Opportunities amidst the COVID-19 disruption
October 13, 2020
COVID-19 is resulting in significant disruption to well-established business paradigms, impacting businesses, sectors and stocks across the board. However, as Albert Einstein once said: “in the middle of difficulty lies opportunity”. That certainly rings true in 2020 as analysts predict significant changes in the types of businesses that will prosper through the crisis and beyond,…
SMSFs on the defensive: Is it time to revisit your strategy?
September 15, 2020
Self-managed super funds (SMSFs) have had a challenging year, with COVID-19 linked market uncertainty affecting income and returns. But SMSF trustees haven’t been sitting on their hands. One of the main reasons people give for wanting to establish an SMSF is to have greater control of their investments and taking control of a difficult situation…
JobKeeper – Easing eligibility
August 31, 2020
More businesses and not-for-profits will be eligible for JobKeeper payment extension under a $15.6 billion change to the scheme announced on August 7. The Government initially outlined the JobKeeper extension guidelines on July 21 but says it needs to extend its criteria after the Victoria Government implemented stricter lockdowns across the state this week. Changes…
5 common financial mistakes to avoid during a crisis
August 11, 2020
The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is playing havoc with finances for many households. In an ideal world, the financial boost should be enough and assumes that everyone was financially prepared for tough times. But in times of crisis, it can all be a little overwhelming. Here are 5 common financial mistakes to avoid…
Super changes add flexibility
August 5, 2020
Just when you thought you had a grip on the superannuation rules, they change again. This time though, the changes are mostly positive, especially for older super members keen to top up their savings. From 1 July 2020, changes came into effect with the potential to help retirees as well as members suffering financial hardship…
Extension of the JobSeeker program
August 5, 2020
The Government is extending the Coronavirus Supplement to eligible recipients to 31 December 2020. The amount of the Supplement will be adjusted to reflect the gradually improved economic conditions and improving labour market. Both existing and new recipients eligible for the Coronavirus supplement will continue to be $550 per fortnight up to and including 24…
JobKeeper changes announced
August 5, 2020
The JobKeeper Payment has been extended by a further six months to March 2021, targeting support to those organisations which continue to be significantly impacted by COVID-19. From 28 September 2020, eligibility for the JobKeeper Payment will be based on actual turnover in the relevant periods. The payment rate will be reduced, and a lower…
JobTrainer skills package
August 5, 2020
The Australian Government will invest $2 billion to provide hundreds of thousands of Australians with access to new skills by retraining and upskilling them into sectors with job opportunities, as the economy recovers from COVID-19. The JobTrainer package has two aspects to it. The first aspect of the package, which is worth $1.5 billion, is…
Year in Review – Investment Insights
July 27, 2020
Financial year 2020 has truly been a year of two halves. The first half was characterised by continued economic expansion, buoyant equity markets and historically low – even negative in some countries – interest rates. However, before midnight’s chimes heralded a new decade, raging bushfires made it clear that Australia was potentially set for a…
5 Steps to Easing Anxiety After Lockdown
July 13, 2020
With restrictions lifting in Australia, shops and cafes are reopening, social gatherings are permitted again and things are slowly starting to head back towards normal. And while many people are jumping at the chance to get back out there, some of us are feeling rather reluctant. Even though being isolated for so long can feel lonely,…
Housing market: shaken but not stirred
July 13, 2020
With Australia in a COVID-induced recession, residential property is not immune to falling economic activity. Yet housing prices are proving surprisingly resilient. Only months ago, economists were forecasting a housing price slump of 20 per cent or more. Now, most have revised their forecasts to price falls of between five and 10 per cent. The…
Tax Alert June 2020
June 30, 2020
With COVID-19 dominating everyone’s thoughts, employers are being offered a brief window of opportunity to get their tax affairs in order with the new Superannuation Guarantee (SG) amnesty. There is also a range of virus related assistance on offer to help affected business and individual taxpayers. Here’s a roundup of some of the latest tax…
How COVID-19 changes tax time
June 30, 2020
As this financial year draws to a close, it will be viewed as a year like no other. COVID-19 (coronavirus) has impacted everybody’s life, albeit in different ways for different people. For some, staying at home has meant you have greater savings; for others, the virus has meant lower wages or even the prospect of…
Instant asset write-off extended
June 23, 2020
To further support Australian businesses through the fallout resulting from COVID-19, the government has extended the $150,000 instant asset write-off for an additional six months to 31 December 2020. Initially announced on 12 May and intended to last until 30 June, the government’s $17.6bn stimulus package in part temporarily increased the threshold of the instant…
The HomeBuilder program – government grants to eligible homebuilders and renovators
June 23, 2020
The Government has announced the new HomeBuilder program to support jobs and boost demand in the residential construction sector at a time when the construction industry is facing extreme uncertainty. Prime Minister Scott Morrison says this will drive a “tradie-led recovery” of the economy. HomeBuilder will provide all eligible owner-occupiers with a grant of $25,000…
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