So, you’re looking to purchase a house, this could be your largest purchase to date for either a place to call home or an investment property. The pathway ahead can be very tiring and confusing for you as the journey to home ownership begins. Good thing there are local Financial Advisers who can alleviate some … Continued
Illegal phoenix activity is a serious crime and may result in company officers (directors and secretaries) being imprisoned. It affects hundreds of Australian workers every year. Employees are usually left with unpaid wages and entitlements and creditors are left with nothing but debt. This activity is becoming alarming now because it’s been reported that phoenixing … Continued
Before you retire, you’re going to want to make sure you’ve everything taken care of. Here is a retirement checklist to help you plan and enjoy your retirement. Retirement Checklist With stark warnings that many Australians aren’t saving enough for their retirement, a proper retirement checklist could help you avoid the pitfalls and plan ahead. You’ve probably … Continued
Are you a first time home buyers struggling to saving for a deposit for a home loan? If this is the case often by the time you have saved up, house prices have increased? GREAT NEWS!!!! Parents can now lend a helping hand. How Parents Can Help Their Children Secure a Home Loan? Good news … Continued
There are dangers in engaging an individual as a ‘contractor’ without having a proper understanding of the law. You may find that the individual is considered to be an employee at law, and this brings with it a range of legal obligations – and liabilities if you get it wrong. An employee generally works in a business … Continued
The Turnbull Government announced that they will provide the ATO with additional funding for a Superannuation Guarantee Taskforce. The taskforce will crackdown on employer non-compliance. The ATO released a media statement on 29 August that the super guarantee gap for the 2014-15 year is estimated to be $2.85 billion, which represents 5.2% of the total … Continued
Are you sick and tired of paying your rent that makes your landlord rich and does nothing for your future? Thinking of buying your first home but you don’t have the money for a home deposit yet? We have good news for you! The Australian government has announced the First Home Super Saver Scheme in … Continued
Expecting a large company tax return? This is a great opportunity to re-invest in your business. Here are 5 ways you can use your return to deliver results. As with any investment, the more you put into your small business, the greater the output will be. That’s why it’s important to think carefully about where you … Continued
When it comes to markets, the basics are supply and demand. However, these all-encompassing terms are nuanced. Depending on your location or property type, the factors that drive demand can be wide and varied. The team at Judge in conjunction with Capital Property Advisers, will provide an insight on what drives demand in their particular … Continued
Finding Financial Opportunities in Your 30s and 40sIf you’re in your thirties or forties, chances are you’re juggling a career, kids, a mortgage and home improvements – yet amongst these financial responsibilities lie opportunities to get more from your money, according to Matthew McCabe* from Judge Financial Planning. “It’s common to feel stretched at this … Continued
As the saying goes where there’s a Will there’s a way! When it comes to leaving things for your family it needs to be a smart Will, otherwise, the tax man could end up being your largest beneficiary. “Family succession planning is a strategy to control the way your estate is passed onto your beneficiaries … Continued
Busting the top 5 myths about sorting your finances Wondering where all your money goes is common: no matter how much you earn, it seems like there’s never enough and it just seems to vanish. By putting your finances in the right place, you can get rid of that feeling, go further and achieve more. … Continued
Many investors know the attraction of negative gearing for property investment. And a number of years ago, super rule changes opened up the way for self-managed super funds (SMSFs) to access this powerful investment strategy. Matthew McCabe* from Judge Financial Planning commented on the surge in interest from many SMSF clients. “It’s not that surprising … Continued
With most things in life, the more you put in, the more you’re likely to get in return. So, if you could put more money into investing, imagine what the results could be. You might feel like you don’t have any more money to invest. But what about the potential lying dormant in the … Continued
Protect Your Business from the UnexpectedFrom one successful local business to another, Judge Financial Planning would like to inform you of the critical need to insure your business against life’s unexpected mishaps. After all, whether your business is your “pride and joy” or simply “a means to an end”, it’s your livelihood so it pays … Continued
SMSF Property Investment Rules You Must FollowSelf-managed super funds have become a popular way for Australians to build their retirement savings. In fact they’re now the fastest growing segment of the superannuation market, with over one million of us now counted as members of an SMSF.^ Those members collectively hold more than half a billion … Continued
Understanding Insurance Rules Within SMSFsSelf-managed super funds are now the fastest growing part of the superannuation market in Australia, with more than one million of us being members of an SMSF. SMSFs have become a popular way for Australians to build their retirement savings because they generally offer greater control and flexibility of your super … Continued
Debt is one of the fixtures of modern life for most people but if you feel it’s getting out of your control, it’s time to act. The Australian Psychological Society(1) says 35 per cent of Australians have significant levels of distress in their lives. 26 per cent have above-normal levels of anxiety; and 26 per … Continued
Markets Surprised by Dovish Tone Despite Rate HikeSome 15 months since it first raised interest rates in more than seven years, the US Federal Reserve (Fed) lifted rates for the third time at its March meeting by 25 basis points, raising rates to the 0.75%-1.0% range. Overall the tone of the post-meeting statement and press … Continued
Take Action: Review Your Super with a Judge AdviserTHE Turnbull Government is about to pocket a $220 million revenue windfall by seizing control of an estimated 100,000 super accounts. At the end of the month, super funds will have to transfer to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) “unclaimed” or “lost” super account balances of up … Continued
Keeping Up with Constant Superannuation Rule ChangesEvery year, it seems, they change the rules – the retirement age, the contributions cap, and so it goes on. We are analysing each of the newly legislated super changes, to ensure that you fully informed, understanding if you are affected and if so, how you are affected. The first … Continued
How to Stay Focused and Adjust Your Super StrategyEvery year, it seems, they change the rules – the retirement age, the contributions cap, and so it goes on. The most recent changes to superannuation include: Introduction of $1.6m cap on income streams with tax penalties if higher amounts are rolled over The division 293 income threshold … Continued
Why Retirees Still Need Professional Financial Advice?There is a tendency, once people retire, and have their lump sum invested or an annuity in place, to think that they won’t really need professional financial advice. What we can tell you from experience, is that the exact opposite is true. We find that we actually spend much … Continued
As another year draws to a close, we reflect on the events and changes we have seen and how life seems to pass by more quickly every year. For those of us approaching or in retirement, it’s a great time to take stock of your situation and make some decisive moves for a more secure … Continued