The end of the financial year spells stress. For some of us, we leave it to our accountants to kick us into action and then scramble for receipts and invoices before 1 July. To help make things a little easier for you, we’ve prepared a checklist of the main things you need to prepare for […]
Blog
EOFY SMSF Checklist
Self-Managed Super Funds (SMSFs) are subject to an audit every year, so for SMSF trustees this can be a very busy period. There are plenty of rules and regulations around the management of an SMSF and it’s important you discuss your personal financial circumstances with your accountant or financial adviser. We’ve provided a general checklist […]
Changes to insurance in super from 1 July 2019
You might have received a letter recently about changes to insurance in a super account you have forgotten entirely about. All super funds are required to send you a notice due to changes to insurance in super from 1 July 2019. Nearly all superannuation accounts have life insurance by default. Life insurance costs money […]
Test Your Financial Knowledge
Financial literacy is important whether you have a financial adviser or not. Having someone look after your financial household can give you the one thing money can’t buy; time. Whilst that’s a wonderful thing, it doesn’t mean that you should shut yourself off from all financial matters entirely. At Align, we believe it is important […]
Post-Election Policy Overview
The federal election results have come unexpected after weeks of opinion polling indicated a victory for the Labor party. It was a “miracle” win for Scott Morrison and a spectacular failure on opinion polling. Along with the Liberal win is the continuation of the following policies: Cash refunds for franking credit to continue for […]
Do elections impact market performance?
Election time can strike fear in the hearts of investors. Many may ask what the implications are to financial markets and thus their own portfolios during what feels like an even more uncertain future. And whilst it’s true there are significant differences in the two major party’s proposals that may impact some investors, looking at […]
A Financial Lens on Election Promises
Political campaigning is in full force around the country as the federal election approaches on Saturday 18th May. There’s a little more talk of the economy at this election than others in the past. And many of us may worry about the financial impact of party policies should either party win. But before you make […]
The Difference Between a Power of Attorney and an Enduring Guardianship
One of the questions most people answered incorrectly from our recent Financial Literary Quiz, is on the difference between a Power of Attorney and an Enduring Guardianship. It’s not a topic everyone likes to think about – the possibility of losing the capacity to make decisions about your finances, health and lifestyle, which is a […]
2019-20 Budget Wrap-Up
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg delivered his maiden budget for 2019-20 on Tuesday night, potentially a few weeks before the Federal Election takes place in early or mid-May this year. One of the headlines from the announcement is the forecast of an estimated $7.1 billion surplus, which will be the first time the budget has returned “back […]
Why I Don’t Peel Apples
Why don’t I peel apples anymore? Crunching on an apple, skin and all, could be the healthiest way to eat this fruit bowl staple. New research has provided further evidence that the peel has powerful health benefits. Several studies published in the past year have highlighted the wide-ranging health benefits of apple polyphenols – a […]