My personal philosophy on wealth building is simple: invest slightly more than necessary to achieve my financial and lifestyle goals comfortably, but no more than that! None of us knows how long we have left on this planet, so I think it’s essential to maximise enjoyment today or at least enjoy the wealth-building journey as…
Typically, accountants tend to advise against using a private company structure to hold geared property investments. However, investors shouldn’t automatically dismiss this approach, as it can provide substantial capital gains tax (CGT) savings. Commonly cited disadvantages of a company ownership structure There are two main disadvantages of using a company structure for property investment: No…
It is often debated which is a better investment, property or shares. It is my thesis that property is an okay investment, but not as good as shares. However, when you factor in gearing (the ability to borrow to invest), property becomes a wonderful investment – better than shares. Property versus shares The main advantages of shares…
The main difference between property and shares lies in the depth and reliability of historical data. The share market offers extensive and dependable data, making it a valuable resource for financial decision-making. In contrast, property data often lacks the same level of reliability due to various factors, which I discuss below. Therefore, when making decisions…
Rentvesting has become an increasingly popular strategy for wealth creation, especially as a response to the challenges of home ownership in major Australian capital cities. This approach involves renting where you desire to live while investing in property. It has emerged as an alternative to traditional home ownership, particularly with the rising issue of housing…
Australia is likely heading for a federal election in May 2025, and as always, housing affordability will be a major talking point. Sadly, these discussions often end up more about rhetoric than effective policy change. However, at some point, a solution will have to be found. For property investors, who typically hold assets for decades, it’s important…
When it comes to property investment, many investors strive to strike a balance between the income and the capital growth a property generates, hoping to maximise both. However, I have written a lot about the fact that the income from a property, after expenses, probably won’t help you achieve financial independence. It’s the power of…
In a previous blog, I compared the financial and tax effectiveness of investing in property through your super (with borrowings) versus investing in property outside of super or sticking with the traditional approach of investing your super in an industry super fund, for instance (no gearing). I concluded that while the potential benefit of avoiding capital…
The goal for most investors is to accumulate enough wealth so their investment assets generate sufficient passive income to meet living expenses. If this happens, it is no longer necessary for you to work for an income and you then have complete discretion over what you do with your time. Wouldn’t that be wonderful! However,…
There are a number of factors that I consider when contemplating an investment on behalf of my clients or for me, personally. I think it’s very important to consider a vast array of investment opportunities (or appoint an advisor to do it on your behalf). But it is even more important to discount most of…
