It is the great Australian dream to own your own home. But how does your home affect your age pension or the aged care fees you can be asked to pay? Your eligibility for an age pension and/or your liability to pay aged care fees are both impacted by your …
Did you think you would not qualify for the government subsidies on home care? Take another look – you might be surprised. The cost of full-time private care provided in your own home may look daunting. But financial advice along with a government-subsidised home care package and support from friends …
Happy Birthday, Exchange Traded Funds! It’s 20 years today since the launch of the first ETF in Australia. ETFs are simply managed funds that are bought and sold on the ASX (Australian Securities Exchange). There are no entry or exit fees, or buy/sell spreads (which is where you pay more …
When it comes time for a move into residential care, choosing the right service can be a difficult, but important, decision. While choosing carefully is the key to a good experience, many people struggle to know where to start. Your decision will include many factors, but start by making the …
If moving into residential aged care, do you really have to sell your home? What are your choices? Myths and misunderstandings about the rules can add to anxiety and confusion. The stress of moving into residential aged care can be compounded by anxiety around selling the family home. Some people …
As you age, bringing support into your home can help you to remain independent for longer and improve your quality of life. But understanding how to access services can be hard to navigate, and the wait for government subsidies can be long. So, what’s important to know now? You may …
Changes to super, the bringing forward of tax cuts, and two lump sum payments to those on the Age Pension are just some of the Government’s proposed measures from the big spending 2020-21 Budget – released by Treasurer Josh Frydenberg on Tuesday 6 October 2020. There’s no doubt that this …
Despite what Hollywood would have you believe, it is not possible to rule from the grave. However, in Australia, you can exercise a great deal of control through a properly drafted Will and the use of testamentary trusts. Here, we get the lowdown on these powerful estate-planning mechanisms from Tara …
Are you over 60 and selling your home? If you have owned it for over 10 years you may be eligible to contribute up to $300,000 (or $600,000 per couple) to superannuation with the proceeds, where the earnings could be tax exempt. Why is it good to have money in …
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected everyone’s lives, and SMSF trustees are no exception. While the worst of the pandemic is (hopefully) behind us, trustees still have difficult questions to ponder as they focus on how best to position their SMSF in 2020-21, as well as meet their annual regulatory obligations …
