Overview of the Federal Budget 2023 – 24

Overview of the Federal Budget 2023 – 24

  The following are all the links to the federal government's description of its 2023 Budget.  At the bottom are the Budget Documents for those that love to get into the fine detail of a Budget.     Delivering cost-of-living relief Energy price relief Reducing...
2023 Federal Budget: Stronger foundations for a better future

2023 Federal Budget: Stronger foundations for a better future

‘Seeing our people through the hard times – and setting our country up for a better future’ “While Australia may have a lot coming at us – we have a lot going for us too” – Dr Jim Chalmers, 2023-2024 Federal Budget Speech. . Summary Superannuation Taxation Individuals...
Unintended consequences of work test changes to be rectified

Unintended consequences of work test changes to be rectified

New draft legislation to the work test mean impacted individuals will retain their ability to claim deductions for personal contributions post 30 June 2022, says a leading adviser. . Craig Day, executive director technical services for Colonial First State said on 19...
Banks launch scam awareness campaign

Banks launch scam awareness campaign

The new campaign highlights the importance of customer alertness against criminal activity by scammers. . The Australian Banking Association has launched a new campaign on cyber security amid a heightened security environment. The ABA’s (ABA) campaign — which will...
ATO warns of rise in SMSF identity fraud and investment scams

ATO warns of rise in SMSF identity fraud and investment scams

The ATO has warned SMSF members to be aware of identity fraud and investment scams. . Justin Micale, assistant commissioner, self-managed super funds risk and strategy for the ATO said in the SMSF sector, identity fraud and investment scams are a top priority because...
The importance of SMSF succession planning

The importance of SMSF succession planning

Preparing for loss of capacity or death is vital for SMSF members. It's important to ensure your trust deed is watertight. . There are more than 600,000 self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs) in Australia, managing close to $900 billion of assets on behalf of...
Our investment and economic forecasts, April 2023

Our investment and economic forecasts, April 2023

Our latest forecast changes include expectations for: . Australia’s unemployment rate to rise this year as financial conditions tighten, and headline inflation to fall to 4.25% by the end of 2023 as higher interest rates dampen demand. China’s postpandemic recovery to...
ATO warns SMSF on sole purpose test for property investment

ATO warns SMSF on sole purpose test for property investment

  Property investment by an SMSF will fail the sole purpose test if it provides pre-retirement benefit to someone such as personal use of a fund asset, warned the ATO director of the SMSF Auditors Segment.     In a presentation to the SMSF Australian Auditors’...
Australian retirees face accelerating price pressures

Australian retirees face accelerating price pressures

Couples now need nearly $70,000 per year to achieve a comfortable retirement, while singles need around $50,000 according to an analysis from the ASFA Retirement Standard. . The latest report shows that the cost of funding a comfortable retirement has increase by 7.5...
Bank closures, market volatility call for perspective

Bank closures, market volatility call for perspective

Amid sudden bank closures, we explain our risk management approach and remind investors to focus on what they can control. Recent financial market volatility has been widely attributed to a pair of U.S. regional bank closures and to speculation that central banks...