Ken is director of Metropole Wealth Advisory and gives strategic expert advice to property investors, professionals and business owners. He is in a unique position to blend his skills of accounting, wealth advisory, property investing, financial planning and small business. View his articles
A lot of people say they’re good with money. They say they have a gift for making it. That they love money and that money loves them. This may be true. But just because you like money and enjoy making it (that’s most of us) doesn’t mean you’re good with money. Those are two very…
The strength of Australia’s economy is due to its small and medium businesses. In fact, there are more than two million of them in Australia, who collectively employ a huge number of people. So, clearly, their importance to the overall health of our national economy cannot be overstated. However, one of the issues that small…
There’s a common saying that you should ‘begin with the end in mind’ – this is especially true for property investment. The problem is that too many investors begin their investment journey without considering what will be the best ownership structure. Without much thought to it, they put their entire portfolio in their personal name….
Despite living in one of the world’s wealthiest nations, most Australians are struggling to build and retain real wealth. And it’s not due to a lack of ambition, effort, or intelligence. It’s because the system we operate in, combined with a lack of forward planning, stacks the odds against sustainable wealth creation. But it doesn’t…
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…
Australia’s housing crisis has become impossible to ignore. For first home buyers, renters, and even seasoned investors, it feels like the dream of affordable housing is slipping away. But what’s really driving the shortage? And where does all the money go when a new home is built? In summary, there are three main culprits to…
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…
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,…
Investing in property with your super has been extremely popular over the past few years, hasn’t it? And the reasons why are far more interesting than it just being a bit trendy! The main benefit is that super is an alternative avenue for property investing that has very little impact on personal finances or your future…
