The Australian Tax Office (ATO) has recently changed the way it assesses income earned by assets paid for by a Self Managed Super Fund (SMSF) borrowings. In some cases, income earned by assets in this category will be treated as non-arm’s length and won’t qualify for the tax concessions available within super.

Investment properties in Australia are being hit by falling rental earnings. So is it possible to still make money from investment properties? We consider the challenges and opportunities of the current Australian property market and how to navigate both.

Investors have endured volatile market conditions so far in 2015. While economic growth is improving in the US and UK, in other regions it has been more subdued.

The plight of a cancer sufferer may seem hopeless but the fight that I saw in this family showed a resolve that is captured in adversity. I mean real adversity. Not a market fluctuation where your capital drops by 20% or changes to legislation which means you may have to pay some tax. The realisation that nobody believes you can survive a terminal illness. 

I was talking to a business client last week, and the topic of the value their current Accountant is delivering came up. So it got me thinking, what is the best set up for a burgeoning business? Based upon my experience, I believe that EVERY business owner should have their A-team around them. 

Having a baby is one of the most exciting and scary times in your life. Getting on top of your finances can help alleviate some of the pressure, so that you can enjoy your time with your newborn.

Fraud is a serious problem in Australia. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ latest figures, 1.2 million Australians were the victims of fraud in the year to 2010/2011, or 6.7 per cent of the population.

If you run a business, or you’re thinking of starting one, one of the first lessons you learn as a business owner is that cash is king. It’s the lifeblood of every business. Without it, it’s impossible to meet the obligations of the business, plan for the future or gain a real picture of the health of the enterprise.

It’s been a long year. The three months off work recovering from open heart surgery wasn’t really a break.

Being pretty well immobilised and laying on the lounge room floor watching videos and reading books kept me busy, but not rejuvenated.

It’s been more than five years since the worst of the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) hit equity and bond markets. While flow-on effects continue to affect financial markets, there are many lessons we have taken from the crisis that can be applied to wealth planning. Here are our top five lessons from the GFC to consider when making investment decisions.

Do you receive an income support payment from Centrelink? Then you need to know about changes that start from 1 January 2015 that have the potential to reduce your income support payments in the future.

Let’s take a look at what the changes are and who is affected.

I received a call this week from a client’s son. He is 19 and has just moved to Port Hedland in pursuit of the Great Western Dream as I call it. Adventure, work and a high paying salary, and as I keep saying to these hard workers, there is a reason why they pay you that much!

The superannuation environment is a very competitive industry. Understanding the best vehicle to manage your retirement capital can be complex and confusing.

Please take some time to view our brief video that outlines two of our preferred Superannuation vehicles.

As the saying goes, money doesn’t grow on trees. But, just like nurturing a beautiful garden, if you give your nest egg the right attention throughout the seasons, it will grow into a substantial asset. Let’s take a look at what you need to do throughout the year to cultivate a great financial future.

Right now, residential aged care costs are heavily subsidised by the Federal Government. But, with the Government’s aged care costs estimated to double from $13 billion now to $26 billion by 2023/24, there will be substantial changes to the aged care system.

Investments, insurance and superannuation are some of the “things” people suggest are the main roles of what a financial planner can offer. In a transactional model, this would be a fair assumption. Generally, when the relationship with a financial planner is transaction based, there is less substance to the personal relationship.

In case you didn't know, I am a massive fan of Twitter. Unlike other social media platforms, Twitter is simple and effective. I can obtain information and communicate with all types of people without getting their permission and I can get most of my news from there. It really is a fascinating concept.

The Government co-contribution is an initiative that gives eligible low income earners the ability to boost their superannuation savings by matching personal non concessional contributions up to $1,000.

Income protection insurance comes across most people’s radar when they’re starting out in their career. Often, people take out this type of policy when they buy a house, so if a serious illness or a bad accident strikes, your children and your spouse are covered.

There are lots of things to consider when you’re looking at aged care.

You’ll need to think about the type of care that’s available, depending on how healthy you are. You’ll also need to factor in different options for paying for your accommodation, based on your means.