What factors make certain investments more expensive?
Why some investments cost more than others People are sometimes unsure why different investment types cost more to manage than others. There can be several reasons for this. Let’s look at some of the main ones. When deciding what to invest in, there are three main factors you should consider: The expected return you need to […]
2019/20 Federal Budget changes to personal tax
Personal income tax Changes to personal income tax rates The Government has proposed the following changes to the personal income tax rates: From 1 July 2022, the Government will increase the upper threshold of the 19% personal income tax bracket to $45,000. The rates below do not include the Medicare Levy. The upper threshold of […]
Ageing and aged care in Australia
Receiving care in a residential aged care home In Australia, the government subsidises different types of aged care services to cater for older peoples’ needs and to support their carers – usually their family. This is a sensitive and complex area, and for more and more Australians is a decision they will need to make […]
Ageing and aged care
Ageing and aged care in Australia The number of people aged 65 and over in Australia is projected to more than double, to 8.8 million, over the next 40 years(1). This will undoubtedly increase the need for aged care in the community and put pressure on families and Government funding. Receiving help at home Initially, […]
Smart ways to give
Planned giving For many people, there are opportunities throughout each year that lend themselves to give gifts to show their appreciation of family and friends. It’s also a good time to give to those less fortunate. Here are some tips on smart giving. Set a budget Determine how much you can realistically afford to spend […]
Finding and consolidating super
Finding super sparks $860 million of joy New data released by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) shows that Australians were busy finding and consolidating our superannuation accounts at the end of 2018. More than 66,000 people found and consolidated over 105,000 accounts worth more than $860 million from October to December 2018 using ATO online accessed via myGov. Assistant Commissioner Graham […]
WA Wills and estate planning
What happens if you don’t have a Will The Public Trustee WA conducted a survey in 2014 which found that only 35 per cent of adults had a current Will and only 19 per cent of families with young children have a Will. There are many reasons why so many people do not have a valid, […]
ATO data matching of share transactions
Share transactions – 20 Sep 1985 to 30 Jun 2018 data matching program protocol (amended) At a glance Program objectives The purpose of the ATO’s data matching program is to ensure that taxpayers are correctly meeting their taxation obligations in relation to share transactions. These obligations include registration, lodgment, reporting and payment responsibilities. As taxpayers can hold shares for […]
Downsizer contributions
ATO guidance regarding ‘downsizer contributions’ The ability to make ‘downsizer contributions’ effectively commenced on 1 July 2018, prompting the ATO to release further guidance with respect to this new superannuation contribution classification. This new measure will be of most assistance for individuals approaching retirement, where they dispose of their family home in an effort to […]
Perth dentist case study
Financial Planning expertise adds polish to Perth dentist’s affairs Shelley’s experience was like many others when it came to organising her personal affairs. She’d found a financial adviser with whom she worked well but, when he inevitably left for greener pastures, she was offered a litany of replacements that changed too frequently for her liking. […]