Bank of Mum and Dad

HomeInsights

Bank of Mum and Dad.


The average price of a home in NSW is $1,184,500, the highest in the country. Canberra is next at $948,500, followed by Victoria at $895,000, with the Northern Territory the lowest at $489,2001. With the target cash rate expected to remain steady at a 12 year high of 4.35% over 2024, the pressure is on parents and family to help the younger generation become homeowners.


Over the last 15 years, home ownership has fallen from 70% to 67% of the population. Over time, declining home ownership will increase the wealth gap in Australia as for many, home ownership is a significant factor in wealth accumulation. According to the Actuaries Institute, wealth inequality is significantly higher now than in the 1980s, with the wealthiest 20% of households currently having six times the disposable income of the lowest 20%2.


The Domain’s First Home Buyer Report 2024 estimates the time for a couple aged between 25 and 34 to save a 20% deposit for an entry level home to be 6 years and 8 months in Sydney, and 5 years and 5 months in Melbourne (the Australian average is 4 years and 9 months). In that time, they are begrudgingly paying rent (or staying with Mum and Dad).



First Home Buyers?



Ensure clarity and protection by documenting loan terms for your home purchase with legal guidance. Consulting a financial adviser  is key to assessing eligibility for schemes aiding first-home buyers.


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ATO Debt

ATO getting about as serious as they can get with their non-public debt recovery measures.


ATO Communication Changes

Our new system enables us to download all ATO mail on behalf of our clients and distribute it in the most efficient manner possible.


The Federal Budget 2022-23

This is a safe, ballot box friendly Budget as expected with a focus on jobs, cost of living, home ownership, and health.


Nepean Industry Edge Training (NIET)

I was looking for a business advisor to help me better understand my business and the story that the numbers are telling me. I thought I knew my business and its strengths and weaknesses. Having the skilled team at SMART involved in my business and working on regular financial reporting has helped me see a clearer picture of how my business is doing.


Teavision

We were looking for a new accountant that would act more like partners in the business. We wanted a team that would guide us towards growth. We interviewed three different firms and were absolutely blown away by the team at SMART and what they could do for us. Five years on and we continue to be blown away.


Economic Disadvantage Report calls for regional designation

A new report reveals rezoning the Mornington Peninsula as regional would not only unlock more funding but would fix social and economic inequalities.


IWD2022 Fundraiser Event

10 March 2022 @ Mercetta, Mornington
Join our International Women's Day 2022 Fundraising Event. Enjoy a local wine and deliciously generous finger food, place your bids on the silent auction packages including vouchers and products from some of Mornington Peninsula’s most coveted.


Are Your Contractors Really Employees?

Two landmark cases before the High Court highlight the problem of identifying whether a worker is an independent contractor or employee for tax and superannuation purposes.


The ATO’s Attack on Trusts and Trust Distributions

The ATO released a package of new guidance material that directly targets how trusts distribute income. Many family groups will pay higher taxes as a result.


SMART Life - Issue 8 - Autumn 2022

Recently we’ve seen some wild volatility in share markets across the world due to the pandemic and military conflict. We examine what’s going on, the drivers be- hind the price swings and how long they could last. Importantly, we consider what volatility could mean for your retirement savings.


The Fall Of ProBuild - The Small Business Implications and How To Protect Yourself

With many of our business community made up of building companies, building suppliers and trades people, this is an issue bigger than ProBuild itself. The ripple effect of the demise of such a building giant will leave many of us asking the question ‘how secure is my business and my livelihood?’  


The Fall Of ProBuild: The Small Business Implications and How to Protect Yourself

ONLINE Webinar Session
3 March // 7:30pm 


4 Mistakes To Avoid When Buying A Car

Unlike other purchases, it’s not possible to return a car if you get home and decide you don’t like it.


4 Things To Consider Before Fixing Your Interest Rate

With interest rates at record low levels, many homeowners are considering the possibility of fixing their interest rate on the home loan.


How To Reduce Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI)

Lenders Mortgage Insurance can be a great tool to help homebuyers get into a property that they otherwise might not be able to afford. However, it comes with a cost.


5 Ways To Pay Off Your Mortgage Sooner

When buying a home, to live in or as an investment, most people will have the goal of eventually paying it off.


Commercial Property Set For Further Growth In 2022

After a strong 12 months, industrial property is set to see further upside according to a leading valuer.


4 Ways to Improve Your Credit Score

If you’re setting the goal of purchasing a home in the coming year, it might be time to start getting your financials in order ahead of time.

Women In Finance Marketing Professional of the Year

Women In Finance Marketing Professional of the Year

Women In Finance Financial Adviser of the Year

Women In Finance Financial Adviser of the Year

Women In Finance Financial Adviser of the Year

Women In Finance Financial Adviser of the Year

Women In Finance Marketing Professional of the Year

Women In Finance Marketing Professional of the Year


January Market Wrap

December saw an uptick in Covid infections worldwide. Daily case numbers in the US topped one million for the first time, underlining the ongoing challenge of the pandemic.


SMART Life - Issue 7 - Summer 2022

In this issue we discuss the changes in superannuation effective 2022, how to improve your longevity, and changes to the RBA that may affect your mortgage.


Shannon wins Financial Adviser of the Year award

Up against over 600 nominations and 254 certified finalists, Shannon Smit, Founding Director and Financial Adviser at Mornington firm, SMART Financial Planning, won the coveted Financial Adviser of the Year Award as one of only 23 individual award winners.


The Goal Setting Workshop

LIVE Lunch & Learn Workshop
2 December // 12:30 - 2:00pm

30 Under 30 Public Accountant 2021

30 Under 30 Public Accountant 2021

IFA Awards Paraplanner of the Year

IFA Awards Paraplanner of the Year

IFA Awards Marketing Consultant of the Year

IFA Awards Marketing Consultant of the Year

IFA Awards Goals Based Advisor 2021

IFA Awards Goals Based Advisor 2021

Australian Accounting Awards Young Accountant of the Year 2021

Australian Accounting Awards Young Accountant of the Year 2021


Tax Effective Ways to Retain Good Employees in a Post-Pandemic Workforce

In this webinar we will go through tax effective strategies that can achieve a net-benefit to your employees without costing you more.


Retention payments and how to account for them

Whilst retention payments are very common in the building and construction industry we continually see them being incorrectly accounted for, or not accounted for, and therefore often overlooked, resulting in advance payment of taxes and/or lost income.


100 Aussies: five charts on who earns, pays and owns

We are heading into a period of opening up the economy after COVID, with the need to repair the budget, an election looming by May 2022, the threat of inflation and a withdrawal of central bank stimulus.


September Market Wrap

There was increasing discussion about the possibility of interest rate increases in key regions, to counteract gathering inflationary pressures. This saw bond yields rise, and adversely affected the performance of fixed income markets. 


Victorian Construction Support and Reopening

The Victorian Government’s Business Costs Assistance Program Round Four - Construction provides one-off payments to eligible employing and non-employing businesses in the construction sector that operate in the specific local government areas.


August Market Wrap

In spite of the generally positive mood investors remained concerned by the ongoing spread of the Delta variant of Covid-19, and whether it could derail the recovery in major economies.


How safe is your superannuation?

How safe is your superannuation? Can a super fund go bankrupt? Is my superannuation Government guaranteed? 


Getting Paid

The impact of Covid-19 and the associated lockdown has made it more important than ever to ensure, where possible, that you’re still getting paid.


Getting Paid

ONLINE Webinar Session
23 September // 1:00PM


The Advantages of Commercial Real Estate

While commercial property is a little more difficult to understand than residential, it offers several significant advantages for investors.


How Guarantor Loans Work

By using a guarantor to get a home loan, you can potentially put down a lower deposit. However, it doesn’t necessarily mean you will be able to borrow more money.


How to get on the property ladder sooner

Even if you can’t quite afford your dream home right now, there are still other options to get onto the property ladder a lot sooner than most people think.


Tradies go digital: how outsourcing can improve your productivity

With the trade industry currently thriving off the boom in the housing market, tradies find themselves busier than ever. The $1200 Small Business Digital Adaptation Program can help you work out ways to make admin life easier.


Investing in Property

If you're looking into investing into property, regardless if it's residential or commercial, there's plenty to weigh up.


Did your super fund receive a compensation payment?

Is a financial services compensation payment to your superannuation fund considered as a contribution?


Divorce, Superannuation and the Gender Divide

New legislation will help prevent superannuation assets from being hidden during divorce proceedings. From 1 April 2022, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) will be able to release details of an individual’s superannuation information to a family law court.


What Now? Unwinding the Pandemic

Australia’s two largest states and the ACT are in lockdown as the Delta strain of COVID-19 takes its toll while others are standing firm on a policy of eradication. The result is a country at a policy impasse and divided by border restrictions.


SMART Life - Issue 6 - Spring 2021

In this issue we cover Australia's aging populations and what that means for your retirement planning


Investing In Property / The Cashflow and Structure Considerations for Property Investment & Development

ONLINE Webinar Session
7 September // 1:00PM


Investment Property Red Flags

While the suburb and area are important factors in property selection, many investors fail to identify some of the red flags that might weigh on a property’s potential for growth.

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