Record SMSF growth driven by AI and digital tools, but admin and compliance challenges persist 48,500 new SMSFs were established in the 12 months to December 2025, the highest annual number on record. Nearly 40% of newly established SMSFs reported using AI based tools to assess whether an SMSF was
Making the most of your peak earning years Many Gen X Australians are now in their peak earning years and retirement is not too far away. While many people in this age group are earning more than ever, not everyone is on track to achieve the level of financial security
Australia’s $3.5 trillion wealth transfer: how to invest an inheritance wisely Australia is entering one of the largest intergenerational wealth transfers in its history. Over the next two decades, Australians aged 60 and over are expected to transfer around $3.5 trillion in wealth1. As more Australians receive an inheritance, taking
Discounts, offers and rewards programs Cost of living is impacting people across Australia, with everything from interest rates to the weekly grocery shop contributing to the strain. While there isn’t one catch-all solution, there are different ways you can tackle the financial squeeze. Reward and discount programs may not seem
The Australian Government has announced it is introducing new consumer protections for Support at Home participants. These are in addition to protections already in place to ensure reasonable prices and service quality for participants. The government has also announced it will pause the implementation of price caps for Support at
In the weeks after the Federal Budget’s announcement to change the rules for negative gearing and the reduction to Capital Gains Tax (CGT), headlines continue to spark debate, and a familiar question lingers: what does this mean for my investments? With ongoing global developments layered on top, it can feel
Understand which contributions are before-tax or after-tax and how super and tax rules apply to them. Tax and restrictions on contributions Your superannuation is usually taxed at a lower rate than most income and investments. However, if your contributions exceed thresholds (called ‘caps’) that apply to concessional and non-concessional contributions,
Significant reforms to the Australian superannuation system are about to take effect and could help people boost their super balances in the lead-up to retirement. They are being billed as the biggest changes in decades to the superannuation system in Australia and the reforms may support improved retirement outcomes for
Why not all tech stocks are benefiting from the AI boom For Australian investors with a keen interest in markets – and technology shares in particular – the past 12 months haven’t exactly been straightforward. On one hand, U.S. tech stocks are hitting record highs, with headlines dominated by surging
Two brothers – Paul Issa and Phillip Issa – ABC News Breakfast it was “appropriate that charges have been laid” and that: accessing anyone’s privacy, any Australian’s privacy, is alarming. Regardless of the outcome of this case, these allegations raise some obvious questions. Who – among bank staff, regulators, technology
How self-managed super funds (SMSFs) are taxed, what is assessable income, and what are allowable deductions. Tax on income Self-managed super funds (SMSFs) must pay tax on their assessable income. The most common types of assessable income are: assessable contributions net capital gains interest dividends rent. A complying superannuation fund
Picking an investment strategy depends on your life stage, income needs and tax factors When considering a strategy for investing in shares, a good question to consider is do you prefer generating steady income, or pursuing long-term growth? Your answer will more than likely determine whether you focus on dividends
