Succession and Estates

The Australian Tax Office have released a long awaited draft tax rulings on the tax treatment of trust distributions to family members. In effect the ATO are looking at tax strategies which arrange for family trusts to allocate trust profits to family members (or companies) that are potentially on a lower tax rate where that […]

The Fair Work Commission has increased the high income threshold for unfair dismissals from $136,700 to $138,900 per annum, with effect from 1 July 2016. Under the Fair Work Act 2009, employees who exceed earnings above the high income threshold are not entitled to make an unfair dismissal claim against their employer, unless they are […]

A preliminary guide to common issues asked by couples who are separating. The act of leaving a spouse is always difficult.  And almost always the financial aspect of the separation is a key discussion point. We have detailed a few financial and tax related things to go over for couples who are intending, or who […]

In most family-owned businesses the bank is an extremely important business partner.  Quite often the bank will be the second largest source of finance (after the family). So the management of the relationship with the bank is often an important part of the success. And the time to manage the bank relationship is when the […]

Many families will have systems in place when their kids buy their first home.  Just like they help with all taxation, investment and superannuation concessions.  Because the purchase of the first home is a large investment decision and the success of the child’s home ownership will impact on how the legacy is transferred. And with […]