Financial Planning News & Insights
Changes to Income Protection
Since October 1, there have significant changes made to Income Protection for new policy holders.
Investing lessons from the pandemic
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit financial markets in March 2020, it was a timely reminder of some valuable investment principals.
Go for gold to achieve your goals
The recent Olympic Games was a good reminder to inspire yourself to achieve your own remarkable performances through hard work and determination.
Increase in the Super Guarantee
If you are an employee, the amount your employer contributes to your super fund has just increased to 10 per cent of your pre-tax ordinary time earnings from 1 July, up from 9.5 per cent.
Tax Time Preparation
As the end of the financial year approaches, now is a good time to check some new and not so new ways to reduce tax and boost your savings.
Super Contribution limits to increase
From 1 July 2021, the concessional contribution cap is set to increase from $25,000 p.a. to $27,500 p.a. allowing more funds to be added into your retirement savings.
Changing Travel Destinations
Many Aussies are born with the travel itch, and while the COVID-19 pandemic has put an end to far-reaching destinations for now, it does not your travel adventures have to stop.
Planning for Retirement
Planning your dream retirement can be an exciting time. The chance to travel, time or pursue new hobbies, the possibilities are endless, but what will it cost?
Setting New Year financial goals
New Year is traditionally the season of fresh starts and personal resolutions. Along with diet and exercise, getting ahead financially is often what many aim to do.
Have you lost the art of starting a conversation?
When was the last time you had a lengthy chat to a friend over the phone or, rarer still, a decent face-to-face catch up?
Is food delievery eating into your budget?
The Australian food delivery industry is booming, with the ABS reporting an 18% increase in take-away spending over just three years.
Knowing your Credit Score
Most Australians are only vaguely aware – or completely unaware – of the fact that credit-reporting agencies monitor their financial transactions.
JobKeeper Changes
The new rules to JobKeeper mean that from 28 September, businesses need to show their turnover has fallen by 30 per cent in the September 2020 quarter, compared to the same period last year.
Work test to kick in at age 67
Under changes to the work test, if you are aged 65 or 66 you can now put money into super even if you aren’t working. This gives people flexibility to make voluntary catch-up contributions to your retirement savings.
Instant asset write-off extended
To further support Australian businesses through the fallout resulting from COVID-19, the government has extended the $150,000 instant asset write-off for an additional six months to 31 December 2020.
The Homebuilder program
The Government has announced the new HomeBuilder program to support jobs and boost demand in the residential construction sector at a time when needed.
Health benefits of drinking tea
Tea, especially green tea, is often said to be good for your health. Tea contains substances linked to a lower risk for heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.
Temporary Access to Super
As part of the measures taken by the government to support those impacted by COVID-19 some people will be able to access up to $10,000 of their super funds.
JobSeeker or JobKeeper?
In a rapidly evolving response to the spread of COVID-19, the Federal Government announced in March a new suite of welfare packages to help Australians who've found themselves out of work. Among them are the JobSeeker and JobKeeper payments. Here’s a rundown of how they work:
The benefits of gardening
Whether you’re growing fruit and veggies, flowers or succulents, getting your green thumb on can have a surprising number of health benefits.