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 little-known change by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has put property sellers at risk of having 15% of their sale price withheld, a mistake that could cost over $122,000 for the average property owner. Since January 1, 2025, anyone selling property in Australia must obtain a clearance certificate before settlement. If they fail to…
The use of Self-Managed Superannuation Funds (SMSF) has skyrocketed over the past decade. Among the many reasons for this increase is the ability to purchase residential property in your SMSF with borrowings – debt via what’s called a Limited Recourse Borrowing Arrangement, or LRBA. In essence, the LRBA structure allows an SMSF to borrow and…
Let’s have a chat about Aussies and their savings habits. It’s a topic that often comes up, especially when we’re thinking about financial security and future planning. Average savings across the board On average, Australians have about $37,408 tucked away in their savings accounts. However, this figure can be a bit misleading due to the…
Capital gains tax (CGT) is a tax that is levied on the sale of certain assets, including real estate, shares, and other investments purchased with the intention to keep as opposed to buying with the intention to sell for a profit. In Australia, CGT is generally paid on the profit made from the sale of…
When you set up a self-managed super fund (SMSF) you need to understand what it is, and also what it isn’t. Firstly, an SMSF is a trust and, like all trusts, it’s not a legal entity. Therefore the fund needs a trustee who makes decisions, opens up bank accounts, completes the tax return, and so…
Why is it important to understand the difference between a repair and an improvement to your investment property? The property investor is often grappling with whether an expense is a repair or an improvement. This is critical because a repair can be written off immediately whereas an improvement must be written off over a longer…
The difference between repairs and improvements can be confusing for property investors. I mean… what is a repair? When does a repair become an improvement? And how do you know what’s tax-deductible and what isn’t? Fortunately, the Australian Tax Office sheds some light on these questions. What is a repair? A repair replaces a part…
As an Australian property investor, you’re probably always on the lookout for ways to boost your returns and trim your tax bill. Well, here’s the thing: understanding investment property depreciation could be your secret weapon. This guide will walk you through the ins and outs of rental property depreciation schedules, helping you confidently navigate the…
ANZ has brought forward its forecast for the first rate cut to take place in February, however, it maintains the view that borrowers will only see two rate cuts in the coming cycle. The news follows better-than-expected results from November’s monthly CPI Indicator released on Wednesday. ANZ now joins CBA in expecting the first RBA…
We often hear about rising interest rates, skyrocketing housing prices, and inflation biting into household budgets, but there’s another more personal cost emerging from the current economic climate—our social circles are shrinking. A recent survey by Finder highlights that around 4 million Australians have cut back on their social interactions simply to save money. While…
