Jan 21
insurance advisors Newcastle

Recovering from a business setback

Whether it's the terrible impact from the recent fires, the economy, personal issue or other setback, bouncing back from setbacks is a key skill for business owners as things don’t always go the way they are planned with unexpected situations arise from time to time. How a business owner deals... read more →
Jan 14

Sales Strategies For 2020

The New Year is a good time to reflect on the past year and focus on goals for performing better in the year ahead. In particular, it is a great opportunity to reflect on your business’ marketing plan and set forward new strategies to hit the ground running. Increasing sales... read more →
Jan 01

Planning for the new year – 2020

The end of year period is a busy time for everyone, not just at work but preparing for the holidays and the New Year. For retailers, a large portion of their yearly sales may come from this period and service businesses can be equally overwhelmed. For other industries, the year... read more →
Dec 17

Hiring Working Holiday Makers

As the holidays approach, so do the overseas workers wanting to experience an Australian summer. Australia employs approximately 100,000 working holiday makers each year. Any employer can hire working holiday makers provided they meet the requirements to do so. Employers must confirm the working holiday maker has a valid visa... read more →
Dec 11

How to keep your Christmas party tax-free

Throwing a Christmas party for your staff can be a great way to show appreciation and have some fun, but tax implications of a party can be surprising and costly. Before hosting a staff Christmas party, employers should be aware that the majority of the time, a party would be... read more →
Nov 26

Holiday Travel and Estate Planning – My Story

During the last Christmas holidays my in-laws came over from the UK for a family visit, and as the photo shows they enjoyed their break in Australia. Unexpectedly on the flight back to London my father-in-law had a heart attack. Luckily he survived, however the shock made us all reconsider... read more →
Nov 21

LT Wins Finance Business Of The Year

We are delighted to have been awarded winner of the "Finance Business of the Year" at the My Business Awards 2019 in Sydney. The winners were announced at a black-tie gala dinner at The Star in Sydney on Friday night (15 November) in front of a packed ballroom. There was... read more →
Nov 14
Nov 01
Oct 24
TRIS transition to retirement

Transitioning into retirement

If you’re nearing retirement age but don’t want to stop work entirely, another option might be to transition into retirement. For those over 60, Transition to Retirement (TTR) pensions are tax-free and TTR strategies can provide a number of benefits. Let’s look at some options available to 62-year-old accountant, Brian.... read more →
Oct 09
Aged-Care-Costs

Why investing for retirement is different.

When you’re still employed and earning a salary, there’s money coming in that you can rely on. In retirement, and the absence of a regular salary you’ll need to find a new way to secure enough income to cover your living costs. Investing your money is one way to make... read more →
Oct 01

Finance Business Of The Year – Finalist

Leenane Templeton has been named as a finalist in the My Business Awards for Finance Business Of The Year. The My Business Awards is the premier independent awards program celebrating SME business owners and their teams, providing unique opportunities for the winners to showcase their talent and excellence across industries... read more →
Sep 26

Disclosing Personal Living Expenses

During an audit, the ATO requests information to help identify unreported cash income when looking at household expenditure. When making an assessment in the course of examining an individual’s tax affairs, the ATO follow assessment guidelines that are presented in the form of questionnaire worksheets. These worksheets require taxpayers to... read more →
Sep 02

Personal Tax Changes Now Law

The Government’s complete package of individual tax adjustments that were announced in the 2019-20 Federal Budget, have passed parliament and are now law. On 4 July 2019, the Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Relief So Working Australians Keep More Of Their Money) Bill 2019 passed all stages of parliament without amendment.... read more →
Aug 27
Aug 15
Debt and financial planning

Is household debt consuming you?

Currently Australia has, relative to the size of its overall economy, one of the highest levels of household debt in the world. Our household debt, as a percentage of GDP, has nearly doubled over the last 20 years. So are Australian households groaning under the weight of oppressive levels of... read more →
Aug 01
Jul 22
GST Advice Newcastle advisors

Penalty Interest and Taxation Ruling in the context of SMSFs with LRBAs

Taxation Ruling TR 2019/2 Income tax: whether penalty interest is deductible provides the Australian Taxation Office’s (‘ATO’s’) view on the deductibility of penalty interest. It replaces Taxation Ruling TR 93/7W Income tax: whether penalty interest payments are deductible, which has been withdrawn. This article highlights the relevance of TR 2019/2 for self managed superannuation funds... read more →
Jul 16
Jul 04

Reversionary Pension vs Binding Death Benefit Nomination: Which outcome is preferred?

Reversionary pension vs BDBN: which outcome is preferred? Imagine a conflict between pension documentation and a binding death benefit nomination (‘BDBN’) in a self-managed superannuation fund (‘SMSF’) context. For example, the pension documentation states that the pension is reversionary to the surviving spouse; however, the BDBN states that the death... read more →