Ask Steve : Buyer’s agent makes real saving
Q: I just bought a property in Australia using a buyer’s agent, is their fee tax deductable? A: A buyer’s agent is an increasingly popular way to find a property in Australia. They are usually...
View ArticleAsk Steve: Claim your tax even if you return
Question: I am thinking about returning to Australia so I am worried my overseas salary will be taxable if I return before the end of the financial year. Answer: It is a common misunderstanding for...
View ArticleThe UK tax system explained
YOU are required to pay tax when you are working in the UK whether you are a temporary or permanent employee. If you do not pay your tax while you are working in the UK, the Inland Revenue have means...
View ArticleAsk Steve: tax question with Steve Douglas
A: The Australian property market has fared better than most through the Global Financial Crisis and lending has remained available. This combined with a strong Australian dollar means that many...
View ArticleAsk Steve: How to give your investments a makeover
Answer: It is always a good idea to undertake regular renovation to improve the rental attractiveness and capital values of your property. Under Australian taxation rules you will always be entitled...
View ArticleAre you aware you can claim a Rebate on your National Insurance?
An NI (National Insurance) Rebate can be claimed at anytime and only needs to be done once (from thereon it is automatically done for you each year). So what is an NI Rebate? Much of your National...
View ArticleAsk Steve : Property loan refinancing made easy
Answer: Refinancing your loan on a property is a common occurrence. It is usually done to improve the interest rate or general terms on the loan which is often the case as you progress and either your...
View ArticleAsk the Expert : Visa help to hire Australians
Answer: Yes, under Tier 2 of the points-based immigration scheme, an employer needs a licence from the UK Border Agency in order to employ citizens from outside the European Economic Area. The...
View ArticleClaiming your NI Rebate – An Opportunity to Take Control of Your Finances
What is an NI Rebate? Very few people are aware that the government gives us a choice as to where some of our NI contributions should go. Anyone who is resident in the UK and who pays NI can opt to...
View ArticleAsk the Expert : Searching compulsory in property purchase
Answer: In the UK, the period prior to the exchange of contracts is used to investigate what you are buying, both for you and your lender. In addition to the contract documents, such as leases and so...
View ArticleGain from the wealth of talent to ensure your CV stands out
To ensure you have the best chance of getting your ideal job, your CV needs to stand out. You should forget graphics and gimmicks; opt for easy to read presentation; three pages should be the absolute...
View ArticleAustralians may be due a UK tax refund
Whether you are a PAYE worker, self employed, resident or non-resident in the UK – you could be entitled to hundreds of pounds in tax back and have no idea. The average UK tax refunds for PAYE workers...
View ArticleA faster, friendlier foreign exchange alternative
BANKS are not the only option for foreign exchange and international remittance, but most consumers don’t know this. The high street banks know most consumers don’t know this, which causes a strange...
View ArticlePortfolio management amid crisis mindset
THE financial meltdown of 2008 proved some of our established theories on portfolio management to be weak at best and in need of review. In this context who do you turn to for insight on management of...
View ArticleA long term return trick: Pound cost averaging
WE all know the current climate of volatile markets and scary newspapers has an effect on investor psychology. It’s often the wrong effect. Investors become tempted to sit on cash and struggle to make...
View ArticleFund supermarkets and wraps unwrapped
ONE of the most significant changes to the investment landscape for the average investor in the past decade or so has been the fund supermarket and the wrap. These terms are used to describe large...
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Fund supermarkets and wraps unwrapped
Sable Group explains an important investment principle. THE terms ‘fund supermarket’ and the ‘wrap’ are used to describe large ‘wholesalers’ of investment funds in the retail investment marketplace....
View ArticleWhen is the right time for foreign exchange transfers?
TRUTH is that if I had the perfect answer, I’d be writing this from my yacht in the Bahamas SURROUNDED by bikini-clad senoritas, sipping cocktails with little umbrellas in them. I assure you that is...
View ArticleWhere there’s a will…
UK law does not require that you have a written will, however without a valid will your estate will be distributed according to a predetermined legal process. This means that that your spouse, civil...
View ArticleActive or passive investment management?
To clarify: passive management is when you purchase a portfolio of funds that track major equity, bond or property indices. The tracker funds are cheaper because a computer system will do most of the...
View ArticleGender Neutral Pricing – what does it mean?
Us ordinary folk who have car insurance, life insurance, income protection and some day even an annuity when we retire are all set to be affected by the 2004 EU Gender Directive. In March this year the...
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Banking offshore while working abroad
Have you figured out your banking options while working abroad? Living and working away from home can be exciting but your banking arrangements need to run smoothly so that you can make the most of...
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Deciphering Australian interest rate changes
THIS month, at its regular monthly meeting, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) made a decision to cut the cash interest rate by 0.25% – after cutting rates in October by the same amount, and taking...
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Is it time to switch out of term deposits and get investing again?
OF course the answer will very much depend in the first instance on your own personal financial situation, and it’s worth sitting down and discussing it with an adviser. But here are some facts and...
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Why would anyone buy a property overseas?
WHY do people buy property overseas today? Do you want a holiday home at your favourite ski or beach location? A regular escape to the place you dream of one day calling home – at least more often?...
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Surprise RBA interest rate cut | Is it the exchange rate?
WELL forgive us for raising eyebrows, but the unemployment rate actually decreased according to latest data released in Australia, inflation is within the bank’s stated target range, the property...
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When should I move my savings to Australia?
At the moment I work in a good job in the City and have been trying hard to save over the last few years. However, I plan to return to Australia within the next 18 months. When should I start looking...
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