SMSF’s may no longer be able to borrow to invest in property

I wanted to communicate an important change in the lending marketplace. If you have ever contemplated using your super to invest in residential property with borrowings, you must work out if its appropriate and advisable to do so now as your window of opportunity is closing. A major lender in this space, St George/Bank of Melbourne announced today …

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Should you switch your investment loan to principal and interest?

Over the past two years lenders have been incrementally increasing interest rates on investment loans and loans with interest only repayments (as opposed to principal and interest). As the chart below illustrates, the average interest rate margin between a principal and interest home loan and an interest only investment loan is now 1.04% p.a. As …

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What’s more important? Minimising tax or building wealth?

Tax is most people’s largest lifetime expense! Therefore, it is not difficult to understand how taking proactive steps to minimise your taxes can produce significant financial benefits. Different taxes will impact you at different stages of life depending on the wealth you have accumulated i.e. types of investments, amounts and ownership structures used. The common …

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Will the banks stop you from building wealth?

Over the past couple of years there have been many changes that have dramatically reduced your borrowing capacity. The Financial Services Royal Commission, government has put pressure on the banks to reduce investment lending and a directive to tighten lending standards just to name a few. If you are unable to borrow then your only …

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Not all super funds are created equal

The Productivity Commission released its draft report this week into the efficiency of the Australian superannuation system. Its findings are concerning, and all Australians must take an active role in choosing the most appropriate superannuation fund for them. If you don’t, the Productivity Commission suggests it could cost you between $61k and $407k, depending on …

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