Welcome to our Blog Page

What is a nest egg and why should I have one?

A “nest egg “, traditionally called, refers to a bundle of financial assets saved for the future. These assets can either be sold and/or generate income for you. Let’s investigate pros and cons of your nest egg.

Why everyone hates the ATO's resolution for 2018, and so will YOU!

"Everyone cheats a bit, so I can too";... "others won't care if I cheat";..."I claim deductions (legit or not) to make sure I get a refund".. sounds familiar? According to the world’s top anti-tax avoidance cop Chris Jordan, too many individuals and small businesses are making excessive tax deductions and the Tax Office is threatening to come after them. The Taxman will be looking into people’s dirty laundry and target the common areas of scrutiny...

9 Things your Boss wants to Know when Choosing an Insurance Advisor

There is no shortage of advice when it comes to insurance but how do you decide on which insurance advisor is right for your business? No two businesses are exactly the same, so ..

Have You Ever Considered A Budget Planning Day?

Do you have goals in mind like starting your own business or investing in property, but find that day to day living expenses are setting you back?

If you find yourself in this situation then despair not. You are not alone, ...

Refresh your sweet home - spend time not money!

Are you ready to hit the refresh button on your home in 2018 but aren’t sure where to start? Christmas and New Year’s celebrations are over, and you still have a couple of days before returning to the daily routine, so now is the time! Roll up your sleeves ...

Plan B for your New Year's Resolution

Did you incorporate possible Risks into your big plans and goals that involve bigger amounts of money? Did you think about the Australian Economy and possible worst-case scenarios when setting up your new year’s resolution? Me neither, until I had a had a chat with John, our Principle and Senior Financial Planner.

5 quick tips for a happier, healthier YOU in 2018

So much to do, so little time to do it, and exercise is often the first thing to be let go when times get tight. In the end, we feel unhappy or even frustrated to not stick to the fitness plan. Everyone can understand it; driving to the gym, finding a park, getting changed, negotiating yourself around the gym, showering, changing again, back into the car to get home is not a 5-minute exercise.

The Ultimate Cheat Sheet for your Audit – Play safe!

Did you know that ATO increases its number of audits? You can be selected at random because of your postcode, your type of business or just because you have a self-managed Super Fund.

Christmastime is family time - do we really give enough?

I am not talking about the new Nintendo Switch, latest iPhone or a new pair of earrings. I am talking about altruism, care and blankets, basic furniture, food, unbroken shoes and T-Shirts. Things that we take for granted are not accessible for everyone. It’s time to stop closing our eyes and showing gratitude by giving back to the community and teaching our children to appreciate what they have.

What 2017 taught investors & what eager investors should know for 2018

We can’t predict the future, but we can have a walk down the share market memory lane up until September 2017 and see what may be in store for eager Investors for 2018.

Christmas Spending and Money Management – Some Valuable Tips to Help Keep You Out of the Debt Trap this Christmas

Christmas is meant to be a time of good cheer, but good cheer can soon turn to despair when faced with post-Christmas debt and bills that can’t be paid.

Some of our team at Johnson Grocke put their heads together to come up with ways of avoiding the post-Christmas debt blues, beginning by addressing the following question;

The Renovate & Flip Property Investment Strategy in Adelaide

If you are an expert in quickly adding value to a property, then renovate and flip is the best strategy for you. It is risky but can be rewarding!

How to get into Property Development – No risk, No money

So, let’s be frank, property development is hands down the quickest and most profitable way to make money from property. Ok, ok, .... yes, there’s always a but...

Why we love the traditional Buy & Hold Property Investment Strategy - and you should too!

The Buy & Hold property investment strategy is the best choice for you, if it’s your first property investment or if you have 30 years to build up your property portfolio. The good news, if executed correctly: It’s a lazy, foolproof strategy, that has a high chance of making you money over time.

Yes, Property Investment is right for me! What now?

You are one of many people in Australia who always had a love for property. I think the fact that you can see it, feel it and change it, makes it a desirable investment for many people. Let’s explore the best proven strategies I've either used personally or offered to my clients.

The Hidden Truth about Successful Property Investment in Adelaide

So, you have reached a stage where you are thinking about Property Investment here in Adelaide – Great! BUT, are you unsure of whether or not the timing is right for you to step into the property market and make this life-changing decision?

Expecting Quiet Times? Then You’d Better Read This

Is your business seasonal or do external factors influence your customer’s behaviour? After running your business for a while you might be able to see quiet times coming. Good for you – but foresight isn’t everything! Turn foresight into action and lead your business in the right direction.

How to Survive the Quiet Times and Benefit from the Experience

Change is inevitable and quiet often unforeseeable. Quiet times can hit us when we least expect it. The cancellation of a major project, a big customer leaves or roadworks commences that make your shop inaccessible. The unexpected can catch us all.

Tax Refund Tips for 2017

To increase your tax refund in 2017, you need to either reduce your taxable income or increase your deductable expenses. Now this doesn’t mean that you should go out and earn less and spend more.

What it does mean though is that if you run a business, you should look at the timing of both the payments you receive and the expenses you pay.

7 Tax Tips for Planning your 2017 Tax Return

When it comes to tax returns, most people want the same thing, the biggest refund possible or at least the minimum tax payable possible, executed as quickly as possible, at the least cost possible. At Johnston Grocke, we understand this so here are some tax tips to help you achieve your tax return goals for 2017.

Superannuation Changes 2017

The changes to the superannuation contributions effective 1 July 2017 represent a move by the Federal Government to increase revenue by reducing tax concessions.

To best understand these changes and what they mean to you, it’s firstly, worth having a look at the current superannuation contribution arrangements, so we can gain some perspective.

The Dirty Little Secret the Banks Don't Want You to Know...

that could help you with your tax planning and cash flow management.

Have you ever stumbled upon a product or service your bank has available that could have been of benefit to you, if only they had let you know about it?

Well there are many products and services that banks deliberately don’t publicise or widely offer. You may be one of the lucky customers that get tapped on the shoulder and receive a whispered offer because someone at the bank considers you to be exceptionally “valuable”. But for most of us who are considered by our bank to be ‘less valuable’, we are unlikely to learn about these offerings first hand.

CBD Apartments- Set for a Shock?

New reports from, global and financial institutions are now warning about what we have suspected for quite some time...

Succession Planning - 3 Major Factors

Sadly, we are seeing too many businesses looking to sell but struggling to find an interested buyer at the right price. Unfortunately, the most common mistake in succession planning is the absence of a plan!

Superannuation - 5 Tips

The uncertainty surrounding the superannuation rules is now starting to ease as legislation gets through the new parliament. Time flies though, so make sure you consider seeking advice on these 5 areas before tougher rules come into force on 1 July 2017.

Get SUPER Organised - but for the Right Reasons

Most people have more than one super account. And some people have forgotten about a super account!

Consolidating super accounts is about getting organised, bringing together information and making good decisions about how to invest and protect your super savings. This topic may be boring for some people and you probably already want to stop reading but wait! I can assure you that you will get that feel good feeling once you take control of your money and move those numerous small super account balances into one large account balance.

How to Purchase your First Home, Faster!

Visualising where your new sofa will sit and planning paint colours is much more exciting than strategizing ways to save a house deposit. Unfortunately, as most of my first home buyers discover: you usually can’t get to the fun stuff until you’ve done the hard yards and saved your deposit. But how can you get to your goal quicker?

Having an Outsider, In?

Why is a non-family member often a good person to have on the board of a business?

What to do When you Have Kids

Life is pretty easy when we only have to look after ourselves. We enjoy a freedom that we take for granted and responsibilities are not too onerous. My, how that changes when we have kids!

Personal Insurance - "What if?" and Why We Want to Help you Navigate the Minefield

No one really likes to talk about the negative “what-if’s” of life especially death and disablement, so it’s easier to just keep thinking that we’re invincible and bury our heads in the sand. That works great until something goes wrong….

Asset Protection - is it Important?

The simple answer is yes, but what exactly is it?

Protecting one’s assets is all about planning to make sure any valuable asset is not able to be targeted by a creditor, bank or other entity making a claim on you or your business. History is full of sad stories where people have ‘lost the lot’ when unexpected events happen, sometimes out of their control, and their assets are seized by others.

We're Not in Kansas Anymore...

Moving can be a new and exciting experience. It can also be quite daunting if you find yourself in a new city, state or even country. This was my experience when I moved to Australia in 2000. I suddenly found myself on the opposite side of the world in a thrilling Sydney around the time of the 2000 Olympics. I am originally from the suburbs in Kansas, USA. I didn’t exactly grow up in a small town but it was worlds apart from the atmosphere in Sydney at that time. I was experiencing a strange mix of emotions. I was filled with the joviality of being young in a big thriving city. I was overwhelmed at the challenges I faced to find a job and accommodation. I was also a bit sad about being 15,308 Kilometres away from my family.

Client Info Session Part 3

BREXIT- While it has had a significant impact to the share market and property prices in London, Australia remains largely unaffected. Remembering that it could be another 2 years before the UK actually leaves the EU, Australian economists predict expect little impact to Australian property prices. Others are suggesting that Australian ex-pats may return home if it becomes too difficult to work and travel in the EU (which would add to local demand for property).

Client Info Session Part 2

In July, I had the pleasure of speaking at the Johnston Grocke Market Update where I gave my review of the Australian property market’s performance over the last 12 months. This is a summary of that presentation.

The annual growth of 5.5% over the last decade (as shown below), is a little short of the 7.2% per annum that is required for property values to double every 10 years. It’s important to note however that not all cities have performed this way. This is the combined capital city data.

Client Info Session Part 1

A few weeks ago, Johnston Grocke held an information session for its clients. The information session was a Market Update, covering the global economy, shares, property and retirement. Watch in the following weeks for blogs from the speakers, summarising their thoughts and information presented on that night. John Grocke was one of the speakers at this event and below are some of his key messages.

Fast Food isn't all bad - you can learn things too!

Changing consumer trends have favoured premium and healthy food produce in recent years, to the detriment of traditional fast food outlets.

This trend has played out in the pizza restaurant and takeaway industry, as Pizza Hut has struggled to maintain growth as smaller pizza store operators have increasingly offered premium produce.

Studying While Working - it can be Done! Part 2

Is your employer flexible with the hours you work? If you can’t afford to reduce your employment income and your study will require attendance at certain classes perhaps your employer is open to alternative work hours? Some courses require students to attend on campus during business hours – those lost employment hours could be made up outside business hours – again depending on what work you do and your employer's flexibility.
Read More

Studying While Working - it can be Done! Part 1

For the last year and a half, I have been studying a university course part-time while still working full time. This isn't the first time I've undertaken study while working full time however it is the first time I've been studying a course that requires me to attend campus. This, of course, raises some additional logistical issues.

If Brexit was a Business...?

Whether or not Brexit is the correct decision (time will tell), it's important to understand why the decision making process was flawed and understand that if this process was adopted in a private business, it would be a disaster.

The following are some key decision-making pointers, to help you make the right decisions, for YOU.

How do you get your Business Flying?

One thing that can be proven by analysis across many companies is that depsite periods of loss, a good return on shareholders' funds (ie returns after salaries) can be quite sustainable.

Australia's highest performing businesses largely follow similar success guidelines to average over 35% ROSF in any five-year period.

It's a topic that many people avoid but it is so important to discuss and plan so you minimise the stress the those left behind. The question you need to ask yourself is: "How smoothly do I want the process to be?" and "How do I minimise any risks in passing my assets on?"

Deposit guarantees are an alternative to paying cash as a deposit when you purchase a property.

They are most commonly used when purchasing an apartment off the plan with final settlement for the apartment not taking place until it’s completed.

Transition to Retirement - Unlocking your Super Whilst Still Working

Are you 55 or over and wanting to boost your retirement savings, tax effectively, while you’re still working? Would you like to wind back your work hours without winding back your lifestyle?

Everyone has their own goals heading into retirement. Some would like to make a gradual transition by reducing their working hours. Others are looking for ways to boost their retirement savings while still working full time.

The Top 5 Businesses that are Expected to Prosper

The prospect of starting your own business can be both a daunting and exciting process and can be one of the most powerful ways to take control of your lifestyle. There are the obvious perks such as getting to choose your own hours, picking projects you find exciting and, if successful, generating a healthy income for yourself and, potentially, others.

The I Return is Alive & Well

There is a lot of media about the removal of the “I” return for individual taxpayers. The Australian Government identifies individual income tax as the “single largest Australian Government revenue source” (www.bettertax.gov.au) and proposals have been put forward which would remove the need for many individuals to submit tax returns.

Self Managed Super Funds

Family Super Funds, referred to as Self-Managed Super Funds (SMSF's), have become the popular choice for those people seeking more control, flexibility and access to direct investments that otherwise are not available through most Institutional or Industry super funds.

Safe Tax

Many regulatory authorities conduct audits to confirm you are complying with the various rules and regulations they are responsible for overseeing.

For example, if you employ people, WorkCover will eventually audit you to confirm the remuneration you declare has had the correct levies paid on them. The ATO is another major auditor.

Preparing for a Family

As you may have read in our latest newsletter, we were delighted to announce our Para-Broker Matthew Bodger and his wife Kelly, recently become parents for the first time. Leading up to the birth of their baby daughter, there was a whole lot of planning required, making sure the baby’s room was prepared, purchasing items such as a cot, car seat, change table etc., not to mention attending the anti-natal classes.

Online Home Loan Comparison Sites can Cost you $33,730.

Online home loan comparison sites are all the rage at the moment and it is easy to see why: simply jump online, punch in your details and compare every available home loan on the market. What a great concept... until it costs you $33,730.

New Age Reporting - Are you Stuck in a Time Warp?

What was, is not good enough now

In the past, as a business owner, you did your best to run your business, usually with a cash book and bank statements.

Then some basic software systems came along like electronic cash books, but, they didn’t really advise you; the best they could do was tell you how you went and where you spent your money.

Negotiating

Helpful tips for negotiating when you come to buy your property!

Understand the price range of the property
Check out the competition
1. If there are a lot of people interested, your offer needs to be at the upper end
2. If only yourself or one other your offer can be at the lower end

What is Mortgage Insurance?

Lender Mortgage insurance, often referred to as LMI, is an insurance taken out by the lender to protect them against the borrower defaulting on their loan. It is a once off payment, paid by the borrower, when the loan is first taken out if the loan is above 80% of the value of the house eg. if the house was worth $400,000 then an 80% lend would be a $320,000 loan. Anything above 80% is considered a higher risk for the bank to lend against as there is less hurt money (equity) in the property if the borrower were to default.

Insurance & You

The past 12 – 18 months has seen the largest shake-up in the Insurance industry for a long time. All participants including large Industry super funds have seen rates increase significantly.

The background to why this is happening is due to an increase in ‘claims above projections’ with a large part of them coming from mental health related issues and cancer. These two categories presently account for around 70% of Income Protection claims in the Industry at present.

How to Make Money from Property - Buy & Hold

This property investment strategy is the most commonly used amongst Australian investors due to its simplicity, a smaller amount of capital required to get started and reduced risk compared to other strategies. Less investment knowledge, less risk and less deposit required makes it a great entry level investment. The key to this strategy is to simply purchase a property and retain it until you have seen enough growth in the price to suit your needs/objectives or you continue to hold the property to generate a positive income to assist with retirement. Generally speaking, you should hold the property for at least 10 years to give yourself the best chance to see price growth.

Financial Planning for the Young Professional

Knowing how to manage money is important for everyone irrespective of one’s profession, financial circumstances, lifestyle etc. Young adults need to understand that financial planning for the future can no longer be restricted to those approaching retirement. To get ahead in life one needs to plan one’s finances in addition to other responsibilities. As a young professional just starting out, the future can seem a long way off so it’s understandable not to spend too much time thinking about things like investing, insurance or even retirement. However, life moves pretty quickly and with the ever-increasing life expectancy in Australia and the uncertain future of social security, it is never a bad idea to put a plan into perspective.

I Want to Sell my Business but I Don't Know How

This is a very common question which unfortunately often comes a little later than it should in the life cycle of a typical privately owned business.

Most businesses chug along focussed on the day to day operations and challenges. Some of the better ones think about the longer term growth of the business and plan accordingly. The best ones do these two things AS WELL AS monitoring and tweaking an exit strategy that has been developed at the outset.

How to Make Money from Property - Development

So let’s be frank, property development is hands down the quickest and most profitable way to make money from property. Ok ok .... yes there’s always a but... BUT it’s considered the highest risk strategy and requires the largest amount of capital (money) to get started. Many of the world’s richest people have made their squilliions from developing property both commercial and residential. Let’s break it down to what many ‘real’ Australians can afford to do.

Part 2

This has been used by the majority of property investors as it is the most simplest and traditional approach to property investment and reduces your risk compared to other strategies. You simply purchase a property and retain it until you have seen enough growth in the price to suit your needs/objectives or you continue to hold the property to generate a positive income to assist with retirement.

First Home Buyers

The First Home Buyer journey can be tough. For most of us, it’s the first major financial decision we’ve had to make on our own. It’s also usually a time for managing lots of expectations: What you want vs what you can afford, which areas you think you’d like to live in and what your parents think you should look for.

Exchange Traded Funds vs Listed Investment Companies

Exchange Traded Funds (ETF) or Listed Investment Companies (LICs): it′s an often-held debate between investors. The technical differences between the two often causes confusion among investors, especially when it comes to determining the suitability within one's broader investment profile.

Contributions to Super

Contributions to super are a great way to add to your savings for the longer term.

There are two types of contributions; either ‘before tax’ and ‘after tax’.

Before tax contributions include employer contributions; salary sacrifice or if self-employed personal deductible contributions – maximum depends on age – < age 49 = $30,000; 49 or more = $35,000 (both include employer contributions).

Investing your Money - Cash vs Shares vs Property

Deciding to invest your money, in order to have a prosperous future, is a wise decision. However, it can also be a confusing one, especially when considering what area to invest your money into. It is timely, then, to consider the difference between assets like Cash/Shares/Property. Each has a different profile in terms of immediate access, but, even the view on those rules has been tested over the past few weeks.

Building a New Home

I recently embarked on a pretty exciting journey with my significant other: building our next home together. We found the perfect bit of land, not too big and not too small. Closer to work and which would give us the scope to build the home we’ve both been dreaming of. If you’re like us and have decided to build too, your next few months will be full of collaboration and big decisions to get you closer to moving into your new home. There are several benefits to buying land and building, instead of purchasing an established property. The main financial benefit is the reduction in stamp duty applicable, as you’ll only be charged duty on the cost of the land – not the entire value of the property when it’s complete. Most people however, are drawn to building as it gives them the freedom to design their dream home. Dream fittings and features, an amazing free standing bath, dream layout, additions which are too expensive or too hard to add to an established home. Depending on your budget, building gives you the scope to encompass all these options and more.

Budgeting for the Expected and Unexpected Circumstances Part 2

So, you have now completed your budget and the bottom line shows you are breaking even, or worse, spending more than you earn. For those of you who are just ‘breaking even’ you may feel like you are in control of your budget. However, do you have a regular savings plan in place and an ‘emergency fund’ for those unexpected expenses? For those of you who are spending more than you earn, your financial position can decline fast unless you address your spending habits.

Budgeting for the Expected and Unexpected Circumstances Part 1

How often do unexpected bills land in your letterbox, and you haven’t set aside savings to pay for them? Have you ever made a New Years resolution to set up a Christmas Gift Savings Account to try avoiding the hefty credit card bill you receive in January? By establishing a Budget you will be more prepared to pay for these expected and unexpected expenses.

Beware of the SMSF Cowboys

For most people financial matter are something to think about when time permits, or when a crunch comes and they have no choice. Long term investments such as superannuation often gets even less attention, who wants to think about something that might only be accessible years away, most of us just try to keep up with today’s problems!

A New Take on FoFA

Written by Vern Gowdie of 'The Daily Reckoning'

In the politically correct world, FoFA is an acronym for Future of Financial Advice.

In the less politically correct world of The Daily Reckoning it’s come to mean something quite different. In line with our new definition, the Finance Minister should tell the big six institutions (CBA, NAB, ANZ, Westpac, AMP and Macquarie) to FoFA — F*** off From Advice. It’s the only way for financial advisers to actually have a future.

Achieving Your Wealth Goals Isn't Easy

First you have to earn the money,

Then you have to make it work for you,

Then you have to hang on to it so it can continue to work for you and your family,

Then you have to choose to be able to pass it on to future generations.

Age Pension Changes - Good & Bad

The budget papers contained significant changes to the aged pension assets test that will come into effect on 1 January 2017.

Under the proposed changes, the value of assets you can have in addition to the family home to qualify for the full pension will increase significantly. However, the taper rate will increase from the current $1.50 per fortnight per $1,000 of assets over the lower threshold to $3.00 per $1,000 of assets. The government estimates this will mean 91,000 people will stop having access to part pensions and a further 235,000 people will have their part pensions decreased.

3 Things Most Successful Businesses Do Right

It’s tough being a business owner with so many things to consider – where do you start? If you think too much, micro things you get overwhelmed so its best to look at the main areas.