Financial Planning News and Insights

As with most countries, there are restrictions on accessing social security outside the country, but they are not as onerous as you might think. US expats and Australians who have…

Financial services firm Vanguard released their landmark How Australia Retires report recently, exploring Australia’s attitudes to retirement. In the wake of COVID-19, attitudes have shifted in many areas, but finances…

As a new partner in a professional services firm, you will likely experience a significant change in income. This usually comes in the form of a large salary increase and…

Impersonation scams, where a person pretends to be an authority, such as the police or an organisation (e.g. your bank or the Australian Tax Office) are on the rise. Unfortunately,…

With interest rates rising, many Australians are revisiting their mortgage options. Here, we talk to Apt Wealth Home Loans Broker Matthew Baker about what to consider when it comes to…

In March 2020, responding to the emerging COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Government temporarily halved minimum pension drawdown amounts. This allowed pension members to withdraw less of their retirement savings and…

Summary The General Transfer Balance Cap (TBC) is set to be indexed to $1.9 million from 1 July 2023. Not everyone will receive the full increase. Your personal transfer balance…

Summary Cost of living measures include energy bill relief for eligible households and small businesses, cheaper 60-day scripts for some medications, and a tripling of the bulk-billing incentive. In superannuation,…

ANZAC Day is one of the most important days on the Australian calendar, a day when we remember and honour our servicemen and women who have helped to protect the…

Semi-retirees worry about money more than most. In fact, as many as 1 in 5 Australians worry on a daily basis that they won’t have enough to retire. And it’s…

Recently, the Australian Government announced that it will be doubling the tax rates on superannuation earnings for those with AUD3M+ super balances in the 2025/26 tax year, which will see…

With a new year upon us, many of us are thinking about our goals and plans for the year ahead. If this is you, you may be setting financial goals,…