Blog – Maddern Financial Advisers
Be ahead of the news in accounting, private wealth and finance
Tackle your new year's resolutions like a pro
12/Jan/2020
Ever look back on past New Year’s resolutions and notice they failed, not with a bang, but with a whimper? There was no dramatic quitting of that new class and no midnight burger binge. Instead, time just gets away from us. Other priorities come into our life. We just forget.
Get some wins on the board with effective business reporting
04/Jan/2020
Too often businesses fall short of their goals because they don’t understand how to acquire and interpret data. Some cling to outdated reports that don’t reflect the contemporary market. Some get bogged down in so much information that it becomes meaningless. And others don’t report at all, preferring to rely on instinct, or just roll with the punches.
The truth is it’s never been easier to create sophisticated reports on many different aspects of your business. If you’re wanting to improve your business health, it may be time to change or elevate your metrics.
Holiday on the horizon: maximising your break
09/Dec/2019
Whether you’re glued to your desk most days or have honed the work/life balance, we all need to take a break at some point. The end of the year is a great time to reflect on your achievements and recharge. But while December is when many of us are trying to wind down, it can also be a chaotic time, with holiday festivities filling up our calendars and mounting pressure to get everything done.
Here are some tips on how you can make the most of your upcoming break.
Unwrapping the joys and pitfalls of giving
02/Dec/2019
Christmas is a time of giving, when thoughts turn to family and to helping those less fortunate. To gift in a meaningful way that maximises the benefits, it’s important to consider tax.
While Australia doesn’t have a gift tax, there are tax considerations nonetheless for both the giver and the recipient.
Buying a toy for your grandchild is one thing but many parents wish to help their adult children or grandchildren with more substantial gifts such as a home deposit or a car. If you receive a Centrelink age pension now or are within five years of retiring, that “gift” will be counted as an asset and could affect your pension.
Tax and the festive season
24/Nov/2019
As the festive season approaches it’s time to start thinking about celebrations and spending time with friends and family.
For most business owners, it also means it’s time to start thinking about saying thanks to your employees for another year of hard work.
But it’s important to be aware of the tax implications of any gifts and celebrations you provide, as the rules can be complex.
Keeping on the right side of SMSF rules
16/Nov/2019
The lure of greater control over your retirement savings with a self-managed super fund may be enticing but the freedom to chart your own destiny also comes with the responsibility to comply with the rules.
An SMSF is a private super fund regulated by the Australian Taxation Office that you manage yourself. You can have up to four members in your fund, each of whom must be a trustee or, if a corporate trustee has been appointed, a director.
As a trustee you are legally responsible for all the decisions made about the fund and compliance. Even if you outsource both the administration and the investment of the fund to a professional, you must still understand what they are doing because you are legally responsible.
So what are the rules an SMSF needs to follow?
Make yourself accountable for your success
10/Nov/2019
When it comes to career or life goals, a crucial element often missing from the discussion is that of personal accountability. Accountability is fundamental to effective government and successful business, but we often neglect it in regards to our own ambitions. Practicing personal accountability isn’t easy, but if you embrace it, the effect can be transformative.
Global economic uncertainty is affecting global growth: How to steer through choppy seas
02/Nov/2019
Like it or not, we live in interesting times. More than a decade after the Global Financial Crisis, the global economy is facing fresh headwinds creating uncertainty for policy makers and investors alike.
Finding safe harbour when business is rough
26/Oct/2019
Australia’s economy is growing at a slower pace than many would like, with small businesses in some sectors doing it tough. Recognising the warning signs of potential insolvency is key to trading through difficult times.
Caring for a family with a Will
20/Oct/2019
Few of us like to think about death, let alone plan for it. But far from being morbid, getting your affairs in order and drawing up a Will is one of the kindest and most caring things you can do for your loved ones.
Not only does a Will make your wishes clear but it ensures your family isn’t wrestling with legal red tape at a difficult and emotional time.
Yet despite the advantages, it’s estimated 45 per cent of Australians don’t have a Will.i