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An in-specie transfer

PORTFOLIO POINT: Reprieve on in-specie transfers! The legislation is too hard to frame, so you’ve got another year. As predicted here (28/9/12) just a few weeks ago, the ban on SMSFs making in-specie transfers has been put off by a year. SMSFs will be able to make in-specie transfers of shares (and other assets) into […]

It’s hard work building up assets, so what are some good ways to protect yours from relationship breakdowns or business failures?

How pointless would a new business/relationship be if those starting the baby up weren’t wearing rose-coloured glasses? Doomed. As much chance of survival as the first slab of beer on a boys’ weekend. However, pure optimism won’t save everything. And given most ventures, personal and business, fall over, Gen Xers need to be realistic about […]

Transition to more super

PORTFOLIO POINT: Ramping up your non-concessional contributions before starting the pension can aid transition-to-retirement plans. There’s little doubt that transition to retirement strategies have been, well, neutered, to a large extent, in recent years. If you were aged 55-59 and all of your super was taxable component (that is, predominantly concessional contributions), then the major […]

What are the key mistakes people should avoid when sorting out their tax return?

What’s not to love about tax time? The ATO wants to hand back some of the money it took from you! Billions of dollars raining from the sky. Okay, your first mistake is dreading tax time. Flip the way you think about it. It’s like finding money on the ground. As an employee, I looked […]

Time can add up when you do things efficiently

There are two opposing views on how to get things done efficiently – the Walter Chrysler way and the Lucille Ball way. Ball: “If you want something done, ask a busy person to do it.” Chrysler: “Whenever there is a hard job to be done, I assign it to a lazy man; he is sure […]

What are three worthwhile goals to set for the new financial year, and can you share one of yours?

Click here to download Debt Man Investment Newsletter #45 It’s an immortal movie scene. Cuba Gooding Jr is on the phone, half-naked, dancing around his kitchen. The guy on the other end of the line is screaming. Tom Cruise (Jerry Maguire) is prepared to say anything. “SHOW ME THE MONEY!” he shouts repeatedly. Jerry’s desperate. […]

Super delays, but property is hot

PORTFOLIO POINT: A reprieve on the in-specie transfer ban? In any case, SMSF trustees are moving on … and moving pretty smartly. There appears to be a pattern. The government announces sweeping changes to superannuation policy. And, just as it’s due to come into force, something gets in the way and the changes are postponed. […]

Deciding when to shop online … and off

Next time you order in a pizza, put a big dollop of ice cream in the centre. Let it melt, then eat. Bad combination? Right, now you get Debt Man and shopping. If you ever see me in a retail environment – anything except a restaurant, pub, or bottle shop – do not approach or […]

As blended families become more common, how do you structure wills and super to be fair to everyone?

Ah, the Brady Bunch. Would you want that conniving little so-and-so Marcia to get an equal portion? She was a piece of work, that Marcia. Never liked her. Usually up to no good. If she was my half-sister, I’d … I’d … And, bingo, there’s the problem. Death only makes things worse. There’s nothing like […]

The six big questions on superannuation

PORTFOLIO POINT: Yikes! The questions overflowed at last week’s bumper super webinar. Here’s some answers to the top six topics on your collective minds. Wow, it was an awesome response to the super webinar we held jointly with Business Spectator last week. James Kirby quizzed Bernie Ripoll and myself for an hour about the latest […]