First Financial Blog

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Proactive business succession planning is critical, especially as an ever-increasing number of baby boomer business owners approach retirement. We take a closer look at succession planning and David Pitt discusses the role buy/sell insurance can play.

Treasurer, Josh Frydenberg, handed down the Federal Government’s 2020-21 Budget on 6 October. Originally delayed in May due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this Budget has been highlighted as the most significant in decades.

The FY20 company reporting season was under intense scrutiny this year as investors waited for information about the impact of COVID-19 on company fundamentals. We look at how dividends have been impacted and the expectations for FY21.

Are we set for another market fall? Or is it the case that markets seriously over-reacted in the first place and are now coming slowly to a more accurate assessment of the long-term risks involved in COVID-19?

When it comes time to retire, you want the transition to be smooth and stress-free. It’s important to arm yourself with some knowledge of how taxation works within retirement and how different income streams are taxed.

Back in April, banks and mortgage lenders offered significant mortgage relief through home loan deferrals. There’s no doubt that for many, mortgage deferral has been extremely helpful over the last six months, but it does come with some drawbacks.

Private health insurance… do you have it? Do you need it? Are you paying too much? Are you adequately covered? Choosing your health insurance can be a difficult decision to make, and even once you have selected your cover, you often continue to ask yourself these questions.

Australian housing affordability is an issue of concern for both State and Federal Governments. We look closer at the new HomeBuilder program and also review the other existing financial support programs available to home buyers.

Whether your kids are boomeranging back, or they are yet to leave home, it’s important that you set expectations and create practical boundaries within your household. The truth is… your kids aren’t really kids anymore, so you should resist the urge to fall back into full parent mode.

During challenging times, it can be extremely beneficial to have a trusted financial adviser. Someone who knows your personal situation and can help you navigate the uncertainty with sound advice and professional assurance.