If you operate some or all of your business from home, you may be able to claim the business-use portion of expenses you incur. For example: occupancy expenses (such as mortgage interest or rent, council rates, land taxes and home insurance premiums) running expenses (such as electricity, gas, phone, internet, stationery, cleaning and the decline … Read more
Preparing for loss of capacity or death is vital for SMSF members. It’s important to ensure your trust deed is watertight. There are more than 600,000 self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs) in Australia, managing close to $900 billion of assets on behalf of over a million Australians. Each SMSF’s trust deed is legally required to set … Read more
It’s no secret that scammers are getting more sophisticated. As this is an ever-evolving space, scammers are constantly developing new ways to part you with your hard-earned cash – and they cast their net wide. While it’s easy to think “it will never happen to me”, people who never expected to be victims of scams … Read more
What is a bridging loan? A bridging loan, or bridging finance, is a short-term loan that can help you finance the purchase of a new property while you sell your current property. Most people sell their old home first, and then buy their new home with the available equity. But there are times when buying … Read more
Superannuation has dominated recent headlines, with proposed changes announced by Treasurer Jim Chalmers. While the details of these changes still need to be released, it’s worthwhile turning our focus to superannuation balances as we approach the end of financial year. There are lots of different ways to top up your super, but if you want … Read more
Retirement is a phase of life most of us look forward to. It’s a chance to pursue other interests, travel and maybe do some part-time work or volunteering. Thanks to more than 30 years of compulsory superannuation, we are retiring with more savings than previous generations but that also brings its challenges. According to the … Read more
As we age, we may require additional support to maintain our independence and quality of life. For many seniors, this can involve accessing home care services that help with daily tasks like cooking, cleaning, and personal care. One way to access more comprehensive home care services is by applying for a higher level home care … Read more
Index funds continue to outperform the majority of active managers over time, but a blend of passive and active funds can be a powerful combination. The Australian share market ended 2022 lower than where it started the year, and in between it was a bumpy ride for investors. Over 251 trading days, the S&P/ASX 200 … Read more
Proposed changes to superannuation have the potential to reshape the retirement landscape. The objective of super remains the missing ingredient in the mix. At its most fundamental, successful investing is about getting the balance right between risk and reward. Some risks are front and centre; they are in your face (or at least on your … Read more
These days, most people hold some form of life insurance in their super account. While this is a welcome safety net, the level of cover held this way is often inadequate. A Rice Warner study back in 2020 found that life cover within superannuation only met about 65-70 per cent of actual need.i With the … Read more
Crypto-assets (crypto) mean digital assets including cryptocurrencies, coins or tokens. They digitally represent your ownership of a value or rights to something. They may or may not be backed by physical assets. Crypto is a high-risk investment. The value of crypto is very volatile, often fluctuating by huge amounts within a short period. More than … Read more
The Reserve Bank has expressed concerns over how some borrowers on low fixed-rate mortgages will cope once their loan expires. Incremental home loan interest rate hikes have been eating into the household budgets of millions of Australians ever since the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) began lifting its official cash rate in May 2022. This … Read more