Generations of Australians have been brought up with the concept that they should own their home. In fact, “dead money” is an expression often used to describe renting. However, in many other countries home ownership tends to be less common. So what is the best option for Australians- to... read more →
Oct
27
Oct
21
Many of us often look at what we pay for our insurance cover over a year and wonder if there are ways we can cut the cost of insurance without jeopardising the cover. One option is to facilitate the insurance cover via your superannuation fund. Mike’s case Mike and Terri... read more →
Oct
20
When relationships break down, child maintenance payments are often made from post-tax money. If this is a position you are facing, perhaps you might consider a Child Maintenance Trust. According to the National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling (NATSEM), the cost of raising two children is estimated at $812,000.... read more →
Oct
10
This article is aimed at small business owners and illustrates how keeping good tax records can save time and money, and ultimately contribute to the profitability of the business. It outlines the various benefits to small business and reminds readers that the ATO is not lenient when it comes to... read more →
Oct
08
To renovate or upgrade – which is best? This article discusses the advantages and disadvantages of renovating a home compared to upgrading to a new one. Most of us will live in two or three family homes during our lives. You might find that over this time our needs change... read more →
Oct
04
It is now 3 months into the 2014/15 financial year and the hours you spent setting your annual budget are probably a distant memory, but now it’s time to get your budget out again and review your progress since 1 July. A budget is a living document. It is the... read more →
Sep
30
This brief article outlines the role of money in close personal relationships. It lists some financial points which should be considered. These days there are few relationships in which the sole breadwinner also looks after all the finances without any involvement of their partner. With two-income families more common than... read more →
Sep
29
A recently announced ATO initiative will target individuals who are falsely claiming an exemption on the Medicare levy. Using metadata matching technology, the ATO will aim to ensure that individuals are meeting their tax obligations. The program is also predicted to identify a number of individuals who do qualify for... read more →
Sep
26
Many of us have an ongoing love affair with our credit cards – they are simple to use, accepted everywhere and there are no hassles with buying what you want when you want it. Living close to the credit card limit has become the norm for many people. To make... read more →
Sep
19
The ATO has made its final ruling on the application of Division 7A to relationship breakdowns. If a private company is ordered by the family court to make a payment or transfer an asset to a separating partner, then the settlement will be treated as a distribution of profits for... read more →