Posted in Building Wealth

Money for nothing, how depreciation can add value. Renovating investment properties is becoming a popular way for investors to increase the potential rental returns on their properties in a market where rents have failed to increase like property prices have. An article from BMT Tax Depreciation explains what assets in the renovation can be claimed and how much return you can get on them. If you're thinking about renovating, be sure to speak to a Quantity Surveyor before you st...

Learn how to overcome your fear of investing. If you're reading this blog, chances are you're giving some serious consideration to investing in property to help build your wealth and improve your financial security. After all, you've probably heard about the advantages of owning an investment property such as the tax deductions, having a tenant pay off the mortgage for you, and the fact that property values in Australia double on average every seven to 10 years. But...

Find out if it's really a good idea to reduce your mortgage as fast as possible. We've said it before, 'no one wants a loan, right?' It's true. But so is the fact that (almost) everyone wants to own a home. And, in most cases, you need a mortgage to do it. After all, home ownership is a reasonable aspiration given the security and long term economic benefits,  not to mention the sense of belonging that comes with owning a home. And, Australian Bureau of Sta...

Preparing for retirement? We ask superannuation expert Ben Hall for his top 5 proposed super updates that will affect you. Now that the election is finally behind us, and the Liberal party has edged into government with a narrow majority, it's time to decipher what the federal budget really means for pre-retirees. After all, the proposed superannuation changes are wide ranging and generally aimed at helping lower income earners, while cutting back some of the more generous conc...

Find out if controlling your own superannuation investments is right for you. First things first, what is a self-managed super fund (SMSF)? Put simply, it's a superannuation fund that gives you control over making all of the investment decisions. That may mean more financial freedom, however it also makes you responsible for complying with the super and tax laws. So, you must know your stuff! The Australian Taxation Office outlines: "An SMSF must be run for the sole pu...