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
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…
Low supply, strong demand and high interest rates mean that it is harder than ever for Australians to buy property in the current market. High property prices mean many buyers, particularly first-home buyers, need a six-figure deposit at a time when their borrowing capacity is at an all-time low. And even for investors, the low…
Australia consistently ranks among the top countries for life expectancy, outperforming many of its Anglophile peers like the UK, the USA, Canada, and New Zealand. According to a recent article from The Economist, Australia’s average life expectancy is notably high, with Australians expected to live longer and healthier lives compared to their counterparts in other…
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….
While it’s always advisable to have a will, not every will is created equally. Amateur wills are generally not worth the paper you’ve written them on, so you should always use a lawyer who specialises in the preparation of wills. Fundamentally, the transfer of assets held in your name (which are also called estate assets)…
Asset protection seems to be a recurring topic with clients over the past few months. So let’s have a look at the top issue of asset protection that every property investor should consider: 1. Should I have a will? The answer is yes if you want to control who gets what and not leave it to…
If you use your own car for work purposes, you could be eligible to claim a tax deduction for car expenses, whether you own your car outright, are leasing it or paying it off. The Australian Taxation Office explains that you can claim a deduction for car expenses if you use your car to: Perform…
You’d think that after 13 interest rate rises, the Australian consumer would be on the ropes, gasping for breath. But here we are, watching Aussies continue to spend like they’re in the ring with a featherweight, not a heavyweight. What gives? It’s a fascinating scenario that has defied all the economic forecasters who predicted an…
Protecting your hard-earned assets is increasingly becoming a common concern, especially with the increasing number of frivolous claims. For centuries people have used trusts to hold assets so as to protect them and to increase their flexibility. Protecting assets with a trust A trust is useful in this regard as the individual does not own…
All parents want to provide for their children and hopefully create wealth to leave to them and their children, too. These days, with higher property prices, many people also want to help their children financially so they can buy their first home or property investment. However, sometimes these desires outweigh practicalities, such as tax planning…
