Reflection

Franking credits

The franking credit system is necessarily complex. But the idea underlying it is quite a simple one. A company’s profits are taxed at the applicable tax rate of each of its shareholders. This article explains exactly how.

Extra help when a child is disabled

Disabled children are treated as adults for tax purposes even if under age 18. This means that they can receive distributions of net income from family trusts and hybrid trusts. This income is taxed normally, rather than under the penalty tax arrangements that usually apply to the unearned income of minors. It can mean that the family pays much less tax.

A life well lived

Too many people look back on their life with regrets. Far from being morbid, realising that our death is inevitable can inspire us to live a better life today.

What happens to your super when you don’t need it any more?

Superannuation benefits are not automatically subject to your will. That means the trustees may not send the money where you want it to go when you die. But there is a solution! Read on.

Dollar Cost Averaging

Dividing an investment up into smaller amounts that are invested at different points in time can be an effective way to manage the timing risk inherent in the sharemarket. This practice is known as dollar cost averaging and this article explains all about it.

No two insurance policies are the same

One of the most frustrating aspects of life insurance for clients is that not all policies are the same. This makes it hard for the ‘person in the street’ to ensure that the cover they take is the cover they need.

Having trouble saving? Here is an easy way to do it.

One of the difficulties of saving is having your money constantly available. A new form of savings account can help you manage your own temptation. Read on and we will show you how.

$35 is $35!

Research shows that people are more interested in saving a large percentage on a cheap purchase than they are in saving a small percentage on an expensive purchase. This can lead them to waste both time and money, and can also be expensive when it comes to big ticket items like home loans.

Splitting super contributions between you and your spouse.

'Super splitting' is not just a term for managing super when a couple separates. Couples who remain together can also split super between themselves. This opens up a raft of planning opportunities, which we explore in this week's article.

Happy Birthday Low Interest Rates!

It has now been two years since the RBA’s target interest rate last changed. Rates are at historically low levels, and look like staying there for a while yet. Ever wondered why? Read on!