Raising the bar

Australia’s thriving property market has recovered so swiftly since the brief pandemic-induced recession of 2020, that authorities have stepped in to pull the reigns on runaway real estate prices.  Nationally, dwelling values are up 20.3% higher over the past 12 months, every capital city experiencing significant growth across the board. Melbourne, despite ongoing lockdowns dampening … Read more

Four common retirement goals

Envision your ideal retirement: Are you relaxing on a beach? Starting a new hobby? Or finally taking that trip to Paris? A comfortable retirement looks different for everyone, but most investors share some common goals. We’ve broken those down into 4 key categories to help you start planning. Determining how you prioritise these goals is … Read more

Upsize your super with after-tax contributions

You’ll have heard the old, almost grandmotherly adage that ‘every dollar counts’. But guess what – it’s true. Voluntary after tax super contributions (also called non-concessional contributions), refer to any payments you make to your super fund out of your take-home pay. Making after-tax super contributions is an easy way to boost your retirement savings on your … Read more

Shaping investments for the future

With significant demographic shifts occurring around the world, one useful approach for investors is to use demographic themes and trends as a compass for future investing.  Focusing on companies that will benefit from slow moving, long duration and highly predictable demographic trends can help investors predict areas of future opportunity. There are three main themes … Read more

Find lost super

If you’ve ever changed your name, address or job, you may have lost track of some of your super. Finding your lost super and bringing it all together saves on fees and makes it easier to manage. Find your super Your lost super may be held by your super fund or by the Australian Taxation … Read more

Extra super step when hiring new employees

There’s a change coming soon that means to comply with ‘choice of fund’ rules you might need to do something extra when a new employee starts to work for you. Currently, if a new employee doesn’t choose their own super fund, you can pay super contributions for them to your default fund. From 1 November, if … Read more

Top 10 common GST mistakes in BAS reports

It’s easy to make a mistake when preparing your BAS. The key is to be aware of common pitfalls so you can avoid them.  Thankfully, with online accounting software, preparing your own Business Activity Statement (BAS*) is easier. Even so, the ATO has identified a number of mistakes commonly made in the BAS reporting form. Here are … Read more

Handle your after-auction matters like a pro

There’s a bit to sort out once your auction has wrapped up. We’re here to guide you through the key financial to-do’s after your auction – whether you’ve sold or getting ready for round two after passing in.  What happens with the buyer’s deposit? How it’s paid As the seller, how the deposit gets paid is your call – … Read more

Super lump sum

You may be able to take your superannuation as a lump sum payment when you retire. This is usually tax-free from age 60. How a superannuation lump sum works Depending on your fund’s rules, you may be able to withdraw some or all of your superannuation (super) as a lump sum. If so, you can … Read more