Warren Buffett is undeniably the most successful investor in history. His success is attributed by some to his sharp business acumen, and understanding of businesses while others ascribe it to plain and simple luck. Numerous books and blogs have been written in an attempt to analyse the factors which lead to his extraordinary success. This handy…
There are more than 600,000 self-managed super funds (SMSFs) in Australia controlling more than $700 billion – so on average each fund holds more than $1.2 million – and many people who set up an SMSF do so to have greater control over their investments and operating costs. And it makes sense given that so…
It’s been nearly 12 years since I wrote this blog about the age pension and when it might be changed or abolished. A lot has happened since that time, and we are now in 2025, just a year before the first of the big changes mentioned in that article. The headline was a bit of an…
Soon, more than 15 million Australians should be lodging a tax return with the Australian Taxation Office in the hope of receiving at least a small refund. About 60% of taxpayers use an accountant to prepare their tax return while the other 40% lodge their returns via their MyGov account. This links them to the…
Death is never an easy topic to talk about, but planning for it is one of the most important things you can do for your loved ones. A lot of Australians assume that everything will just “work itself out” when they’re gone—but unfortunately, that’s far from the truth. Without a valid Will in place, you…
A lot of people think that success is an event. One magical, transformational event. She or he was an overnight success. We’ve all read crap like that in the media over and over again. For budding entrepreneurs out there, the expectation that you can become an overnight success plays havoc with their psyche when that…
One day Warren Buffet was sitting in the cockpit of his plane with his pilot, Mike Flint. They were having a conversation. Flint asked Buffet what it takes to succeed. Buffet shared with him the following 3 Step Strategy for Success: STEP #1 Top 25 Goals Buffet had Flint write down his top 25 Goals. STEP #2…
Imagine being taxed on the value of your assets even if you haven’t sold them. Sounds like fiction? Well, it’s not. It could soon be policy. Australia’s federal government has proposed a controversial new tax—one that could see unrealised capital gains on superannuation balances above $3 million taxed at 30%. Now, at first glance, this…
Smart property investors use all the legal tax rules to minimize their cash flow leakage and maximise their deductions. The government encourages property investors to provide accommodation for those who need it by offering them a range of tax benefits. While most investors know about the typical tax deductions, such as interest on loans, repairs and management fees,…
Why is there only a small percentage of rich people? Why are so many people poor? The experts are quick to point the finger of blame at a variety of causes: low wages, America’s shrinking manufacturing base, U.S. companies moving overseas, China stealing our jobs, illegal immigrants stealing our jobs, poor education, the rich exploiting…