation leverage.
And because Life360’s model is subscription-driven, revenue compounds each year even without massive user growth. Add the potential benefits of international expansion and its advertising business, and it is clear why many analysts view it as one of the ASX’s emerging global leaders.
Morgan Stanley recently put an overweight rating and $58.50 price target on its shares.
Another ASX growth share that could be a top buy and hold option is NextDC. It provides the physical backbone the digital economy runs on.
Demand for data centre capacity has surged with the rise of cloud computing, streaming, ecommerce, and especially artificial intelligence. Every AI model, every cloud migration, and every tech platform relies on compute and storage, which NextDC delivers through some of the most advanced, energy-efficient data centres in the region.
What makes NextDC unstoppable isn’t just industry tailwinds, it is the company’s aggressive build-out strategy. Major new facilities are coming online across key markets, and each one typically ramps up utilisation over many years, driving recurring revenue higher without proportionate increases in cost.
An example of this is the deal it has just signed with ChatGPT’s owner, OpenAI. The two parties are looking at building the largest data centre in the southern hemisphere, with OpenAI as its anchor tenant.
Combined with the rest of its development pipeline across Australia and the Asia-Pacific region, this leaves NextDC well-placed for growth over the next decade and beyond.
Morgans is bullish on the company and recently upgraded its shares to a buy rating with a $19.00 price target.
Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Life360 wasn’t one of them.
The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*
And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…
Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Life360 and Nextdc. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Life360. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Life360. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.
In the early 2000’s the company had a market cap hovering around $1.5 billion and a share price just over $10.Â
Fast forward to today, and the company is one of the top 10 largest companies in Australia with a share price of roughly $184, representing almost a 2000% gain since 2002.Â
While this is a one-off example, it illustrates the potential long-term upside of identifying profitable small-cap stocks.Â
This year, there have been two mining companies that have had share price gains of between 180-200%.
This kind of return, regardless of risk-appetite, is worth paying attention to for investors.
The company operates gold and uranium exploration projects in West Africa. According to the company, Its strategy is to identify and develop gold deposits within the Siguiri Basin, Guinea.
After last week’s close, its share price is now up 200% in 2025.
Key highlights were the completion of its Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) which, according to the company, confirms its Bankan Gold Project as a rare gold asset, with large-scale, a long-life production profile, robust margins, and the ability to generate strong returns through the cycle.
However, as with any mine project – this depends on variables like execution, commodity prices etc.
In October, the company announced a merger with fellow Robex Resources (ASX: RXR).
However, Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU) has now also tabled an offer to Predictive Discovery.Â
The offer was deemed as a “superior proposal” by the board.
Robex now has five business days, until 10 December 2025, to decide whether to match or exceed that offer.
This decision will be important to watch, as two competing companies are essentially fighting for exposure to Predictive Discovery’s assets.Â
Should you invest $1,000 in Predictive Discovery Limited right now?
Before you buy Predictive Discovery Limited shares, consider this:
Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Predictive Discovery Limited wasn’t one of them.
The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*
And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…
Motley Fool contributor Aaron Bell has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.
Katie Lynch and her ex-husband live on the same property.
Courtesy of Katie Lynch
Katie Lynch, 41, from Brisbane, is divorced but lives on the same property as her ex-husband.
People are bemused when she tells them, but understand it from a cost-of-living perspective.
It all came down to putting their daughter first.
This story is based on a conversation with Katie Lynch, 41. The account has been edited for length and clarity.
It's unconventional, but I currently live on the same property as my ex-husband. When we divorced, we decided to prioritize our 9-year-old daughter, whom we had together, rather than our own needs.
My other children, aged 18 and 14, also live here and get along well with their ex-stepdad. They're from another marriage. The relationship with my first husband lasted from when I was 20 till I was 30. My second husband was from 30 to 40.
When my second marriage ended, it was a mature parting of ways, which very much set the tone for what was able to happen next.
We tried to make it work before we divorced
The relationship wasn't working anymore. We spent a couple of years trying to make it work, but in the end, we realized it wasn't to be, and began the process of splitting up.
We started by splitting bills and assessing what was left to pay. We wrote down all our assets and loans and realized we both need to pay off some debt.
Katie Lynch's ex-husband lives in an in-laws apartment in the same property she lives in.
Courtesy of Katie Lynch
Then we had another realization. If we were to live on two separate properties, our shared daughter would need two of everything: two beds, two sets of things for her room. It made much more sense, from both a financial and emotional support perspective, for us to still live on the same property. It helped that we already lived somewhere with an in-laws apartment that my ex-husband could move into.
People's reaction to my unusual living situation is usually to chuckle and ask, "Why?" When I explain the pressures of bringing up a kid in the cost-of-living crisis, their bafflement usually softens. My advice for anyone considering this in a similar situation is not to worry about the stigma and what people will say. It's about being creative and looking at your own unique situation.
We both respect each other's privacy
What's funny is, for my ex and me, it isn't an issue at all. We respect each other's boundaries, privacy, and right to a new life. We've both been on dates with other people. He currently has a girlfriend he's been with for over a year. My daughter helps braid her hair; they exchanged gifts on Mother's Day.
I'm happy to see him happy. That's why we were separating, because we were no longer happy together.
Katie Lynch and her ex-husband respect each other's privacy.
Courtesy of Katie Lynch
Neither of us suggested this co-living arrangement; it naturally evolved — we transitioned from separate rooms to separate houses, all on the same property. He's gone from my husband to my neighbour.
Our daughter doesn't have to move around between homes
It also saves us from having to drop the kids off at 5 o'clock in the morning to fit around our busy work schedules.
Our shared daughter was still just a young kid when we separated — it would've been a huge pain for her to pack up all her playthings, her bike, her school uniform, and things and shuttle from house to house. We knew she'd be happier this way. It minimises stress and any disruptions to the routine she should be able to take for granted.
Having said that, I also want her to appreciate this move we've made for her. As adults, we set the tone. When we show respect, our kids learn respect.
I hope I'm teaching them responsibility, about putting others first, and about compromise. I'm always checking in with them, but usually they can't wait to get out the door to see their friends. They're kids after all. They might not understand what it took to do this until they're older.
There's this narrative that you should hate your ex and never want to see them again, and that divorce and co-parenting are doomed. We demonstrate a new approach, a different way. It's not traditional, but it works for us because we prioritize kindness, respect, balance, and creating a supportive environment for our kids. They may not thank us right now, but I'm confident that this'll pay off in the future.
The author's son checks out the DVD section at the local library.
Courtesy of Jennifer Beck Goldblatt
With so many options available on streaming services, family movie night was getting stressful.
Choosing a few DVDs from the library limited my kids' options and streamlined family movie night.
This practice has helped introduce my kids to classic family movies and has kept bedtime on track.
More often than not, Friday is family movie night in my house. It's a time for the four of us to relax after a busy week, snuggle up, and eat food we all enjoy and actually agree on, like pizza, popcorn, and maybe a pan of brownies.
The idea is simple enough, so the execution should have been simple, too. But it rarely was.
While I was putting the finishing touches on our homemade pizza, I could usually hear my kids bickering in our family room over movie choices and my husband trying to be a calm-ish referee. Some nights, voices got louder; many nights, tears were shed. This wasn't what family movie night was supposed to be.
I was fed up. So I turned to an old school device to restore sanity: A DVD player.
It actually worked
I decided to limit my kids' movie choices to just a few DVDs I hastily grabbed at our local library one Friday afternoon. When I got home, my husband helpfully pointed out that our dusty DVD player wasn't even hooked up to our television, but he was able to remedy that easily enough. The late 90s and early aughts were back — at least in our living room.
The night went smoothly. The kids picked a movie and watched it without incident. Two years later, this is still a strategy I use to keep movie night low-stress.
The author chooses a few DVDs from the local library each week for her kids to choose from for movie night. The limited options help combat the overwhelming choices offered by streaming services.
Courtesy of Jennifer Beck Goldblatt
Streaming services have too many options for kids
The streaming services we currently subscribe to — Netflix, Disney+, AppleTV, and Prime Video (plus YouTube TV) — offer way too many choices for my children's 8- and 6-year-old brains to reasonably process. Add to that some differing interests, and it's a recipe for a guaranteed sibling squabble.
My kids could not be more different in their movie preferences. My daughter loves anything that she could imagine herself playing a part in, while my son has yet to meet a nature documentary he doesn't want to nerd out over. Luckily, my husband and I enjoy both of these genres, but let's be honest, we know our opinions don't really matter in this scenario.
Week after week, choosing a movie took way more time than our patience could reasonably handle at 6:30 p.m. on a Friday. In the back of my mind, I was selfishly wondering, "How long is this movie-picking process delaying their bedtime, after which my husband and I can actually relax?"
Having fewer movies to pick from was a game changer
My kids love books, so I'm already at the library at least once a week. Now, I always make time to browse the DVD section and pick out a few family-friendly movie options. Sometimes my kids get to have a say in what I grab, but I often try to do this without their input. I usually try to pick one that will cater to each of their interests and then one oldie but goodie from the past that my husband or I enjoyed as kids.
The author picks out family-friendly DVDs for her kids while they look for books at the library.
Courtesy of Jennifer Beck Goldblatt
More often than not, my kids choose to watch the older movie, which has led to us watching many classics from the 80s and 90s, such as "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids," "Beethoven," and "The Sandlot." Both kids loved them all and have requested to watch them multiple times since their first viewing. These are definitely not films that would have won out if we were searching for our Friday night entertainment on streaming services.
Of course, we still stream movies and shows
Sure, many of the movies we watch could be streamed, but my kids don't necessarily know that when I present new DVD options to them each Friday. For me, it's all about limiting their choices and making it seem like they are getting to see something special.
The author's family watches "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation," on DVD for their weekly movie night.
Courtesy of Jennifer Beck Goldblatt
Sometimes my library picks are complete duds, and my kids aren't interested in watching any of the options I bring home. It took two attempts, several months apart, for them to get into the Tom Hanks classic "Big." That's fine by me, though. We need time to watch newer favorites like "KPop Demon Hunters" (for my daughter) or the "Penguin Town" series (for my son), both of which are streaming on Netflix.
We're about two years into this family movie night experiment with DVDs, and I'd consider it an ongoing parenting win. Our kids bicker less over choices, and we're able to get the movie started more quickly, which means bedtime can happen almost on time. Then the real Friday night relaxation can begin.
This year has been rough on this ASX 200 mining stock. New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC) shares are down significantly in 2025, falling 20% for the year to date.
The sliding share price is reflecting a steep decrease in global coal prices. Yet the coal mining company still delivers a relatively high dividend yield of 8.5% at current levels.
For income-focused investors, that might look tempting. But is it really time to buy this ASX 200 mining stock?
Diversifying coal-market risk
New Hope is one of Australia’s established coal miners. Its operations include major assets such as the Bengalla Mine in New South Wales and the New Acland Mine in Queensland.
In FY2025, higher output from the mines, especially New Acland, boosted saleable coal production to 10.7 Mt.
New Hope also increased its equity in Malabar Resources to about 23%, increasing its exposure to metallurgical coal and diversifying its coal-market risk. The company highlights that it maintains key strengths: low-cost operations, coal type diversification, and disciplined management despite weak prices.
Market beating dividends
Shares in the coal stock closed last week at $3.99, a gain of 2.8%. The ASX 200 mining stock is down 8% this month and 19% over a year, but still up 171% over five years.
However, New Hope has continued to reward passive income investors with some market beating dividends.
Shareholders received a fully franked 19 cent interim dividend on 9 April, and a final fully franked 15 cent dividend from New Hope on 8 October. The total annual dividend is 34 cents per share, giving New Hope stock a fully franked 8.5% trailing yield that partially offsets last year’s capital losses.
The company also introduced a Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRP), letting eligible shareholders reinvest dividends as new shares.
Management has stated dividends will continue as the main form of shareholder return, supported by strong franking credits.
What do the experts think?
New Hope’s weak share price and high yield may appeal to income investors who accept commodity risk. Returns depend highly on unpredictable coal market conditions. If coal prices rebound, the coal miner could deliver strong investor returns.
Brokers are divided. Only a few analysts rate the ASX 200 mining stock a buy and set a target price over $5.00. Most market watchers are more conservative with a hold recommendation and a target price for the next 12 months of $4.10, a modest upside of 2.7%.
Analysts at Macquarie Group (ASX: MQG) have become cautious, downgrading New Hope to ‘underperform’ and cutting their 12-month price target to $3.80 per share. They are citing weaker coal-price outlook and subdued production expectations as the reason for the downgrade.
Should you invest $1,000 in New Hope Corporation Limited right now?
Before you buy New Hope Corporation Limited shares, consider this:
Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and New Hope Corporation Limited wasn’t one of them.
The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*
And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…
Motley Fool contributor Marc Van Dinther has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.
CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) shares have had a reputation for profit growth over the years. But, the business is now facing headwinds in the US and a potentially slower growth outlook.
The ASX biotech share has carved out a good position in immunoglobulin (IG) products, blood plasma collection centres and vaccines.
Analysts are not convinced the business can continue growing profit as strongly for the foreseeable future.
With uncertainty in the air, let’s take a look at how much profit analysts are projecting the business could produce in the coming years.
FY26
Despite all of the difficulties the business is facing, the broker UBS is projecting that the company’s net profit could rise in 2026.
UBS noted that at a recent capital markets day, CSL expects high single digits IG sales growth in FY27 and FY28, with the broker predicting 5% growth. The market is expected to see mid-single-digit to high-single-digit growth, along with market share gains of between 1% to 2%.
The broker noted that market share gains in IG are expected to come from new hospital sales force, pre-filled syringe adoption and enhanced tender capabilities.
UBS also highlighted that high single-digit sales growth is expected in hemophilia, AHC and HAE.
The broker is also expecting that the net profit margin could increase 100 basis points (1.00%) across FY27 and FY28 due to lower costs of goods sold as well as operating leverage.
In FY26, US$200 million is expected to be achieved of its cost saving target of US$550 million. Separately, CSL is targeting an 11% reduction in addressable manufacturing costs by FY28.
CSL believes it’s well-positioned to deal with US tariffs and other headwinds related to the US with “likely plasma exclusion and its growing US investment”.
UBS also said that Seqirus (the vaccine business) is outperforming in a difficult US market, with a significant drop in US vaccination rates. But, market share gains in Europe are helping offset some of the pain. UBS said there is room for a recovery because flu doses in FY26 are around 30% below pre-COVID levels, while other large markets are at pre-COVID levels.
There are a lot of moving parts with CSL, which are all under scrutiny amid all of the CSL share price pain.
Despite all of the above, the business is projected to grow its net profit to US$3.46 billion in FY26.
FY27
Profit is expected to continue to rise in the 2027 financial year for shareholders.
UBS projects that owners of CSL shares could see the company’s net profit climb to $3.79 billion in FY27.
FY28
The 2028 financial year could get even better for CSL, with UBS forecasting that the company’s net profit could increase to $4.17 billion.
FY29
The FY29 net profit could climb even further for shareholders, according to UBS, to $4.5 billion.
FY30
If UBS is correct with its projections, then CSL could achieve a net profit of $4.7 billion in FY30. This implies a possible rise of net profit by 38% between FY26 and FY30. Time will tell how close these projections are to reality, but they are promising.
The broker has a buy rating on the business, with a price target of $275. That suggests a possible rise of almost 50% in the next year.
Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and CSL wasn’t one of them.
The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*
And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…
Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.
With interest rates now heading lower and savings accounts offering slimmer returns, many investors are shifting their focus back to dividend-paying shares.
And with the ASX home to some of the world’s most reliable income shares, there are plenty of attractive opportunities for those looking to put $20,000 to work right now.
If you’re building or expanding an income-focused portfolio, three well-established Australian shares stand out as top choices for December.
Harvey Norman has long been a favourite among dividend investors thanks to its strong cash generation, extensive store network, and conservative balance sheet. While retail conditions have been patchy in 2025 due to cost-of-living pressures, Harvey Norman continues to benefit from resilient demand in categories such as appliances, technology, and furniture.
Another positive is that management owns a significant portion of the business, aligning their interests with shareholders and supporting a disciplined approach to capital allocation. And as economic conditions stabilise in 2026, Harvey Norman’s earnings, and its dividends, are well placed to improve again.
At present, its shares trade with a trailing fully franked dividend yield of 3.9%.
Another ASX dividend share to consider for that $20,000 investment is Super Retail Group.
It is the owner of well-known retail brands Supercheap Auto, Macpac, BCF, and Rebel. These businesses operate in categories where customers tend to remain relatively loyal even during tougher economic periods. That resilience has helped Super Retail deliver consistently strong earnings and a steady stream of dividends.
In recent years, the company has strengthened its balance sheet, expanded its online presence, grown its loyalty program, and improved inventory efficiency, positioning it well for the future. Especially now interest rates are falling.
And with its shares trading at attractive levels compared to historical averages, dividend investors are being offered both income and potential upside as trading conditions normalise.
Super Retail’s shares currently trade with a trailing fully franked dividend yield of 4.2%.
A final ASX dividend share to consider is Woolworths. As one of the country’s big two supermarket operators, it is a defensive option that is able to generate stable revenue regardless of economic cycles.
This consistency allows Woolworths to pay reliable dividends year after year. And despite some recent share price weakness related to increased competition and shifting consumer behaviour, Woolworths remains a dominant player with a strong brand, deep customer loyalty, and growing digital capabilities.
It is currently trading with a trailing fully franked dividend yield of 3.1%.
Should you invest $1,000 in Harvey Norman Holdings Limited right now?
Before you buy Harvey Norman Holdings Limited shares, consider this:
Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Harvey Norman Holdings Limited wasn’t one of them.
The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*
And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…
Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Woolworths Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Super Retail Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Harvey Norman, Super Retail Group, and Woolworths Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.
Corporate Travel Management Ltd (ASX: CTD) and uranium miner Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE) are among six ASX shares that will be dropped from the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) in the December rebalance.
Corporate Travel Management shares have been suspended since 26 August after the company revealed accounting irregularities in its UK operations.
Wondering where you should invest $1,000 right now?
When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for over ten years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*
Scott just revealed what he believes could be the ‘five best ASX stocks’ for investors to buy right now. We believe these stocks are trading at attractive prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right nowâ¦
Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Corporate Travel Management and HMC Capital. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Corporate Travel Management. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended HMC Capital and IPH Ltd. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.
