Did you receive JobKeeper last financial year?

JobKeeper payments are taxable, so you need to include them in your tax return. If you’re a sole trader, partnership, company or trust that’s received JobKeeper payments, we’ll contact you or your registered tax agent by early July to let you know: the total amount of JobKeeper payments your entity received since 1 July 2020, … Read more

Reverse mortgage and home equity release

If you’re aged 60 or over, own your home and need to access money, releasing equity from your home may be an option. There is risk involved and a long-term financial impact. Get independent financial or legal advice before you go ahead. How home equity release works ‘Equity’ is the value of your home, less … Read more

ESG: Fad or future?

From time to time, investors become irrationally enthusiastic. The important thing to note about these manic moments is that the investment theme underpinning them makes perfect sense. The narratives are rational; it is the market excess surrounding them that is not. In the early 1970s investors became transfixed by a group of seemingly bullet-proof stocks, … Read more

Selling your home? Here are the first steps to take

There is more to selling your home than putting up a ‘For Sale’ sign on your front lawn. Here are the first things you should check off your list to help you get a favourable result from your investment and to ensure the process runs as smoothly as possible.  Choose a quality agent Asking family … Read more

The case for emerging markets

Take advantage of shifting global dynamics Emerging markets (EM) have been growing rapidly in recent years. In fact, they now contribute over 50% of global growth and are expected to contribute over 60% by 2025.1 Once dominated by agriculture and cheap manufacturing, EM countries are today home to some of the world’s fastest-growing economies and most … Read more

Calculating profit margin: Business basics

As a business owner, a crucial part of the role is keeping an eye on key financial metrics — understanding and calculating profit margin is a great place to start. If the money doesn’t keep flowing, you won’t be able to keep the doors open for long. One element of keeping track of cash flow and profits … Read more

Tax time: calculating investment income and deductions

By Tony Kaye, Senior Personal Finance Writer, Vanguard Australia The Australian Tax Office has started full processing of 2020-21 income tax returns, and its objective was to start paying refunds from mid-July. As an investor it’s important to understand what information you need to record in your next income tax return, particularly in relation to … Read more

What to consider when deciding to rent or buy a home

Housing affordability is a huge issue. Working out whether to jump onto the property ladder or continue renting can be a confusing decision. We’ll go through some of the pros and cons of both options to help you make an informed decision. Renting: the pros Frees up your savings By choosing the renting life over … Read more

Choosing a super fund

Most people can choose which super fund they’d like their super contributions paid into. You can go with your employer’s fund or choose your own. To find out if you can choose your super fund, check with your employer. Your employer will give you a ‘standard choice form’ when you start a new job. This … Read more

Why there’s also risk in not investing

By Robin Bowerman, Head of Corporate Affairs, Vanguard Australia Many Australians know that investing will always come with some level of risk, namely the potential to lose money. In a recent Vanguard report on Australian attitudes towards investing, 20 per cent of those surveyed cited “worry of making a bad investment” as a barrier to … Read more