Wills and powers of attorney
A good estate plan will help make sure your wishes are carried out when you die. It can also help if you become unable to make your own decisions. Estate plans An estate plan records what you want done with…
Why family trusts are back in favour
Recent changes to the rules around voluntary superannuation contributions which impact the amount you can transfer into a super pension account, have meant that many older Australians are considering setting up a family trust. Trusts can be an effective way…
Tax and the super afterlife
Death and taxes are never pleasant topics to think about, but a little careful consideration now could save the people who will inherit your superannuation savings a big tax bill. Many people assume there’s no tax payable on super death…
In family we trust
Family trusts have come under close scrutiny from government and the Tax Office over the years, but they are still a popular wealth management tool for Australian families. While trusts are set up for a range of reasons, it’s important…
Making tax work for you
Tax should never be central to any investment decision you make but it still has an important role to play. What that means is your investments should be tax effective rather than tax driven. Depending on your personal financial circumstances,…
How to get the biggest ROI on an investment property
When purchasing an investment property, there are a number of factors that could increase or reduce your potential return on investment. In this case it's not just location, location, location. When considering a property for investment purposes, the most important…
Using tax for effective property investing
With Australian property remaining expensive and banks tightening their lending criteria, investors need to ensure their property investments are a financial success. A key element is maximising the taxation benefits flowing from your investment. This includes correctly structuring the loan…
Positives and negatives of gearing
Negatively gearing an investment property is viewed by many Australians as a tax effective way to get ahead. According to Treasury, more than 1.9 million people earned rental income in 2012-13 and of those about 1.3 million reported a net…
SMSFs and property: What are the rules?
With the property market hitting all-time highs in 2021, interest in investing in direct property through your SMSF has never been higher. In the September 2021 quarter, Australia’s SMSFs had almost $88 billion invested in non-residential real property, with another $47…