Legal

Your No 1 Financial Focus, Decade By Decade...

Your No 1 Financial Focus, Decade By Decade...

Everyone has a different life journey they’re on. But getting on top of key financial goals as you follow your own path could see you enjoying a more comfortable lifestyle and being ready for the next chapter to begin. Read our guide to getting all your money matters sorted out, one decade at a time…

Role Reversal

Role Reversal

...when your parents are relying on you!
As your parents get older, your whole family will be facing lots of changes. Supporting them during this time can be challenging, with lots of choices to be made. Get some tips to help you prepare for this role-reversal without it becoming a burden or a cause of family conflict…

5 issues to consider before tying the knot...

5 issues to consider before tying the knot...

Before your big day, much of the financial talk may have been around budgeting for your wedding and planning your honeymoon. But while not nearly as exciting, there’s another vital part of your new partnership that should be considered: your future finances.

Finances can be one of the biggest sources of stress and tension in a marriage. However, open communication and careful planning now can help you avoid many problems down the road.

Here are five important areas to examine before you walk down the aisle:

Insurance: Income Protection - Stay Ready

Insurance: Income Protection - Stay Ready

'Income Protection' - in the world of investing and financial planning, this is never a thrilling topic of conversation. I don't know how many times I've seen client's eyes begin to glaze over whenever I've broached the subject of income protection, or life insurance for that matter.

Updating Your Family Trust

Updating Your Family Trust

Grab yourself a cup of coffee for this particular article, because you're going to need one. This note focuses on the importance of staying on top your family trust deeds. It's a little lengthy but please stay with me on this if you can - and if not, just call me and I'll point you in the right direction...

STARTING A NEW BUSINESS?

STARTING A NEW BUSINESS?

Statistics show that 'baby boomers' are simply refusing to retire, and instead, are choosing to start new businesses. The same trend also applies to the recently retrenched, which is great news for the Australian economy and financial markets....

ESTATE PLANNING: A cautionary tale...

ESTATE PLANNING: A cautionary tale...

Every year, Australian tax payers voluntarily pay the Tax Office millions of dollars in “Death Taxes” - I'd like to make sure you are not going to be one of them. Proper Estate Planning ensures that your estate goes to those you care about, and not the Tax Man...

Go Bankrupt & Lose Super?

Your three safe havens to protect assets from insolvency:

1. Low-risk spouse (eg. spouse is a teacher)

2.‘Clean skin’ Family Trusts (eg. no employees)

3. Superannuation

With the downturn in the economy the Trustee-in-Bankruptcy has its eye on Super.  The latest case, Morris v Morris, shows how desperate the Trustee-in-Bankruptcy has become - such underhand tactics puts greater risk on the financial planner.

Sure, after bankruptcy, the Trustee-in-Bankruptcy can’t touch your Super received as a lump sum. However, the Trustee-in-Bankruptcy takes your Super where:

  • you transferred assets into Super to defeat creditors; and
  • you, as a bankrupt, get pension payments from Super

Ask your financial planner:

  • Why is lump sum Super protected - but pensions are lost if the beneficiary in the Will is bankrupt?
  • Why are reversionary Pensions dangerous for Will beneficiaries with few assets?
  • Five ways parents can protect their Super at death.

Read more

 

Do You Have an Estate Directory?

estate-planning-directory-westmoun-financial

Ok, so you've planned for retirement, you have insurances in place, your Wills are up to date, and you've appointed Enduring Powers of Attorney. You couldn't be more organised - well done!

But do your loved ones know where your Will is located? How about your insurance and superannuation documents? Do they know who your Lawyer, Financial Advisor and Accountant's are? How about that key to the safe or special filing cabinet?

You can see where I'm going with this.

An 'Estate Directory' is a simple but extremely useful document to have in times of crisis. Basically, it's a list of important contacts and the location of documents that you can give to your next of kin, leave in an obvious place, or lodge with us, your Financial Advisor.

Don't let your well considered plans unravel at the worst possible time. If you're a client of Westmount, ask for an Estate Directory today (it's free).

Rick Maggi

Curse of the homemade will

Curse of the homemade will

“On numerous occasions when dealing with so-called homemade Wills, I have observed they are a curse. Homemade Wills which utilise what is sometimes known as a ‘Will kit’ are not much better. This case proves the point….”

Master Sanderson, Rogers v Rogers Young [2016] WASC 208

Kathleen Rogers loved her daughter, Alexandra. Mum’s Will left everything to her. Mum died of cancer when Alexandra was not yet 18. The Estate was intended to be held on trust until Alexandra was 25. Unfortunately, mum’s newsagency Will kit did not agree. The Will was ambiguous as to what ’25 years of age’ meant.

The penny dreadful Will kit cost the daughter $200,000: $100,000 to attack a Will and $100,000 to defend. It’s paid by the estate, so 18 year old Alexandra lost out here. Mum could have gone to our law firm’s website and built a professional Will for a mere few hundred dollars.