Many Australians are seeking independent financial planning advice – that is, advice from a financial adviser that is not conflicted by factors such as ownership links or commissions.  The truth is that in Australia, independent financial planners are getting harder and harder to find.  This article aims to give you some tips about what to [...]

New Draft Ruling for SMSF Held Assets -When is a Repair not a Repair? There has always been a lot of debate about whether superannuation funds could make ‘repairs’ or ‘improvements’ to a property acquired under a borrowing arrangement.  Thankfully, the ATO recently released the Draft Self Managed Superannuation Funds Ruling (SMSFR 2011/D1) which seeks [...]

As financial advisors, many people ask as how much money they will need in retirement.  The answer really depends on a number of factors: – what sort of lifestyle do you want in retirement – how many years you expect your retirement funds to last (i.e. how many years after you stop working do you [...]

Over the past couple of months we in Australia have experienced some share market volatility in response to the widening debt issues in Europe and the US.  The announcement of Standard & Poor’s decision to reduce the US’s credit rating from AAA to AA+ in early August instigated several days of significant share market jitters [...]

Creating wealth in today’s financial environment can be a challenge.  Here are our Top 6 Tips for Financial Success from our Sydney Financial Planners: 1.  Understand basic financial concepts It’s hard to have a chance at real financial success unless you’ve mastered some basic financial concepts.  Need to learn the basics of investing?  Our free [...]

What is a family trust? A family trust is a legal structure where money or assets are managed by a person (or organisation) on behalf of and for the benefit of another.  A family trust (also known as a discretionary trust) is where money and/or assets are held in trust for benefit of members of [...]

Many Australians travel overseas at some point in their careers with popular destinations being the UK, USA, Dubai, and Asia.  But when you’re reading to move back home to Australia, it can be difficult to know how to best manage your finances. What should you do with the retirement savings you’ve accumulated overseas? What about [...]

The Gillard Government’s has announced the details of the controversial carbon tax plan.   The tax is aimed at putting a price on pollution to encourage businesses to lessen their impact on the environment and climate change. Carbon Tax FAQs for Australian Families 1. What is the carbon tax? The carbon tax is a fixed price [...]

Download a Free Ebook about Financial Planning for Expats Returning to Australia. Discover how to manage your finances and re-establish your money in Australia.  Written by Sydney financial planners.

Most Australians lodge their annual tax return to the ATO each year without a second thought. Having a ‘self-assessment’ taxation system in Australia means that the ATO accepts the claims that a taxpayer makes in their tax return. Usually the ATO then issue an assessment notice on the basis of those claims without adjustment. It’s [...]