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
It’s hard to see the good in COVID-19. One of the few upsides is that you may be able to claim some tax back for the expenses incurred from running your make-shift home office. With lockdowns forcing many more people to work from home, the ATO has introduced a new shortcut method for claiming work-related … 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
Superannuation is money that you save during your working life to use as income when you retire. Like any other investment, the intent is to increase your super account balance, over the long term, while you’re still working. Once you’ve reached retirement, your super savings are generally converted into a pension, providing a regular income … Read more
Whether you run a small business or a large enterprise, having a well-planned technology strategy is essential to the growth and ongoing success of your business. Well thought out technology strategies should not simply provide support for existing operational tasks, they should also proactively plan for future technology needs and contain policy and procedures relating … Read more
Succession planning is common in the business world. Last week, the United States investment group Berkshire Hathaway announced the appointment to its board of Susan Buffett (68). She’s the daughter of the company’s billionaire founder Warren Buffett (91), who’s still the chairman and chief executive. While it’s unlikely Susan will succeed her father in those … Read more
If you’re nearing retirement, you may be able to reduce your work hours but retain the same income. Through a transition to retirement (TTR) pension you can choose to work less, or continue working the same hours while making your own contributions into super. In both cases, you can use the income from your TTR pension to … Read more
When it comes to super, the accepted wisdom is that performance is the most important consideration. That means we often ignore another critical part of our superannuation. Most super funds include life insurance along with total and permanent disability (TPD) insurance for their members. In fact, more than 70 per cent of Australians who have … Read more
Australia’s aged care system is incredibly complex, and making the wrong decisions can have a high cost, both financially and emotionally. Being aware of the common traps to avoid can help your family save time, money and stress. Mistake 1: Making aged care decisions in a crisis Sadly, many aged care decisions are made in … Read more
Retiring early is a dream that many people hope to someday achieve, and with the right plan in place, it is possible to reach it. But the path to retiring early isn’t easy. It takes time and an incredible amount of discipline to earn, save, and invest as much as you possibly can. You also … Read more
Written by Tony Kaye, Senior Personal Finance Writer After months in lockdowns and living under tight restrictions, many Australians have gone on a “revenge spending” spree. Revenge spending is the term widely being used to describe how some people are taking out their revenge on the COVID-19 pandemic by spending money on things they haven’t … 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
