Expert Advice

Thinking about buying or building a property? Building insurance is likely just one thing on your long 'To Do' list - but as it's so important, should you make it number one? Understanding the hidden costs Whether the property you're about to purchase is a home or an investment, if it's severely damaged or destroyed down the track, the costs...

With the start of the financial year we see the payroll tax threshold increase to $1.85m for the 2014/2015 financial year (up from $1.75m) in the ACT. Payroll tax is payable by an employer if its total taxable wages, or the total taxable wages of the group that it belongs to, exceed the threshold. This tax is levied at 6.85%...

As recruiters we are often asked how the job market is performing. Various surveys show that employers are now more confident to hire, and the general consensus at our annual Hays Salary Guide launch, which was attended by over 125 employers last month, was that the ACT will experience a slowdown but it will remain in good fiscal shape. This...

To me, the introduction by most Lenders of a 100% linked mortgage offset account offering was the best thing since sliced bread in providing the opportunity to reduce mortgage interest charges. Other than the mortgage holder using the account nothing more need be done to gain the benefit of reduced interest charges. What could be easier? And yet, I am...

Do you manage your own Google AdWords account? Have you thought of getting a second opinion on your account to make sure that things are running as well as they should? If this sounds like you, then you really need to give our office a call. We specialise in assisting local businesses reach and reward local, national, and international customers...

With the start of a new financial year, now is the time to start planning for the upcoming year. A key area often overlooked by businesses is the protection of intellectual property (IP). Nearly every business has IP of some kind. It can be embedded in things as commonplace as a list of customers or an advertising pamphlet. Businesses are...

With a healthy tourism market and affordable air travel, Australians are finding it more and more appealing to take the kids on an international vacation. For separated families, travelling internationally with their children isn't as simple as nabbing a cheap flight and resort package deal online. Parents need to be aware of the issues which arise in relation to international...

I was reading the Australian's Women's Weekly the other day (as you do) when I came across an article about the estate of Peter Brock. It is a salutary lesson in being prepared for one of the two certainties in life- death. First, a little background. Peter had prepared his first will in 1983. The will was professionally drafted and...

This column has often discussed the benefits of a board and appropriate governance structures to assist organisations achieve their outcomes. Having a board of skilled directors can provide the strategic guidance to help steer organisations in the right direction and ensure that appropriate risk controls are in place. In the for profit environment, the outcomes being sought can be measured...

Are you looking to make business investment decisions, such as refinancing, acquisitions, internal investments, project investments or capex spend decisions and pricing services, products or tenders? If so, you will be considering how to ensure you have the strongest possible plan for your transaction or business case idea. You will also be keen to show your decision is financially rigorous...

The current tax treatment of employee share schemes in Australia puts our local start-ups at a significant commercial disadvantage to their overseas competitors. Employee share schemes should allow early stage start-ups to attract and retain talented and skilled employees without having to pay them large initial salaries (which the start-ups generally can't afford) by allowing the employees to instead benefit...

Heraclitus, a Greek philosopher said "Change is the only constant in life." As with people, businesses must embrace change. So, this financial year, consider making some changes in your business. 1. Improve your accessibility Technological advancement has accelerated the pace of doing business, hence it is not surprising that business owners find themselves having to multi-task most of the time....

The recent further tightening of fiscal policy may see the ATO increase its activity level in the pursuit of business taxation debts. Where a company is the debtor, the ATO may issue a statutory demand, under the Corporations Act 2001, in seeking to recover the outstanding amount. In addition, the ATO may also issue a Director Penalty Notice ("DPN"). Unless...

Making a house truly energy-efficient takes more than simply switching a few light bulbs. So, is green renovation worth it for an investor? Many experts, like Associate Professor Stuart McAuliffe of Bond University's Institute of Sustainable Development and Architecture, believe it is. He maintains that consumer demand for sustainable products is increasing.1 For example, he says, the huge demand for...

This update covers announcements in the Budget and other changes over recent months. As Budget announcements may not necessarily become law, they are subject to change. Tax deductible contribution caps From 1 July 2014 the concessional contribution cap will rise from $25,000 to $30,000. In addition, anyone aged 50 or more at any time during the year may contribute up...

Steve Jobs once said: design is not just what it looks like or feels like, it is how it works. Every user is different and so is every website or app. In many cases, the engagement and interactivity boils down to one thing; how user-friendly it looks and feels to your users. User experience (abbreviated as UX) is exactly that;...