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
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…
What is adverse possession or possessory possession? Adverse possession is when a person gains title to a property if they have remained in that same property for a certain amount of time. A person or persons who have occupied the Land for the prescribed amount of time, in certain circumstances, can prevent the true owner…
Want to avoid the taxman rejecting your claim? Even worse, do you want to prevent the taxman from digging deeper and auditing your affairs? The Australian Taxation Office has a lot of information on its website to help property investors. Whether you use a tax agent or choose to lodge your tax return yourself, the…
Housing affordability is the current topic of conversation in the media and at dinner tables across Australia. And for families with Gen Y children, in particular, it’s probably a discussion based around how they’ll struggle to ever buy their own home. There’s no denying it has become a lot harder to get a start on…
