The Morrison Government’s mind-bogglingly large support packages to get Australians through the COVID-19 shutdown have dominated headlines, and rightly so. Only months ago, the Australian economy was in relatively good shape and headed for a Budget surplus. It’s not just the Government that has swung into action. Behind the scenes, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has also pulled out... View Article
A key part of the government’s economic response to the coronavirus is to support business investment and cashflow by increasing the instant asset write off threshold and eligibility rules. But while the instant asset write-off has been around for several years, many small businesses haven’t taken advantage of them. So what is the instant asset write-off (IAW) and how can it help... View Article
If you’re wondering how you will manage the enormous business challenges presented by the COVID-19 crisis, the Australian Government has announced unprecedented assistance to help businesses of all sizes manage their cashflow and retain their employees. In a $130 billion assistance package announced on 30 March 2020, the government rolled out a six-month wage subsidy scheme designed to help employers... View Article
In a rapidly evolving response to the spread of COVID-19, the Federal Government’s second support package announced over the weekend has flicked the switch to more income support for retirees and workers. Between the first $17.6 billion package announced on March 12, and this latest $66.1 billion package, the emphasis has shifted from stimulus aimed at keeping businesses up and... View Article
With interest rates at historic lows and likely to stay that way for some time, retirees and other investors who depend on income from their investments are on the lookout for a decent yield. Income from all the usual sources, such as term deposits and other fixed interest investments, have slowed to trickle. Which is why many investors are turning... View Article
The summer bushfires have touched the lives of all Australians, unleashing an outpouring of generosity. But for individuals who lost homes, businesses or livelihoods, the financial hardship lingers, prompting many to ask whether they can dip into their super to tide them over. The short answer is generally no. According to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), there are very limited circumstances where... View Article
With the average Australian wedding costing over $65,000, is it more financially savvy to say ‘I do’ or ‘I don’t’ to a big-budget wedding? When it comes to planning a wedding, every couple has their dream day in mind, which often includes extravagant flowers, a swanky venue, custom-made wedding attire, unlimited alcohol, vintage wedding cars and the list goes on. While... View Article
Paving the way to an election Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has delivered a ‘back in the black’ Budget aimed squarely at voters, stressing the Morrison Government’s commitment to financial discipline and low taxes. As expected, the Treasurer signaled sweeping tax cuts and major infrastructure spending if the Coalition wins the upcoming federal election widely expected to be held in May. This... View Article
Ever looked at a friend who has everything together and thought ‘what’s their secret?’ Here are five habits you can implement to achieve financial security. Believe it or not, being secure financially doesn’t involve magic or an outrageous stroke of luck. More often than not, it results from good habits, such as keeping track of your finances, cutting back on... View Article
Superannuation is a long-term financial relationship. It begins with our first job, grows during our working life and hopefully supports us through our old age. Throughout your super journey you will experience the ups and downs of bull and bear markets so it’s important to keep your eye on the long term. The earlier you get to know your super... View Article