Government payments and allowances

When to declare taxable and tax-free government payments, pensions and allowances in your tax return. What are government payments, pensions and allowances? Australian Government payments, pensions and allowances are income amounts that you receive from a government agency. Commonly these payments are from Services Australia or the Department of Veteran’s affairs (DVA). Depending on the … Read more

Portfolios for the risk we may not be imagining

Investors have faced a wild ride in 2025. The excitement may not be over. Equity and fixed income markets took less than a month to recover after U.S. tariff announcements in early April sent them reeling, giving investors a valuable opportunity to reexamine their relationship with risk. A healthy relationship with risk starts with understanding … Read more

How to bucket your money and save

What is bucketing your money? Bucketing is a smart way to manage your money without complicated budgets or spreadsheets. You set up multiple bank accounts called ‘buckets’ and use each one for a specific purpose, like bills, savings or entertainment. Once your buckets are set up, it’s easier to see and control how you spend … Read more

Do you know who gets your super when you die?

Do you have a plan for who will receive your super if something happens to you? For many Australians, superannuation is their greatest asset outside the family home. But do you have a plan for who will receive your super if something happens to you? The laws around super death benefits are complex, with strict … Read more

How to shift into pension mode

When and how you can access your super to start an account-based pension. If our working years can be regarded as the time when we aim to build up our superannuation savings, our retirement years can equally be regarded as the time when we aim to spend them. At least that’s the objective for most … Read more

Forging new bonds – how bonds work

Bonds are not usually the flashy upstarts of the investment world with their every move reported, like stocks. But the Trump Administration’s extraordinary refashioning of world trade, with on-again off-again tariffs of eye watering amounts, has put bond markets in a similar position to share markets – in turmoil. So, with the bond markets attracting … Read more

Career moves to help you get ahead financially

If you are trying to get ahead financially, whether you are coming up with a deposit for your first home, focussed on paying down a mortgage, or working towards any other financial goals, budgeting and being able to save is critical, but as well as minimising your spending, a great way to get ahead is … Read more

Are your adult children ready for the wealth transfer?

The inheritance wave is building but most people are unprepared for the ride Transfers of accumulated wealth from one generation to the next are part and parcel of everyday life. But the next 20 to 30 years will see the biggest intergenerational wealth handover in history. According to estimates made by the Productivity Commission in … Read more

Records for rental properties and holiday homes

How long to keep rental records You need to keep records for 5 years. Depending on your situation, that is 5 years from the date: you lodge your tax return of your last claim for the decline in value of an asset it is certain that no capital gains tax event can occur after you acquire, sell … Read more

Insurance payouts after a disaster

When to include insurance payouts from disaster events in your tax return for businesses, or assets that produce income. When recovering from disaster events, check if you need to report and pay tax on insurance payouts: damaged or destroyed personal items or assets are not taxed businesses or income-producing assets may be taxed. The following … Read more

Two ways to invest your mortgage rate cut

Why investing extra money from a rate cut can be a better long-term option. Millions of Australians holding variable rate mortgages are about to receive a monthly household cash infusion, thanks to the Reserve Bank’s 0.25% cash rate cut on 20 May. Based on an outstanding mortgage balance of $600,000 with 25 years remaining on … Read more