2017 Budget – Winners and Losers
Compared to previous years, the 2017 Budget was a bit of an anti-climax. In previous years, there have been a number of big-ticket changes - such as the big changes to superannuation that we have been discussing in recent articles. But this year there have simply been a whole lot of small changes, some of which will be of benefit and others will represent a small loss.
Superannuation changes from 1 July 2017 – Part 2
The 2016 Federal budget introduced a number of changes to superannuation. Many of these changes take effect on 1 July 2017. This week’s article follows on from our article of a fortnight ago. We continue to explore the coming changes and how you can ensure you are prepared for them. We hope you enjoy it!
Superannuation changes from 1 July 2017
The 2016 Federal budget introduced a number of changes to superannuation. Many of these changes take effect on 1 July 2017.
This is just a few weeks away, so this is a good time to review the changes and decide if you need to make any adjustments to your super to minimise any negative effects of the changes.
Who gets your super when you no longer need it?
Most people do not own their super benefits. The benefits are owned by the trustee/s of the fund. You can organize things to make sure that these trustees do what you want with your super when you die. You can also organize things so that the people who end up with your benefits pay as little tax as possible. Read on to find out how.
ASIC’s review of life insurers and their payment of claims
In 2016, ASIC reviewed the performance of the major insurers when it came to paying insurance claims. The report makes for troubling reading, especially for people who organise their own insurances. The news was much better for people who used a financial adviser to help them arrange their insurances.
Insurance that you never knew you had
Many working Australians – or Australians who used to work – have insurance of which they are unaware. This can be a huge relief if ever something goes wrong and you cannot work. If you or someone you know has become unable to work, then this article is a must-read. And if you think you might need help with a claim, please make sure you contact us.
Positive Gearing. What is it, how does it happen and do you want it anyway
In property investing positive gearing is where the rent received exceeds the interest on money borrowed to finance the purchase. You often hear about positive gearing – especially from people with a property they want you to buy! But is positive cash flow property actually worth pursuing? The answer depends on what is creating the positive cash flow situation. Sometimes, these factors combine to make positive gearing a wonderful way to reduce risk. But at other times, the factors creating the positive gearing can make an investment very risky indeed. This article shows you how to tell the difference.
Borrowing to pay super contributions
Super contributions are a legitimate expense of a business. As long as the business uses a company structure, it can even borrow to make contributions on behalf of all of the staff – including the company directors. This can create a nice little tax saving that might not otherwise be possible.