Riding the market waves Don’t let share market volatility get you off course with your superannuation investment strategy. Market volatility Market downturns can make anyone nervous, but sticking to your investment strategy is key. If you move your investments to cash or a more conservative option after the market has fallen, you’re effectively locking in
“Debt recycling” …flavour of the month It seems that “debt recycling” is the flavour of the month among financial advisors (and some financial institutions too). And if you do a Google search for the term you find that it is being quite heavily marketed. It is being marketed as an easy way to convert
CGT & foreign residents: Complex rules apply! A person who is not a resident of Australia for tax purposes is nevertheless liable for capital gains tax (CGT) on certain assets located in Australia. And these assets are assets which have a “fundamental” connection with Australia – and are broadly as follows: ■ real property (ie,
Changes to preservation age Since 1 July 2024, the age at which individuals can access their superannuation increased to age 60. So what does this mean for those planning on accessing their superannuation upon reaching this age? What is preservation age? Access to superannuation benefits is generally restricted to members who have reached “preservation age”,
The importance of “Tax Residency” Whether you are a resident or non-resident of Australia for tax purposes has significant consequences for you. Primarily, if you are a resident of Australia for tax purposes you will be liable for tax in Australia on income you derive from all sources – including of course from overseas (e.g.,
The CGT main residence exemption concessions are very useful Probably the most overlooked reason for the housing affordability crisis in Australia at the moment is the capital gains tax (CGT) exemption for a person’s home itself. But not this alone. Rather, it is probably the exemption in conjunction with all the various concessions a person
Can I add to my super pension? A common question that is often asked is whether amounts can be added to a superannuation pension account once it has commenced. The short answer Unfortunately, the answer is no. Although your pension account can continue to increase due to investment earnings, such as interest and dividends, any
The fine line between property development and “merely realising an asset” There can often be a fine line between whether a person is carrying on property development activities or is “merely realising an asset”. For example, it may not be clear whether the extent of a person’s development activity in respect of, say, subdividing his
Division 293 tax Will you be caught? Will you be caught? If you’re a high income earner, you may soon be asked to pay an extra 15% tax on the amount of concessional contributions that exceed the $250,000 threshold. Division 293 tax is an additional 15% tax that is payable when your income and concessional
Don’t lose Your Super to Scammers Don’t be another victim – be on the lookout for scammers who call you about your superannuation! ASIC on the lookout The number of cold callers is on the rise. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) are urging people to hang up on cold callers and scroll past
Making your super last in retirement Superannuation is often a key source of income when you retire so it’s important to ensure your investment strategy makes your retirement savings last for as long as possible. Shifting investment strategy objectives As you approach retirement, your investment strategy objectives may start to shift. In your younger years,
What’s not considered “income” by the ATO? It is possible to receive amounts that are not expected by the ATO to be included as income in your tax return. However some of these amounts may be used in other calculations and may therefore need to be included elsewhere in your tax return. The ATO classifies