Preparing your family trust for EOFY

With less than a month to go before the end of the financial year (EOFY) rolls around, some important tasks need to be completed for family trusts. Discretionary trusts (often called family trusts) are the most common trust used in Australia and are generally created to hold and protect family or business assets. Trustees of … Read more

Investment Property: Getting it right

With property remaining a high-priced asset, it’s more important than ever for investors to ensure their property investments are a financial success. The latest data demonstrates property’s popularity. One-in-five households (21%) owns a home in addition to their usual residence.i Maximising taxation benefits is one key element but the ATO recently found 9 out of … Read more

Four timeless principles for investing success

Investing success can mean different things to different people. Being clear on what success means for you is key to mapping out your plan. Although investing can seem perplexing and complex, success is largely within your control. Having a tailored investment strategy can go a long way to reducing the stress and noise associated with … Read more

Why many retirees are underspending

After accumulating superannuation savings over multiple decades, many retirees are fearful of spending too much. When it comes to life in retirement, many Australians are probably being more frugal than they need to be. And that’s largely built around a fear of running out of their retirement savings before they die – an outcome that’s … Read more

Combat cost-of-living hikes and keep saving

Cost of living pressures coupled with rate rises have made it more difficult to save for a home deposit and afford the lifestyle you’ve either become accustomed to or are dreaming of. Budget Direct’s Cost of Living Survey & Statistics 2023 found that despite the living cost index for employee households recording its largest quarterly … Read more

Managing your financial health

Understanding financial health Financial health is an important part of our lives. When we take care of our financial health we can better manage financial stress and achieve our financial goals. Financial health is made up of three components: the ability to meet everyday commitments like paying your bills and making loan repayments the resilience … Read more

Six things to look out for with retirement planning

Key takeaways Things to be mindful of with retirement planning such as procrastination, underestimating your financial requirements, and failing to update your plans as your circumstances and needs evolve. How to avoid the common pitfalls to help ensure your retirement plans remain on track. Retirement should be a time when we can kick back, relax, … Read more

The upfront costs of buying a home

When saving for your first (or next) home, it’s common to focus on building up the deposit and servicing your upcoming home loan. However, there are other upfront costs when buying a home that you should be aware of from the get-go. With it being particularly challenging these days to get your foot onto the … Read more

Airbnb vs long term rentals – do the numbers stack up?

In just 15 short years, Airbnb has transformed from a platform helping homeowners earn cash from their spare rooms to a business and property investment strategy. There are between 100,000 and 350,000 short-term rental properties across Australia, with homes making up approximately 85% of those listings according to various portals.i While it might seem like … Read more