As we approach and enter retirement, it’s important to ensure our investment strategy is appropriate for our time of life. Our circumstances change over time – even in retirement. For instance, your home may need a new roof, or one of your children may fall ill and need to be cared for at home. What’s … Read more
As the end of the financial year approaches, now is a good time to check your super and see what you could do to boost your retirement nest egg. What’s more, you could potentially reduce your tax bill at the same time. There are a handful of positive changes to super due to start next … Read more
It’s tempting to put price above everything else when choosing insurance for your property. However, whether you’ve just taken out a new mortgage or are hunting for a better deal, making sure you have enough of the right sort of cover is just as important. Here are the main insurance points to consider when comparing … Read more
Key takeaways The ATO has introduced a new shortcut method for claiming work-related tax deductions until 30 June 2022 Under this method, you can claim 80 cents per hour for your additional running expenses that you have incurred You’re not required to keep receipts or calculate the specific costs of items you may have bought during … Read more
The numbers say that the average Australian woman retires with barely half (53 per cent)1 the super of the average man. As statistics go, it’s a shocking one. That gap starts to open early in working life, with women aged 25 to 34 having an average super balance of $31,600, compared to an average balance of … Read more
Trying to time investment markets is difficult if not impossible at the best of times, let alone now. The war in Ukraine, rising inflation and interest rates and an upcoming federal election have all added to market uncertainty and volatility. At times like these investors may be tempted to retreat to the ‘’safety” of cash, … Read more
Key takeaways There are a whole range of strategies that make it worthwhile putting a little extra effort (and money) into your super Personal super contributions—those made from money you’ve already paid tax on such as savings or your take-home pay—are tax deductible Your personal super contribution is taxed at 15% which is significantly lower … Read more
With the end of financial year approaching, it’s a good time to review your personal balance sheet. If it’s not as healthy as you would like, perhaps it’s time to do a little budget repair of your own. Just as governments need to set policy objectives and budget for future spending commitments, households need to … Read more
This time of year, people’s thoughts start turning to their tax return, but it can also be a good time to set things up so you don’t pay more tax than required next financial year. Simply talking to your employer about setting up an arrangement to “sacrifice” some of your pre-tax salary could potentially lower … Read more
Key takeaways: If you contribute some of your after-tax income or savings into super, you may be eligible to claim a tax deduction Making a ‘salary sacrifice’ contribution could see you pay less tax than if you received the money as take-home pay If your spouse is not working or earns a low income, making … Read more
For many people, the phrase “investing in the share market” is framed by either gains and losses. For the “gains” group, the thought of increasing their wealth and having the potential to generate returns is what propels them to invest. For the “losses” group, the thought of losing money is what keeps them out of … Read more
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has today announced four key focus areas for Tax Time 2022. The ATO will be focusing on: record-keeping work-related expenses rental property income and deductions, and capital gains from crypto assets, property, and shares. These ATO priority areas will ensure that there is an appropriate level of scrutiny on correct … Read more
