Financial Planning, Investment & Insurance Solutions

  • Good and Getting Better!

    Good and Getting Better!

    “Good and getting better!” Those are the first words he says every time he visits our office. The question he’s asked that prompts such positivity? “How have you been?” He’s a long-term client, now into his mid 50’s whose optimism never fails to impress us. You might be wondering why is this man so positive? There could be plenty of reasons. Some people may call him an optimist. “Well, you know, I think there will be a market crash next year.” Those were some of the words of a young man who called us up trying to figure out some…

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  • Gambling, Speculating & Investing

    Gambling, Speculating & Investing

    I said, “So, Walter, errr, script’s pretty good, huh?” And he said, “The script sucks, kid. I owe my bookie $2 million.” And that was Kevin Pollack’s introduction to Walter Matthau on the set of Grumpy Old Men. It was said Matthau lost $50 million gambling over his lifetime. Matthau’s gambling addiction was so legendary, the odds he’d given each NFL team of winning the Superbowl that season were printed on the back of the program at his memorial service. Were Walter Matthau alive today, you’d wonder whether he’d still be dedicating his time gambling on horses and sports teams given the current obsession…

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  • End of Financial Year Reminder 2020/21

    End of Financial Year Reminder 2020/21

    Salary Sacrificing a Bonus Awarded a bonus at work? Depending on circumstances, it may be worth salary sacrificing the bonus into  superannuation. This can increase retirement savings & lower taxable income. The benefit depends on the difference between the 15% tax on super contributions and your marginal tax rate. Also be aware of the    concessional contributions cap of $25k (increasing to $27.5k on July 1). Lump Sum Contributions & Carry Forward Cap If you haven’t used your concessional contribution limit of $25k and have money available to contribute, this is the opportunity. Further, if you have a larger sum of…

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  • Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD) Simplified in 4 Points

    Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD) Simplified in 4 Points

    One of the first things you come across when moving into residential care is the need to pay for your room. With quoted prices of up to $2 million, the numbers may send families into panic. However, they can be less frightening if you understand how these fees work and what choices you have. So, what are the four (4) key points that you need to know? The money will be refunded Let’s start with the name of the fee – refundable accommodation deposit (RAD). This might help you breathe a sigh of relief, because the name is descriptive and…

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  • Inflation or Not?

    Inflation or Not?

    From pooches to second-hand cars, to homes in regional areas, to ground beef in the supermarket. Everyone has a story about how their money is buying less. Eight years ago, you could get this good girl delivered to your front for $1300. Today, or more precisely back in January, she went for $7990, and you had to front for delivery. While that’s a jump over 8 years, a good part of it has occurred recently. The pandemic had a spike of people wanting dogs. Breeders can only supply so many dogs, so they had the luxury of pricing according to…

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