To choose the best credit card for you, consider your spending habits and how you will pay it off. If you’re struggling to pay your bills, a new credit card may not be the best move. See managing debt for other options. How to get the best credit card for you Thinking about how you will use … Read more
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
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
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
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
There are really only two types of businesses; those that are growing and those that are shrinking, writes Fred Wilson. Many business owners often ask themselves how much faster they may have been able to achieve their success if they had only been better prepared and more aware of the business mistakes they were making … Read more
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
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
Paying off your education is no reason to put off buying property. You can remember it now: sitting in a chair at the back of the lecture theatre, chatting to your friends and ignoring the debt that each day at university was plunging you into. But now you’re older and wiser, and reality has set … Read more
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
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
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