Single Touch Payroll (STP) – Getting clear for small businesses

After some delays in the date surrounding the implementation of single touch payroll, the legislation will come into effect on 1 July 2019 for employers with 19 or less employees. Employers with 20 or more employees have been required to report from 1 ...

Measuring performance is essential if you want to grow your business, and profit margin is one of the most effective ways to gauge success. In this post, we’ll look at how gross profit margin can be used to improve your efficiency and increase your ...

It sounds like an easy question to answer: Who are your most profitable customers? But when it comes down to it, many business owners struggle to provide a definitive answer to this question. After all, customers are not always equally profitable. Some ...

When you’re trying to plan and save for the future, it can seem counterintuitive to spend some of your hard-earned money on financial advice. After all, when you look at how much more you need to save to reach your goals, you may feel that every dollar ...

Some of the most innovative and forward-thinking businesses in Australia are SMEs. With their ability to quickly adapt to technology and to scale up or down, smaller businesses often have advantages over larger, more cumbersome businesses. Maybe that’s ...

11 October 2018 (Forbes) - “Market Volatility is Surging” 25 October 2018 (The Guardian) - “Asia Pacific Shares Plunge Into Bear Territory Amid Fears Over Global Economy” 27 November 2018 (Business Insider Australia) - “The Australian Dollar Is Volatile ...

If you want to remove the wall between your kitchen and your living room, you’ll probably hire a professional to ensure you’re not taking out any load-bearing beams. Why? Because one mistake could compromise the structural integrity of your home, leaving ...

What happens when you don’t feed your body? You slow down, have trouble concentrating and can’t function normally. What happens when you don’t have the cash to feed your business? When you stop and think about it, cash is the food that nourishes your ...

Having extra money left in your bank account each month may be a sign that you can invest more for your retirement, and that’s great news! Perhaps you’ve accumulated a surplus cash flow with careful budgeting and planning. Maybe you’re earning more than ...

From stocks and bonds to real estate and business ventures, there are so many paths you could take as you invest for the future and build your wealth. By most estimates, there are over 630,000 companies in the world with publicly traded stock. This ...

A successful retirement plan doesn’t happen by accident. Just as physically healthy people can trace their success to good eating and exercise, people who retire in a healthy financial situation can attribute their success to a strategic retirement plan ...

If your business runs out of cash and can’t obtain new finance, it will fail. That’s why it’s critically important that you monitor and manage your cash flow.  Cash flow forecasts are one of the most important tools you can use to make sure your weekly, ...

Family office structures make it possible for families to “professionalise” their money management and wealth creation. They offer professional third-party insight designed to protect and preserve family wealth into the future, while meeting goals and ...

Paying off your mortgage faster can open up a world of financial options for you. Without a monthly mortgage payment, you may have more discretionary income, a smaller debt burden and increased freedom to realise your financial goals. Some people pay off ...

Your home loan might have been perfect for you when you bought your house years ago, but is it still meeting your needs? Over time, people may face changes in their financial situations, goals and priorities, and refinancing a home loan is one of the ...

Forecasts allow businesses to plan for the future with greater confidence, knowing their projections are based on accurate financial data. Forecasts improve your chances of maintaining overall financial health through varying market conditions, and your ...

What will happen to your business when you no longer stand at the helm? The end of your tenure may occur for several different reasons, whether it’s pursuing new opportunities, facing sickness or disability, or retiring and spending your time travelling. ...

Business succession planning involves more than just coming up with a list of possible successors. Done well, succession planning results not only in a smooth exit for the business owner but also in a healthy and improved bottom line for the business as ...

With the next SMSF TBAR reporting obligation fast approaching, it’s important you get in touch with your Altus Adviser now if there has been a reporting event. What are the reporting obligations? The method of reporting is via a separate form to your ...

Every company, large or small, needs a cash flow forecast. Without plans for healthy cash flow, it can be difficult to hire, invest, allocate funds for marketing and equipment and even pay your bills on time. In fact, cash flow problems are one of the ...

Applying for finance can seem intimidating and complicated. Of course, once you engage Altus Financial, we can help you through every stage of the process, so you can get approval sooner.  In this post, we walk through eight key steps in the home loan ...

It’s now been 10 years since the depths of the Global Financial Crisis (GFC). An increase in money supply through Quantitative Easing has led to valuations in most asset class now beginning to look stretched. For those that have been brave enough to ...

If aged care finances fill you with confusion and worry, you’re not alone. With strange terms like DAP and RAD and different categories of costs and fees, aged care can seem more like a puzzle to decipher than a milestone to plan for. In this post, we’ve ...

Finance outsourcing is believed to have begun in 1990 when two business people met in a London hotel. A BP CFO and a partner at Accenture talked about the severe problems BP was facing in the midst of the oil crisis. BP was struggling with highly agile ...

Effective cash flow management is one of the most common challenges growing businesses face. In this video, Senior Client Adviser Bradley Cochrane outlines some simple strategies you can use to improve your cash flow and grow with confidence.

Microsoft Excel has been a staple for financial professionals, but how does it stack up against accounting software? In this video, Senior Client Adviser Sarah Pyke weighs up the pros and cons of Excel versus a cloud-based accounting platform.

After working diligently for many years in order to build up your business, it can be difficult to transition to retirement. In many ways, owning a business is like raising a child. You put so many of your hopes and dreams into the business, and it ...

So Dad’s handing down the reins to you! If you grew up around the family business, you may be well acquainted with many of the aspects of how it runs. You may have worked at the business from time to time, or even be in the leadership team at present. ...

In this video, Altus Managing Director Roy Ditmarsch shares six tips for ensuring a smooth transition from your business.    

The Government has introduced legislation that changes the way ASIC is funded. This funding change will impact the way ASIC charges its fees to you, as ASIC moves towards becoming a “user-pays” system. If your work is regulated by ASIC, there are some ...

In this video, Senior Client Adviser Sarah Pyke answers five questions on the importance of cash flow management.

Growing businesses need to carefully manage many components, people, products, processes and importantly cashflow. If you run out of cash – all the good work on the other elements will be irrelevant. While a growing business is an exciting goal, it’s ...

On Friday 1st June, Altus Financial won the 2018 Diversified Firm of the Year at the Australian Accounting Awards. The award recognises the firm that most effectively diversified their service offering to increase business growth, and client ...

Reducing the amount of tax you pay in retirement should leave you with more money for other priorities, such as your day-to-day living expenses, travelling and more. Once you’ve retired, your options for reducing taxes typically include offsetting your ...

Over the years, business owners put an incredible amount of time and effort into their work. At some point, all business owners start to think about transitioning to retirement. That might mean reducing the amount of time spent with the business, turning ...

It’s hard to talk about business succession without talking about business valuation. Valuation is critical to ensuring a smooth transfer of ownership, which can be a complicated and lengthy process. Business valuations can clarify many of the issues ...

Cloud accounting systems are changing the way businesses operate and manage their financial information. If you haven’t looked into upgrading your processes to include cloud accounting systems, you might want to consider the following eight benefits. 1. ...

Business succession isn’t a last-minute process; it requires careful, strategic planning and ongoing support. In fact, small businesses without succession plans often fail when the owner or a senior-level partner retires or dies simply because there was ...

Too many business owners fail to plan for what will happen when they can no longer run the business due to illness, disability or death. Some people just don’t want to think about it, while others don’t know how to go about succession planning. Others ...

Running a business requires a great deal of hard work and sacrifice. Business owners often focus on what they can do to keep their operation growing at a healthy pace, but often neglect planning for problems that could incapacitate their business if the ...

Entrepreneurs are valued for their ability to start businesses, but another one of their responsibilities is to arrange for their business’s succession. This needs to be started long before you need to leave your business. Why is business succession so ...

Estate planning may not be the most exciting or pleasant thing to think about. However once you begin, you’ll see that it allows you to take control of the future in important ways and to take steps toward caring for your family after you’re gone. Estate ...

There are new reporting obligations for self-managed super funds (SMSFs). This is to support the introduction of the transfer balance cap and event-based reporting framework. The transfer balance cap is a limit on the amount that individuals can have in ...

The ATO have advised they are continuing their data matching program for motor vehicles, by acquiring information for 2017 - 2019 financial years from state and territory motor vehicle registry authorities. Although data matching is not new, it continues ...

With one eye on the surplus and one eye on the 2019 election, last night’s budget had some expected pre-election treats. This budget is an election focused budget designed to win the hearts and minds of Middle Income Earners of Australia through tax cuts ...

Do you ever worry that your business will run out of cash before it runs out of profit? This is a big concern for many business owners, and part of the problem is that many people confuse cash with profit. Cash and profit are not the same, and when you ...

For the 3rd year running, Altus Financial has been shortlisted to win 4 awards at the 2018 Australian Accounting Awards. The Australian Accounting Awards provides an opportunity for the top accounting and advisory firms in Australia to be recognised ...

Financial surprises can be wonderful (an unexpected bonus!) or they can be terrible (having to budget for unexpected expenses just before tax time). Life, and business, is full of these ups and downs, but we firmly believe that you shouldn’t have to deal ...

When deciding whether or not to move your business to Australia, one of your key considerations should be how business regulations will affect your organisation. Regulations in Australia may be different than those in your home country, and you may need ...

People use refinancing as a financial strategy in many situations. Homeowners refinance their mortgages to secure lower interest rates, lengthen or shorten the terms of their mortgages, convert to or from an adjustable-rate mortgage, tap into their ...

When you’re young and working on building your career, you may not have the impressive salary you’ll have a decade or two from now. But you have something that is priceless when it comes to investing: you have time. Time is an asset with any kind of ...

It’s almost time to complete your Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) return. The FBT year ends 31 March 2018, and there are some key points to remember. If employer entities have provided fringe benefits to employees or their associates during the 2018 FBT year, ...

A government business grant can be just what you need to purchase necessary equipment or vehicles, expand your business into a new territory or hire valuable talent with skills you don’t currently have among your staff. Fortunately, government support ...

Poor cash flow is one of the biggest reasons that businesses don’t make it past the first year of operation, but cash flow problems don’t just affect new businesses. In fact, cash flow problems can plague companies of any size and age, and they often ...

When a business gets to a certain size or complexity, a full time CFO makes sense as it’s a critical role to a growing profitable business. But business owners usually have questions like, 'when’s the right time to hire a full time CFO?' and 'what are ...

Asset financing can help your business in a variety of ways. It can help you to acquire capital needed to grow your business, smooth out the problems with your cash flow, upgrade necessary equipment and improve your tax outcomes. Perhaps you need new ...

Have you recently outsourced your business’s payroll processing function? Scams across the country have been identified involving ‘labour hire payroll processers’. It’s been discovered that they are not passing on payroll taxes to the relevant State ...

The primary difference between SMSFs (self-managed super funds) and other superannuation funds is that SMSF members are not just members; they’re also trustees of the fund. The sole purpose of the trust is to provide retirement income for the members or ...

Creating a culture of performance is critical to your organisation’s success, but the path toward this goal isn’t always clear. The executive team can sit around the boardroom table and discuss performance strategies and goals, but it can seem difficult, ...

The pros and cons of testamentary trusts at a glance: Trusts don’t have to pay tax on income that is distributed to beneficiaries. The trustee has the discretion to distribute income to as many beneficiaries as possible. Tax concessions for testamentary ...

When it comes to property investing, a single amount of capital can be leveraged to purchase property after property. You can use this strategy to diversify your portfolio, purchasing a range of properties in many different markets. This strategy can ...

How do you know when you’re financially ready to invest in a property? How much debt can you take on before you put your personal finances at risk? Once you have an investment property, how do you know when it’s time to leverage your equity and expand ...

If you’re considering setting up business in Australia, you have lots of important decisions to make. You’ll need to choose your business structure, apply for an Australian Business Number (ABN), register for a website name and obtain the appropriate ...

With all of its negative connotations, debt generally falls into the “things to avoid” category. But savvy property investors know that debt can be a powerful secret weapon, allowing you to capitalise on your existing equity and building your wealth at a ...

With the development of Free Trade Zones in China, more and more foreign entities are entering the country and finding markets among the population of nearly 1.4 billion. Opportunity abounds for companies that are a good fit for Chinese markets and that ...

When considering assets and estate planning, most people immediately think about property, stocks, bank accounts and retirement accounts. But have you ever thought about the value of your digital assets and what will happen to them upon your death?  In ...

What is Single Touch Payroll (STP)? Single Touch Payroll (STP), is a streamlined reporting system for employers. This change brings about significant budget savings for employers. It’s designed to streamline reporting obligations to the ATO such as ...

Overall, the Australian business market is growing and thriving in many different industries. With a highly skilled and educated population, businesses are having no trouble finding the talent they need to launch on the front foot. And with opportunities ...

Property investors have a lot of decisions to make. You need to consider the best places to look for your properties, the long-term strategy for each property, whether or not you’ll refinance in order to invest in new properties, and much more.  Besides ...

In this video, Senior Client Adviser Bradley Cochrane outlines the strategic benefits of outsourced CFO services.    

In this video, Altus Director Matt Smith discusses simple superannuation strategies you can use when planning for your retirement.  

More and more Australian businesses are outsourcing their financial departments instead of hiring in-house accountants and bookkeepers. Would your business benefit from outsourcing your finances and accounting? There are many benefits of an outsourced ...

In this Altus 3-Pointer video, Principal Client Adviser Marc Walsh talks through 3 things to know about setting up a business in Australia.  

In this video, Altus Director Matt Smith outlines all you need to know about the recent changes to superannuation legislation in Australia.  

Pros and cons of discretionary trusts at a glance: Discretionary trusts allow for the accumulation of assets for beneficiaries They give flexibility over capital and income distribution Discretionary trusts also offer the potential for simpler reporting ...

Nobody likes to make mistakes, especially when it comes to something as important as planning for retirement. Fortunately, if you’ve made one of the following mistakes, you can start today to remedy the problem and start taking positive steps toward ...

We all know that superannuation provides a roadmap to a successful retirement, and yet, many of us still aren’t following the best advice regarding our super. Hence, it’s all too easy to make retirement planning mistakes and end up at a destination that ...

A business loan can make a huge difference to your company, especially when you’re just starting out. A loan can help you to raise capital for startup costs, or it can provide funds for your business  when you’re in expansion mode. But how do you know ...

Without a succession plan in place, odds are not good that your business will pass successfully from your leadership to the leadership of the next generation, whether it’s a small family business or a large corporation. It’s also difficult to know when ...

A couple of years ago, the “accommodation bond” was terminated, and now we have the Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD) in its place. It still acts as a standard bond, and the price is set by the aged care facility you choose. It’s essentially a lump ...

It hasn’t been too many years since a CFO’s job mostly consisted of reading balance sheets and running a company’s finance department. But technological advancements in communications and data management have changed everything. Today’s strategic CFOs ...

Tapping into the Chinese market is a dream for many Australian businesses. After all, the value of consumer goods imported into China in 2014 was nearly AUD $2.5 trillion. One of the world’s largest countries, China also has one of the world’s fastest ...

Australia has an ageing population. In fact, the number of people aged 70 and over is expected to double in the next 20 years. While medical, lifestyle and social advancements are allowing us to live longer than ever before, this volume of older ...

Altus Managing Director, Roy Ditmarsch, explains the ins and outs of business risks.    For more information on how an outsourced CFO service can safeguard your business into the future, download our popular eGuide below:

10 Estate Planning Strategies at a glance: Start with wealth management Consider using a Transition to Retirement pension Protect your assets and reduce risk Conduct business succession planning if you own a business Minimise your tax burden Get the ...

A self-managed super fund (SMSF) can give you more control over your superannuation, making it a great way to help you reach specific retirement planning goals. However, before you make a decision about a self-managed super fund, it’s important to look ...

Innovative leaders are not new. They’ve been around as long as humans have been progressing. But our current state of rapid technological advancements is new. It can be dizzying, and businesses can have a very difficult time keeping up. That’s why it’s ...

Innovation is the lifeblood of today’s successful businesses, but about 40% of Australian CFOs say their firms haven’t brought a new product to market within the past three years. What is the cause of this stagnancy? According to a recent survey of ...

Australia’s ageing population is well-publicised. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) reports that in 1964, the median age was 28.5, and today the median age is 37.3. During that same time period, there has been an almost tenfold ...

The business world has changed dramatically with developments in technology and a turbulent global economy, and if your CFO has an outdated view on business, your organisation could suffer. These days, not only do CFOs need the ability to manage ...

Aged care may seem like a long way off. After all, you have plenty to do before you reach that season of your life, right? But if you take some time and prepare for the future now, you’ll find that life rolls along through the transitions much more ...

The Australian business market is a great place to be. The country is politically stable, it has a transparent regulatory system, and it’s ranked in the global top five on the Index of Economic Freedom. Additionally, Australia’s regulatory environment is ...

With a resilient economy, steady population growth, and a highly-skilled and diverse workforce, Australia is a great place to start a business. Some people set up business in Australia because they want a new start in a new place; others have experienced ...

With an educated workforce, a vibrant economy, untapped resources, and access to huge consumer markets in Asia, Australia has much to offer business owners.  If you’re thinking about taking the plunge, consider what you need to do in order to give your ...

You may produce the best products, provide the best customer service, and have an army of the best workers in town, but if you don’t price your products properly, you could have difficulty turning a profit. Getting your pricing strategy right can make ...

Australia enjoys a strong reputation for being friendly to business-minded people. Businesses of all sizes continue to flourish in Australia, and with the right guidance and support, your own chances of success are high.  If you already have an existing ...

Business planning is an essential activity for any entrepreneur. A defined, realistic and strategic business plan will set you on the path to sustainable growth, and empower you to achieve your short and long-term goals. However, business planning can be ...

  Transcript: If you’re starting a business in Australia, you’ll need to carefully consider which structure is right for you. Each structure has advantages and disadvantages, and it’s important that you understand your obligations under each. Here are ...

  BUSINESS SUCCESSION SERIES A 5 minute Q&A session with Principal Client Advisers, Marc Walsh & Adam Montana.  

  Transcript Business Taxes in Australia Explained If you’re looking to set up a business in Australia, it’s important that you learn the tax system. Not all taxes will impact your business, but you should become familiar with income, capital gains, and ...

Overwhelmed by the thought of starting a business in Australia? Don’t be. Although setting up your business in Australia requires attention to detail and perseverance, it’s certainly a manageable feat. With a methodical plan and adherence to a timely ...

  Transcript: How Do I Reduce Tax in Estate Planning? Tax is an essential consideration in any effective estate plan. By taking steps to minimise the taxes your beneficiaries will pay upon your death, you’ll be able to get the most out of your assets. ...

  Transcript: People often wonder if they’ll be better off paying down their mortgage quickly or investing their extra income into their super. If you have extra income, you’ll want to make the best use of it. But what’s the best use, and what will help ...

Sources http://dfat.gov.au/trade/resources/trade-statistics/pages/trade-statistics.aspx https://www.ato.gov.au/business/starting-your-own-business/before-you-get-started/choosing-your-business-structure/ ...

    Transcript:  Business succession isn’t always easy, and it requires careful planning. Here are 6 strategies to ensure your exit is a smooth transition. First off, reevaluate your business goals. Take a step back and decipher what will fuel the future ...

It’s a fact that Australian millennials face a different economic world than their parents and grandparents did. Student loan debts and the high cost of everyday living can make it difficult to pay for the necessities like rent, let alone save for ...

Businesses often begin with an idea worthy of risk-taking, hard work, and collaboration. However, an idea doesn’t necessarily have the direction and scope required to sustain a complex organisation for the long haul. In order for a business to thrive ...

For many people, a gradual transition from full-time employment to full-time retirement is more desirable than a sudden and complete change. Fortunately, the Australian government has recognised this and developed a program that offers just that.  ...

The transition to retirement (TTR) pension is a popular option for people who plan to continue working while starting to draw some of their super benefits, or for people who need to accelerate their savings rate in the last few years before they retire.  ...

Hundreds of thousands of businesses are created each year and one of the first questions new business owners must answer is this: which business structure is best for me?   Which Business Structure is Best for Me? Each business structure has its benefits ...

It’s no surprise that virtually all larger well-established businesses employ CFOs. After all, they can afford them and understand the real value of a CFO’s services. But what about less established or smaller businesses? Is it possible for them to ...

Have you ever asked yourself the following questions? “The numbers look good to me, but how do I know if I’m profitable?” “Should I take on extra staff?” “Is my business scalable and efficient?” “The numbers don’t seem to be stacking up. Is my finance ...

The focus of the 2017-18 Federal Budget is on housing affordability and infrastructure. There were populist undertones that included increasing taxes for foreign investors in Australian property. You can download a summary of the significant areas you ...

Tax planning strategies at a glance: Properly plan your cash flow Carefully consider your tax payment dates Pay superannuation liabilities Bring forward other expenses Make additional superannuation contributions Vary down instalments Are you concerned ...

Altus Financial has been shortlisted to win 5 awards at the 2017 Australian Accounting Awards, hosted by Accountants Daily. The Australian Accounting Awards provides an opportunity for the top accounting firms and accounting professionals in Australia to ...

With the daily and weekly cash flow issues your business faces, it may seem that funding a business succession plan is challenging. Some companies may be able to fund their succession plans out of their own pockets, although this may require careful ...

Effective estate planning is about much more than having a will. It essentially structures your estate so you can distribute your assets as you wish, and it also protects your family’s interests while minimising taxes.  That may sound like a tall order, ...

It’s just about time to file your Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) return. The Fringe Benefits Tax year ends 31 March, so we’ve put together a handy list of 10 FBT facts to help you pull together the information you need to meet your obligations. Let’s get ...

What will happen to your superannuation when you die? If you have any assets at all, you should have an estate plan. Your plan will help your heirs to know how you want your assets distributed after your death. Some estate plans are quite complicated and ...

Planning for an early retirement, or for retirement at any age, requires careful attention to long-term goals and the baby steps that help you to get there. As we make plans for the future, we usually talk in terms of “today’s dollars.” This can be ...

Nearly every large business employs a CFO to manage the books, provide direction, and strategise for growth and structuring. But what about small-to medium-sized businesses? Smaller businesses certainly need orderly books and attention to compliance. How ...

At a glance, things to consider when writing a succession plan for your small or family business include: Developing your future business leaders Analysing your corporate finance structure options Business valuation, including fair market value, ...

Australia is a great place to do business. It’s a beautiful country with a highly educated workforce. Its business-friendly environment allows businesses to reach new customers and thrive in new markets.   Setting Up Business in Australia Setting up your ...

Before we dive into estate and non-estate assets, it’s helpful to review why estate planning is important in the first place. Estate planning entails much more than just creating a will, although a will is certainly an important part of estate planning. ...

Your business represents years of hard work, risk-taking, and collaboration. It deserves to be protected, and creating an effective business succession plan is one of the best ways you can protect it and ensure its legacy. Life is unpredictable and you ...

Corporate super funds are superannuation funds available to employees of a particular corporation. In some cases, corporate super funds can be made available to ex-employees or even relatives of current employees. Under current Australian law, employers ...

Four benefits of a corporate super plan at a glance: Lower fees for employees Discounted insurance for fund members Streamlined paperwork Easy communication with employees regarding superannuation changes Corporate super plans are simply superannuation ...

The Australian Government is set to impose the most substantial changes to superannuation since 2007, following the passing of superannuation reform legislation in November 2016.  Let’s take a look at the changes and their implications:   Reduction to ...

Failure can be good for business. Yes, you read that right. As painful as it can be to face business failures, you can actually gain even more from your failures than you can from your successes. A Harvard Business Review article by Francesca Gino and ...

You might have the best products and services in town, but if your pricing strategy is lacking, your business will suffer. Many different factors go into a winning business strategy: you need competitive products and services, a convenient location, ...

If you work for a business, chances are that you’re eligible for the corporate super fund. With so many options available for investing for your retirement, it can be confusing to know whether or not you should go ahead and use the corporate super fund ...

When embarking on a new business, nobody plans for failure. Then why do some business plans set people up for big challenges, or even failure, down the road? Before you get too far with the launch of your business, it’s wise to carefully review your ...

Australia is known for unique natural wonders like coral reefs and waterfalls, beautiful beaches, kangaroos, and… business opportunities? It’s true! Australia’s healthy economy, efficient markets, strong public and private institutions, and quality ...

As a business owner, you may find yourself hiring a variety of staff, some of whom may be working holiday makers (aka backpackers). Working holiday makers have tax obligations and if eligible, then superannuation entitlements. From 1 January 2017, if you ...

A strategic estate plan is an essential element in retirement planning. Are you comfortable with your estate plan? The following 10 considerations will help you to hone in on any weaknesses in your estate planning progress.   1.   Is My Will Up-to-date? ...

Your business vision is the heart of your business. It’s what motivates you and your employees to work hard, try new things, and reach out to new customers. But Gallup found in a recent survey of 49,928 businesses that only about four in ten employees ...

To hire a generalist or to hire a specialist - it’s an HR debate as old as whether education trumps experience on the resume.  Some argue that a generalist (or a jack of all trades) gives you most bang for your buck. A generalist has diverse experience, ...

When you’re trying to attract the best talent for your organisation, you offer competitive salaries, an attractive work environment, and tempting benefits. One of the best benefits you can offer your employees is a well-run, employer-sponsored corporate ...

Getting your pricing strategy right can have huge benefits for your small business. It sounds so simple: set your prices to the spot where your customers are willing to spend and you’re still covering your costs. In reality though, pricing strategies can ...

It’s never too early to start estate planning, but unfortunately, it can be too late. No matter how stable life seems today, circumstances can change in the blink of an eye. If your estate is in order, you’ll be able to care for your loved ones even in ...

A good business growth plan is strategic. It takes you from where you are today (with your resources, abilities, and vision) to where you want to be in the future. “The future” should be a fixed point in the future, say three to five years out. When you ...

Are you running into problems with your succession planning? As you’re probably aware, succession planning is essential for a smooth transfer of business ownership. When succession planning is done well, leadership is developed in a timely manner and the ...

Retirement planning would be simple if everyone needed to save the same amount. But we’re all unique in our financial situations, lifestyle expectations, responsibilities, and health. That’s why it’s so important to figure out how much you need to save ...

A life without the suit and tie is a workplace fantasy of almost anyone doing the nine-to-five. Even for those of us who adore our jobs, our colleagues, and the satisfaction of work done well have a keen curiosity about what their life may look like ...

When you own a business, estate planning becomes a bit more complicated. This extra complication is precisely the reason you should take care of your planning now, instead of putting it off for later “when you’ll have more time.” As any business owner ...

Something happens when you turn 40. Suddenly, retirement seems much closer than it did just a few months ago. It feels like it’s time to get serious, and it is. Most 40-year-olds have started saving for retirement, but many don’t know exactly how much ...

At some point you’ll leave your business. Your departure from your business may be many years in the future, and it may occur when you decide to retire, or because your health is compromised, or for any number of other reasons. Whatever the eventual ...

Successful businesses cultivate a spirit of teamwork, but even when leaders try diligently to get their employees to see themselves as a team, friendly competition can turn into rivalries or worse. For some reason, sales and marketing teams tend to fall ...

Estate planning ensures that your property and assets are passed on to your beneficiaries in a financially efficient way. One important component to estate planning is minimising the taxes that your beneficiaries will have to pay upon your death. ...

When you start to look into aged care for yourself or for a loved one, you might be surprised by the high costs. It’s not uncommon for people to assume that the government subsidies will cover most or all of their aged care costs, but unfortunately, this ...

Whether you’re just starting your career or you’re counting the few remaining years until retirement, it’s smart to put your retirement plan under the microscope and find out if you need to make any adjustments.  Everyone hopes to have a long and happy ...

Setting up a business is a huge undertaking, no matter where you’re setting it up. There are so many things to consider: permits, leases, hiring, tax structuring, bookkeeping, marketing, manufacturing, and more. Fortunately for people who are setting up ...

Business books are great, and they offer plenty of good information, including the kind of in-depth analysis you don’t often get from a magazine article or a social media post. But if you want the latest and greatest Australian business information, look ...

People often disregard estate planning as something for the wealthy, the old, and the financially successful. But the truth is that estate planning is for everyone, and it’s never too early to start. In fact, it's an important element of strategic ...

No two journeys toward retirement are the same. Some people start their careers right away, some spend many years in higher education, and some work sporadically throughout their lives. Some people marry, and some have children. Some people strive hard ...

Moving your business to Australia is an attractive idea for a variety of reasons. Whether you’re moving for the prosperous economy, the beautiful landscape, healthy lifestyle, and even the promise of backyard cricket, it’s important to understand the ...

Estate planning involves more than just writing a will. While wills are important - especially to people in their 30s and 40s with young children to consider - they’re not the only parts of estate planning to take care of. You don’t have to spend a lot ...

When it comes to your business, even small negotiations can end up having a big impact on your success. If you feel that negotiating is not one of your talents, all is not lost. Negotiating is not a skill that people are born with. It’s a skill that can ...

Estate planning is a catchphrase that includes many different kinds of planning: guardianship, insurance, business transfership, estate tax considerations, trusts, and more. One of the pillars of your estate planning is your will. A comprehensive will ...

Altus Financial is proud and honoured to win 2 awards at the 2016 Australian Accounting Awards – Diversified Firm of the Year and Firm of the Year (< $1 billion revenue). The Australian Accounting Awards is a national awards program that recognises ...

The words “business” and “slow down” don’t sound good together. In fact, if you hear that your business is slowing down, you might start to panic. The truth is, though, that sometimes a business needs to slow down in order to grow. As counterintuitive as ...

If you’re not sure if your business is profitable, you may feel like you’re spinning your wheels, always working harder but not getting anywhere. Many business owners feel the same way, whether they’re actually making money or not. The solution to this ...

Study of the field of change management has been prolific over the past few decades, and yet  many  change programs continue to produce poor results. In 1996, author John Kotter released the influential book Leading Change. In the book, Kotter reports ...

Is it more important for your business to decrease costs or increase revenue? This is a recurring question for business owners, and there’s no one best answer for all businesses. So how can you decide whether to focus on lowering your costs or increasing ...

To the businesses of the past, change traditionally meant instability, and instability meant less growth. Today, however, businesses are in a constant state of change. Global capital flows, variability in the labour market, live-streamed communications, ...

Early retirement has lots of appeal, especially when you’re feeling overworked and underappreciated. It’s easy to fantasise about long days with no one to tell you what to do and no definite deadlines to meet. But there is some evidence out there that ...

It’s a popular dream: spending your days with the sea air in your hair, the sound of waves lulling you to sleep and a healthy year-round tan. With the right wealth management strategy, a coastal retirement doesn’t have to be just a dream. And the good ...

One of the most difficult aspects of hiring is trying to predict which people will be right for certain roles. It’s not always apparent if a person will be a great match for a certain position. In fact, your employees are often unsure of exactly where ...

Simply put, “cloud accounting” is a collection of accounting apps that you can access via the Internet. Since the physical locations of the programs don’t matter, they’re “in the cloud.” Most of us have been using “cloud” applications in our personal ...

Most new business owners look forward to being their own bosses and controlling their own destinies. They think they’ll be able to schedule their holidays when they like and have more flexibility over their time. Then reality sets in, and many business ...

Humans are helpful creatures. We like to offer advice and help our fellow travellers on their way. Perhaps that’s why we offer so much advice. Business advice can come from all angles: mentors, parents, teachers, clients, vendors, bloggers, and ...

Cash flow forecasting may be the most important thing you can do to improve your day-to-day business operations. Accurate cash flow planning helps you to predict your annual profits, your current and future debt levels, and what your future financial ...

Our working lives quickly become routine as adults - you get up in the morning, go to work, and at the end of a pay period your earnings appear in your bank account, just in time to pay the bills. When viewed this way, life can seem pretty humdrum, and ...

Businesses spend a great deal of time working on their strategies. It’s one of the most-discussed topics at business meetings, and yet, most organisations are making some critical mistakes. These mistakes can mean lost opportunities, rocky relationships ...

A Fidelity survey has revealed that about 60 percent of men hope to spend more time with their wives during retirement. This makes sense. For years and years they’ve spent time at work and missed out on opportunities to go to lunch with their spouses, ...

Altus Financial is proud to be shortlisted as a finalist for 4 award categories in the Australian Accounting Awards. The Australian Accounting Awards provides an opportunity for the top accounting firms and accounting professionals in Australia to be ...

A goal without a timeline is just a dream. Your business plans for 2017 should not be dreams; they should be clear, realistic, and specific. Yes, you probably have dreams for your business, but for dreams to come true, you need to focus. Your goals ...

A distinct vision is more than just an impressive phrase to frame and hang on the wall at your business. It keeps you on track, helps you to make decisions, and provides a cornerstone for future growth and development. Simply put, it helps you to define ...

Hiring superstar employees can take your business to the next level. Finding them, however, is no easy task. While attracting the top talent should be a focus of all growing businesses, many fall short in a few key areas. Your business is a good ...

One of the big decisions entrepreneurs have to make is whether or not to have a partner in a business venture. There’s certainly not a one-size-fits-all answer to this issue because each business is unique. Learning about the pros and cons can help you ...

SWOT analysis has been studied, re-studied, and expanded at length, and can be enlightening in assessing your organisation’s current health and position. SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) helps you to identify and ...

Celebrating Our Client’s Success DAVID RAY Elite Finance Pro   Q: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? I am a devoted husband to my beautiful wife Georgia and father to our lively little boy Oscar. My wife and I had our second child in May this ...

When your business is in its infancy, hiring a CFO may seem unnecessary and maybe even ostentatious. However, at some point it will be necessary to bring a CFO on board, either full time or on a consulting basis. Why? CFOs have the kind of expertise that ...

Your business structure can have enormous implications for your bottom line. From your taxes and exit strategy to your earnings and personal circumstances, your business structure will have a bearing on nearly every facet of your organisation. It’s ...

Running a business is tough. You have to wear so many different hats and stay on top of so many different tasks. As a business owner, the best way to find success is to develop good habits. Unfortunately, many of us have bad habits to overcome on our way ...

You’ve got your business plan, you’ve hired good workers, your business is humming along, and you’re utterly swamped in the day-to-day operations. But how do you know if your company is thriving? Are there signs to look for that will tell you that your ...

The “failing fast” mantra has been a catchphrase for entrepreneurs over the past few years. “Fail fast, fail cheap, and fail early,” is a phrase that business risk-takers and innovators have used to give them the courage to try new things. The idea is ...

With business growth comes great responsibility, and also great excitement. But the buzz in the air, also adds an element of pressure. Your approach to the evolution of your business is what will make or break you. This is why it’s important to manage ...

It’s no secret that some of the most successful business people in history have their morning routines down to a science. Why do they value the morning hours so highly? Well, perhaps they’re taking advantage of increased brain function, or perhaps they ...

Marathon training is specific, strategic, and lengthy. It helps you to reach goals you didn’t think you could and takes you from a low skill level to an elite level. What does marathon training have to do with modern business people? Just like marathon ...

People and culture guru Mandie Hall shares three useful tips to create a happy and most importantly engaged workforce.                        

If revenue gains have been hard to come by for your business, you may be looking for innovative ways to increase your cash flow. The cash flow formula is simple enough: collect more receivables and slow down your payables. But the how-to of this formula ...

An important step toward fostering business growth and success comes down to recruiting the right Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Whether you decide to outsource this position or hire internally, the role is essential for your business. Here are five hats ...

Is creativity important in your business and personal life? Absolutely. Creativity helps you to create innovative solutions to all kinds of problems. It helps you to be a better entrepreneur, a better leader, and a better collaborator. We’re all creative ...

After years of long hours, relentless commitment, and a few sleepless nights, a question like this can really be difficult. Your business can be like a child. You have loved it and tended it like a parent, and you have been the one responsible for its ...

Any small-to-medium business owner is familiar with the challenges that come with cash flow management. While managing the natural ebbs and flows in business, there are simple measures you can take to minimise debtor days. Below we outline some effective ...

 A Fidelity survey about retirement revealed some interesting facts regarding men’s and women’s differing hopes for retirement. The extensive survey, which gathered data from 9,372 preretirees and 2,293 retirees, showed that men and women have different ...

Retirement is the perfect time to travel. The kids are grown up and taking care of themselves, you’re not constrained by your employer’s demands and schedule, and you finally have the freedom to explore the world. After you retire you’ll definitely have ...

When you move into an aged care home, you will be confronted with the decision about how to pay for your accommodations. Once you move in, you have 28 days in which to decide on your method of payment, one of which is the RAD (Refundable Accommodation ...

In the midst of running your business, it’s easy to get so caught up in the day-to-day hustle that you forget to look to the future. At some point, however, you’ll want to exit your business. Whether you want to retire early to travel or relax or you ...

Succession planning can seem like a monumental task: you’ve got to develop a realistic plan for retaining and grooming talent, ensuring a smooth financial transition, and execute your plan all while you keep your business running day to day. It sounds ...

Just picture it: You're lying back in that hammock, thinking I have no idea what time of day it is. And you don’t care either. You're not in that work mode anymore or flying out the door to be on that nine to five treadmill. You're happily retired and ...

The CFO’s role continues to evolve from a reporter of financial information to an architect of business value. A high-performing CFO can drive performance and steer a business to increased profitability and substantial growth. Here’s how: CFOs and ...

You work hard to build your wealth, and it’s your responsibility to protect it from lawsuits, creditors, irresponsible children, and other dangers. If you’re a business owner, succession planning is another important aspect of asset protection. Do you ...

We’ve all experienced times in our lives where we’ve missed out on vital zzz’s; it might have been partying much too late into the night, a distressed child, sleep disorders, a busy mind, working late to meet a deadline or due to travel. Whatever the ...

We all make mistakes. When it comes to retirement, though, it’s better to realise your mistakes early on and correct your course so you can still reach your goals. Whether it's putting off planning, or ignoring growing aged care costs, we’re going to ...

When we think about Aged Care, we generally think solely of the aged people who live in facilities during their later years. But residents of aged care facilities aren’t the only ones who care about the system supporting their care. In fact, there’s a ...

There are many reasons why you might find yourself seeking employment in a new industry. Maybe you need a new challenge and have always wanted to work in another industry. Maybe your own industry is flooded with talent and you need to look for ...

In your twenties and thirties, retirement seems so far away that it’s easy to adopt an attitude of, “I’ll worry about that later.” The problem with this attitude is that the longer you wait to plan for retirement, the harder it is to save enough for a ...

Disorganisation can be the scourge of the business world, and is often a silent assassin of productivity and profit. Sometimes, though, it's motivating to see how our bad habits affect our lives. And remember, it's never too late to make positive change. ...

It’s come to that moment. You feel like it’s the right time to leave your business that you’ve put so much work into over the years. You feel you like you want to walk off into the sunset. Take a break. Take a holiday. Take up golf. Take retirement. ...

On the surface, things look pretty good. New business is coming through the door and you’re working well with your business partner. The outlook is very promising. Clients like your business offering and are attracted by the way you both go about your ...

Whether your business is a start-up, a farm, a family business, or a large corporation, you may be able to take advantage of government grants designated for Australian businesses. These grants are non-repayable, so they won’t hamper future plans or cash ...

Tax specialist Marc Walsh shares his insights into Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) and its implications to you as a land owner and CFI participant.                    

We spend so much time talking about saving and sacrificing for retirement that sometimes we forget to talk about the fun parts of retirement. Think of it. You’ll be able to wake up on Monday morning and do whatever you want! So just for today, let’s set ...

Director Mark Graham shares three useful tips you could implement if your business feels out of control.                         Too often we see business owners spending their time in the day-to-day detail. Perhaps losing sight of the big picture -  ...

Looking for inspiration for saving for your golden years? We’ve put together ten savings tips that will help you to enjoy your retirement, account for growing aged care costs, and look forward to the future. 1. Start Salary Sacrificing Early The more ...

“How much super will I need?” Our daydreams about retirement usually begin with thinking what we’ll do with all of our time once we retire: traveling around the world, campervanning around Australia, taking up a new hobby, or just spending time with ...

Funding aged care can be stressful for many older Australians, especially if they haven’t saved as much as they’d hoped to. But there is an option available that might help you to pay for your portion of aged care costs while hanging on to your primary ...

It’s getting closer, but you’re not quite there yet. While you’re still in your most productive earning years, you can make a huge difference in your quality of life after you retire. This phase of life is called “pre-retirement.” It’s a critical time. ...

You minimise your risk and protect your business in many different ways, from taking out insurance policies to creating policies and protocols. But have you considered how cybersecurity might affect your business and its profitability? Even ...

Every investment comes with some level of risk, but as you retire, it’s wise to minimise risk as much as possible. After all, the time for making up for risky investments with extra income has passed, and your strategy now is to hang on to as much of ...

People sell businesses for a variety of reasons - retirement, a change in interests, a move, family situations, changes in leadership. Whatever the reason, there are several things you’ll need to do as you approach the sale. Let’s take a look at them. ...

There are many attributes that make a person good at business and entrepreneurship. Creativity, a willingness to learn new skills, open-mindedness, and attention to detail: all of these are extremely helpful in business. But there’s one quality that is ...

Celebrating Our Client’s Success WILL STEWART Will & Steve (MKR Champions 2015) www.facebook.com/WillandSteve   Q: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? I’m Will from Will & Steve (MKR Champions 2015). I’m a Husband and now I call Australia home ...

Good cash flow keeps the engine of your business humming along at a comfortable pace, but poor cash flow can make your business stall and sputter. Some industries have bigger cash flow challenges than others, especially those industries that are seasonal ...

Director Matt Smith shares three useful tips for people that are approaching retirement.                             “Your retirement years can be the best time of your life if you take steps now to make sure your funds go the distance.”  Download our ...

Retirement brings a host of changes to your life. Many of these changes are things you’ve looked forward to for a long time: more time to spend with friends and family, fewer stresses, and opportunities to take up new hobbies or travel. Additionally, you ...

Let’s say you’re on a road trip without your GPS. All you have is a roadmap someone handed you. You find your current location on the map and your hoped-for destination, but you don’t know if the map is accurate. What are your chances of ending up where ...

Principal Client Adviser Marc Walsh shares three great tips on tax planning.                    

What is Super Stream? SuperStream is a government initiative designed to improve the efficiency in paying superannuation contributions by employers on behalf of their employees. This initiative ensures all employers are sending the correct super ...

Happy employees result in healthy retention, increased productivity, and happier customers. It’s easy to tell how happy employees are almost from the moment you walk into a business. Happy employees are highly engaged, warm, and connected. They share a ...

Malcolm Turnbull has released his first budget with a focus on super and business. While there may have been some surprises in the announcements, the targeted areas were as most expected. So what does this mean for you and other Altus clients? Below is a ...

Do you hate surprises? We do too! Whether it’s an unexpected payment or speedbump in your business, surprises can be unwelcome and challenging. When it comes to expenses in your business, we believe in having “no surprises”, especially when it comes to ...

It’s not easy finding good employees who add value to your business and contribute to your company culture. When you find employees like this, you want to hold on to them. After all, few things are costlier or more disruptive to your company’s operations ...

Most business owners have the pleasure of working with some fantastic clients who may even become friends. Good clients see business relationships as partnerships that can benefit both parties. On the other hand, most business owners have also dealt with ...

Your company’s culture is its soul. It’s that intangible, unique atmosphere that influences everything that happens at your organisation, from the way people communicate with their co-workers to the pride they take in their work. If you’re discontent ...

Director Paul Conaghan shares three quick tips to consider when buying or selling a business.                

In business, partnerships can be good or bad, depending on the parties involved and their working relationship.  There’s certainly no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of whether or not a business partnership is right for you, but there are ...

Instead of leading your business down the same worn path, look for sources of innovative opportunity. Innovation isn’t a mythical good luck charm, something that happens to fall on some people but eludes others. Instead, innovation can be systematically ...

Celebrating Our Client’s Success Jen and jake - SESIÓN TEQUILA www.sesiontequila.com   In case you missed it, Jake Wall, Jennifer Hawkins and Sydney businessman Tim Freeburn co-own a new tequila brand – Sesión Tequila. Sesión Tequila is a result of the ...

Australian business owners keep our economy humming along, and the rewards of running a business can be enormous. The challenges can loom large, too, unfortunately, but when you’re prepared for the challenges, you’re better able to weather the storms. ...

With all the technology that makes our lives easier, it seems like we should have more family time than ever before. Unfortunately, even when families are physically together today, they’re often plugged in to their individual phones or devices. ...

Every generation is shaped by its times and experiences: the Silent Generation faced World War II, the Baby Boomers grew up in a youth-centric world, and Generation X watched Communism fall after a Cold War childhood. What about the Millennials? Are they ...

Thurdsay 31 March 2016 marks the end of the Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) year! This means you need to make sure your business doesn’t pay any more tax than is necessary. And most importantly ... make sure you check your odometer. To access the information ...

Hiring mistakes can happen to anyone. All leaders and managers make hiring mistakes occasionally.  In many cases, you simply cannot predict how well a candidate will turn out once they’re hired and working for your business.  So accept that you’re not ...

Whether or not a supplier is the only option you have for certain products, you should approach negotiations strategically. In a competitive market, every cost makes a difference to your bottom line. By securing the best possible deal with suppliers, you ...

Celebrating Our Client’s Success CATH FOGARTY www.chinaclay.com.au   Q: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? I have worked in the arts for the past 30 years as a teacher, an arts administrator and organiser and as an artist. I studied at City Art ...

Innovative organisations do more than just incorporate the latest and greatest technology into their systems. That’s because innovation IS more than just technology. In fact, although modern innovation often involves technology because we’re so focused ...

Director Andrew Crawford shares three quick tips on getting your financial data to tell the right story.                  

After years of working long hours, possibly raising a family, and taking care of your many responsibilities, you deserve a stable retirement. With stability on your side, you can spend your retirement pursuing your interests, whether you’re interested in ...

Wherever you are on the road to retirement, it’s not too late to start making improvements to your planning and saving. The earlier you begin planning and saving, the better off you will be at retirement. However, if you have procrastinated and put off ...

After the years of working and salary sacrificing to build up your Super, it would be a shame to mismanage it during your retirement years. We often focus so much on saving and planning that we forget to think about how to manage our money once we ...

Strategic planning is important: it creates a vision for a business’s future. Many companies get bogged down and either procrastinate their planning or meet week after week without seeing real progress. What can you do to ensure that your strategic ...

Current surveys show that the average Australian retires with $50,000 in debts. As people calculate how much they need to save for retirement, they don’t usually calculate debt repayments as anticipated expenses, and yet, managing debt will be a reality ...

Planning for retirement is a huge project. It requires a broad vision encompassing decades of your life and even considerations regarding your assets after your death. It requires some financial know-how - you have to consider economic factors like ...

We talked before about the changing definition of retirement, and it’s exciting to look forward to all of the possibilities for our lives after we don’t have to spend all of our daylight hours at work. But there’s a problem: we’re not planning ahead for ...

Modern retirement isn’t all rocking chairs and games of bridge. In fact, retirement today looks quite different than it looked for our grandparents. Years ago, most people viewed retirement as a time of withdrawal or retreat, but that’s certainly not the ...

We like to measure performance. It helps us to see how we’re doing individually and as businesses. Of course, some things are easier to measure than others. It’s much easier to measure 2nd quarter sales than it is to measure team unity or strength of ...

Don’t let your business fall behind. Today’s growth trends are remarkably favourable toward small businesses, especially in helping small businesses to compete with greater efficiency and a broader reach. Consider the following growth trends. Which ones ...

Foreign resident capital gains withholding payments is a new regime that will apply to anyone who purchases or sells a property over $2 million from 1 July 2016. If you're selling a property ... If you sell a property for over $2 million after 1 July ...

Director Matt Smith shares three fast tips for investors.                  

The term “innovation” gets tossed around a lot these days. It shows up in blog posts, speeches, articles, and memes. Is it just a catchword? Is it used merely to get our attention and then direct us toward something else? There’s a good reason we’re ...

Leadership in business isn’t so different from leadership in other settings. In fact, people who excel at leading in their homes and communities are often the same people who excel at leading in business. Workers need to be led by people who can set and ...

Digital disruptions hit retailers a couple of decades ago when companies like Amazon showed up on the scene. Brick-and-mortar retailers have had to make big changes in order to stay relevant in the digital age. Now, service companies are also being ...

Innovation has become the main driver of success in business, but innovation is tricky. It’s not one straightforward concept, methodology, or idea. It’s not a static set of skills. If you were to take a course called Innovation 101, it would be nothing ...

Annual performance reviews have long been a staple of the corporate world, but, increasingly, it looks like they may be going the way of the dinosaurs. After so many years of being the go-to evaluation method for employee performance, why are annual ...

Can the aesthetics of your workplace have an effect on your employees' performance? Many experts believe so.  That's not to say that you should blow your capital on posh offices and great furniture, but the overall aesthetics of your workplace can say a ...

No matter your age, the simple answer to this question is: right away. Ideally, it's best to start saving in your 20s, because you still have many years for your investments to grow before you retire. But if you're past that window and feel retirement ...

Finance and accounting were some of the first business processes outsourced, and more and more companies are finding that they can run more efficiently when they offload some of their day-to-day operational tasks. As finance and accounting outsourcing ...

"Disruptive innovation" is one of those phrases that gets tossed around in business speeches and professional blogs, but what does it really mean? And how can business innovation be disruptive? The theory of disruptive innovation (invented by Harvard ...

Celebrating Our Client’s Success Martyna Angell  www.wholesomecook.com.au   Q: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? My name is Martyna Angell and I’m a Polish-born Australian living in Sydney with my husband Matt, his two wonderful kids and our ...

According to this 2015 profile of ‘Australian Women in Business’ by the Australian Bureau of Statistics for the Office for Women, it is said that “just over a third (34%) of Australian women are becoming business operators - perhaps to improve their ...

Finances are not everyone’s strong suit, especially entrepreneurs - who tend to be big-picture thinkers and don’t necessarily want to get stuck in the detail of things. Regardless, this is something worth considering and taking note. Here are five tips ...

It’s pretty typical in the current business environment for reasonably high levels of employee turnover to exist throughout most industries and professions. However, we should all be a little more concerned so we can increase our chances of retaining our ...

Thinking, let alone, planning for the future can be a tricky endeavour for most people. Understandably so, it does require a certain level of personal and financial involvement. Contrary to popular belief, saving money for the future is far more ...

Let's face it: relationships don't always work out. This is as true with financial advisers as it is with hair stylists, physicians, and high school romances. But what should you do when things aren't working out well with your financial adviser? Is ...

"Innovation" is a sexy word that gets tossed around in just about every industry these days. But what is innovation? And how can it help your business? Innovation usually refers to making changes to processes, products, and ideas in order to work toward ...

Managing Director Roy Ditmarsch shares three fast tips about business KPI's.                  

What could you do with real-time data that you can't do right now? This is an important question that business owners and managers should consider. Companies that take advantage of real-time data find that they're more agile, more in-tune with their ...

It's a brand new year, and the future is full of possibilities. Whether you're an aggressive goal-setter or you're hesitant about making commitments, resolve to make 2016 your best year yet.  Check out our 20 tips, and then choose a few to incorporate ...

"You have to spend money to make money." This saying is often used in the context of entrepreneurship and business ventures, but it can be applied to personal finance as well. When people talk about spending mind to make money, what they're usually ...

Each generation is shaped by the times and environment it grows up in, and Millennials are no exception. Now that Millennials are starting to enter management positions at many companies, we're likely to see workplaces changes that reflect Millennial ...

The numbers are dismal: poll after poll shows that employees are not engaged at work and that productivity is suffering because of it. But while Gallup reports that 55% of employees are "not engaged" in their jobs, there are bright spots in the work ...

The start of a New Year and fresh financial quarter is one that typically gifts us with a blank slate. It gives  you the ability to start afresh, make new memories, learn from new mistakes and plan all over again - it’s all part of the business process. ...

You’ve probably heard the term “Emotional Intelligence” (EI) or “Emotional Quotient” (EQ) used before – it wouldn’t be surprising – it’s made its way into the vocabulary of businesses and even popular culture. The emerging of this ideology stems from a ...

The acquisition and termination of talent is one of grave importance to the viability of any business. Hiring the right person and firing a wrong fit requires a heightened level of learnedness and cannot be taken lightly. For such crucial tasks the ...

Addressing matters of Corporate Sustainability is one very similar to  politics – companies tend to campaign in poetry but they end up governing in prose. In other words, they make bold declarations about embracing green initiatives (beneficial to their ...

Generally speaking, current organisation attitudes toward employee motivation have long roots in outdated perceptions. If for instance you want to inspire workers and increase your business productivity, the conventional wisdom has always been this: add ...

You've heard of financial advisers and business consultants, but what the heck is a business adviser? And just because they're out there, does that mean you need one? Business advisers provide a business owner with information and ideas about how they ...

It sounds so tempting: retiring overseas. It's a big world out there, and there's so much to see. If you've ever thought about retiring and settling overseas, take the big picture into consideration. Nothing is ever completely clear-cut, but if you ...

Super Short - Super Fast - Super Effective  1) CTRL+A                                                                 One click and it will highlight the whole table/info on the page (very handy) 2) CTRL+F                                                 ...

Many years ago, young Anne Frank wisely said, "No one has ever become poor by giving." This time of year, many people turn their thoughts to charitable endeavours and want to do what they can for those around them. Fortunately, Australia is home to many ...

From all of us at Altus, we thank you for all of your support this past year. It has been a great year, a year to build upon the past and move into the future. With over 30 years of business and financial experience, Altus has built a solid reputation of ...

A good business book can do much more than just fill the minutes of your commute; it can inspire you, provide needed advice and ideas, and keep your thoughts running on the cutting edge of your industry. But with thousands of business books being ...

Big data sounds intimidating and maybe a little scary, but all it is is a collection of data that represents an opportunity for insights and analysis into your business. In other words, it's data collected from traditional and digital sources that you ...

From the Monday-morning complaining, it's pretty clear that negative workplaces are everywhere. Not only are negative workplaces unpleasant places to be, but they suffer from a lack of productivity and teamwork that can have long-term consequences. The ...

Altus Director Justine Wilson shares three fast tips for people with a self-managed super fund. Enjoy!                   0:53       0:53       Speed 1x 0.5x 1x 1.25x 1.5x 1.75x 2x Quality 540p 224p 360p 540p 720p 1080p                 About WistiaReport ...

Does your company need a CFO? Would the expertise of a CFO make a difference in the way your business operates and grows? As small businesses grow into mid-sized businesses, their architecture changes. By adding a CFO (whether internal or outsourced) can ...

There’s been some changes to the look of Altus Exchange. To check out our new look, click here - https://luminous.onevue.com.au/digitaldirect/altus/investor What’s different … A new URL link (If you have saved the old link to your favourites, please ...

Whether your business is large, small or in between - KPIs offer metrics that you, your investors, and shareholders can use to determine how well your company is performing. More importantly, KPIs give you a snapshot on where you need to improve and ...

Your business is sales and as you well know, the sales landscape has changed over the last three decades or so. For many years, the job of a salesperson was to highlight the various benefits and features of their latest product. In the current market, ...

What are the signs of a typical mid-life crisis? Buying an expensive sports car or boat, moving into a fancy home, getting Botox injections? It's easy to see how such behaviour can be a serious drain on your finances. During this time of life, however, ...

It's easy to calculate the value of your company's property, vehicles, computers, equipment, and other tangibles. Each item has a market value, and when you add up all of these figures you have a pretty good idea of what your assets are worth. But these ...

If you've ever thought of expanding your business overseas, you may have considered Asia. With the expansion of free markets into Asia, the middle class is growing significantly. Deloitte predicts that by the year 2020, 3.2 billion people in the world ...

Millennials. The mere mention or thought of this demographic (born in the early 1980’s to the early 2000’s) sometimes induces a furrowed brow or a general state of puzzlement. Popular culture, media outlets and research studies typically make this group ...

Those happy golden years are getting closer every day. If you're meeting your retirement savings goals, this is an exciting thought. If you've been putting off saving for retirement, the nearness of those happy golden years may cause a little anxiety. ...

Being a business owner doesn't come with a specific job description, and this is why business owners often feel stressed and anxious. You take on the weight of the entire business, even when you've hired people to help. That's because, ultimately, the ...

Has your team lost its drive? Do they show up to work but just go through the motions? Wondering how to get them more engaged with your company and their own careers? As a leader, you're in a position to steer your team to greatness. Not every strategy ...

While having lots of money can help you to avoid the anxiety and problems associated with poverty, the money itself doesn't seem to be what leads to happiness. In fact, having lots of money can also lead to anxiety if it's not managed well. No, it's not ...

The end of the year is a great time for looking back, reflecting, and taking stock for the future. When you run your own business, the future is up to you. If your business has seemed stagnant in the past year, perhaps it's time to unlock more budget to ...

Some people are workaholics by choice: they feel like they're missing out when they're not connected to work, and they genuinely thrive on long hours and work-related stress. Others, however, are workaholics because there's simply too much work to do. At ...

You are a business owner. Your business started very small a few years ago with a hard working dedicated staff of one. Time passed and your business grew. You needed help so you hired people; however you had become so used to doing things yourself that ...

The traditional definition of a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is that he or she is the senior manager of all things financial for a company or corporation. The CFO keeps an eye on the company’s cash flow, analyses the company’s financial health, and ...

Thank you for entering our win an ipad mini competition We are pleased to announce the winner of the competition is Ray Sherriff of Cabra Electrical. Cabra Electrical is a family owned commercial and industrial electrical company that services NSW. You ...

Why Should You Systemise Your Business? There are several important reasons why systemising your business is a good idea. First of all, it prevents losing job knowledge. If you have someone who performs a given task more efficiently than anyone else and ...

We often get asked is residential property a better or worse investment than commercial property, but the answer is neither. Both asset classes can be great investment options, but it all depends on what you are aiming to achieve. This is because they ...

We frequently get asked is property a “good” investment. Our answer is often “compared to what?” This is crucial, as most investments need to serve a purpose, which could be to produce a growing income stream over time or provide a vehicle that can see ...

One of the first and most important things that needs to be determined when starting a business is which structure is most appropriate for you. It’s important to consider as it impacts most future decision about commercial, legal, and taxation issues. ...

The 2015 / 2016 budget was pleasing in that it did not have many surprises that had not been previously released prior to last night’s budget announcement by the Government. The Highlights The deficit predicted to be $35bn with a return to surplus now ...

Tomorrow marks the end of the Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) year! This means you need to make sure your business doesn’t pay any more tax than is necessary. Read our list of Frequently Asked Questions on FBT: How can I minimise my FBT? Even with high private ...

It’s now more important than ever to walk the straight and narrow when it comes to your Self-Managed Superannuation Fund (SMSF).  There’s a new penalty regime for trustees of SMSFs, where previously, there were no financial penalties on breaches to the ...

Diversified investors were once again rewarded for their efforts in 2014, with positive (if somewhat patchy) returns delivered across most asset classes. Australian shares underperformed their global counterparts once again, whilst many Australians ...

Since the GFC, we have witnessed some interesting dynamics in the loan market. Smaller finance companies struggled to get finance for customers, with many exiting the market. The big banks seized this opportunity to capture extra market share after ...

The government has axed several tax concessions for small businesses when it abolished the mining tax in September 2014. Affected businesses will need to amend tax returns in which the concessions were claimed and pay back taxes.   They may also need to ...

Prime Minister Tony Abbott released this week the government’s National Industry Investment and Competitiveness Agenda. Amongst other things, it included proposed changes to the legislation on the way taxation is calculated on employee share options. Why ...

We have all forgotten things, Project DO IT is a safe approach for declaring any foreign income or assets you may have missed and is a generous initiative by the ATO. What is Project DO IT?  Project DO IT is an initiative that allows taxpayers to ...

Over the past 4 years, the ATO has been running a review project on professional practices such as accounting, legal, architectural engineering, medical etc - any business that provides professional services where senior staff have access to or control ...

At Altus, we are constantly surprised that a large proportion of small business owners don’t invest in the health of their business in the same way they would their own personal health and well-being. We say “surprised” as ultimately it’s their business ...

Many people believe that when you pass away you escape all taxes. Unfortunately, this is not the case.When a person dies, their nominated executor (the person responsible for dealing with the deceased’s assets and liabilities) must deal with any last tax ...

With the financial year coming to an end shortly, this time of year often means collecting receipts, bank statements and other tedious paperwork. We often see investors that have multiple platforms and accounts and very rarely do they know where their ...

SuperStream is a government reform designed to improve efficiency in the collection and reporting of employer contributions. The SuperStream standard comes into effect on 1 July 2014 for some employers and superannuation funds, including Self-Managed ...

Most of the measures taken in the budget are unlikely to have a major impact from an economic perspective. The effect is more likely to be a longer term cut in expenditure, particularly aimed at welfare. The immediate impact will clearly be on the higher ...

  The end of the financial year is fast approaching. With this time of year comes thoughts about tax deadlines, payments or refunds. If you’re a business owner or an investor, some questions that may have crossed your mind include: Have I paid too much ...

  Audit reviews, enquiries and investigations are continuing to increase for Individuals, Businesses and Self-Managed Superannuation Funds by the ATO. Sophisticated data matching technology has allowed detailed cross referencing of information from an ...

March marks the end of the Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) year and time to make sure your business doesn’t pay any more FBT than is necessary.  Instead of giving you a boring description of what FBT is and your obligations, we thought we would take a ...

One of the most common questions we’re asked is "so where's the profit?" This is because the business's bank account hasn’t risen by the same amount as the profit. For our business clients, we have the tools to answer this question and appraise other ...

Most of us have debt in one form or another. For some of us, debt is limited to the monthly credit card bill, whilst for others it’s a tool we use to help us buy assets. Used effectively it can be a powerful lever for accumulating wealth. Whilst the ...

At Altus, we are often asked the question ‘is now a good time to invest in property and shares, or should we keep our money in terms deposits or cash?’ This is not unexpected given the current uncertainty across the globe. Our initial response to this ...

One question our advisers frequently get asked is “will I benefit from setting up a Trust”? Trusts, in particular Discretionary Family Trusts, are a popular entity type used by Altus clients.  Discretionary Family Trusts are often effective for clients ...

Many families are looking to ensure their children receive the best education possible (whether through the public or private system). As households continue to see the cost of living expenses rise, families are tending to focus on meeting immediate ...

We have all dealt with businesses that seem to be run in an environment of confusion and chaos. It sometimes feels that nobody can, or indeed is able to, help their customers or colleagues by making decisions that resolve conflict and assist in moving ...

Fraud can be a sensitive issue, especially if it is occurring within the workplace. In a business environment, it’s essential to know how to detect a fraudulent act and how to deal with it professionally. What Is Fraud? Fraud is an act that is committed ...

Attending to a significant transaction while you manage the day to day business can be difficult. Often business owners are so busy working in the business that they do not seek the advice of a tax professional on a significant transaction and as a ...

Your financial picture just got clearer Welcome to the new financial year. It’s time to embrace what technology can do for us – make our lives easier. We know you don’t like paperwork. In fact, in our recent client survey 81% of our clients said that ...

Picture this ... You own a home and have a mortgage. You have 2 young children that attend Primary School. You become ill and are unable to work for 6 months. How will you make the mortgage repayments? Think about it this way. If you are unable to work ...

Are you one of those people or businesses that just leave everything to the last minute? If you leave your tax return until the end of the year you just might be in for a nasty tax surprise without being able to do anything about it. It’s tax planning ...

Proposed reforms to Australia’s superannuation system seem to have some people in a bit of a panic this week. The government claims to be improving and protecting our superannuation system by “removing unnecessary costs and better safeguarding the ...

If you are an employer who has provided benefits to your staff (or their associates) in forms other than salaries and wages, you may be deemed to be providing Fringe Benefits to those staff members and are required to lodge a Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) ...

In today’s world we all have access to learning material that helps us think about our businesses and what could make them more successful. Publications, news items, webinars, blogs and the like are all part of the resources available to us. At Altus, we ...

From our experience with helping our clients with their accounting and management reporting needs, we have compiled an outline of what we think are benefits and issues relating to adopting cloud based reporting tools. The key benefits of cloud based ...

Accounting software for small to medium businesses is at a crossroad with full cloud products like Xero, Saasu, Netsuite and JCurve establishing themselves in the Australian market over the past few years. They are all growing fast. But are they right ...

As the effect of the global financial crisis continues to be felt throughout economies across the world, many investors have turned to fixed interest investments as a means of securing a return on their investment nest egg. Unfortunately, as the Reserve ...

One of the key ingredients to business success is the existence of a well thought out and structured plan. This is relevant no matter what the size of the business. Surprisingly, it is one aspect that is often overlooked leaving success or failure very ...

Most of us want the certainty of knowing where our superannuation benefits will go when we eventually pass away. You may be surprised to know that your super death benefit does not legally form part of your estate and therefore your Will does not control ...

If you have a Self-Managed Super Fund (SMSF), you will be interested to know that some new regulations have taken effect. There are new rules that require SMSF trustees to regularly review their fund's investment strategy, consider insurance for members ...

We all know that the IT industry just loves making up buzzwords that sometimes serve to confuse us non-techo types. So what exactly is this “cloud” technology or “cloud computing”, and what do we need to know about it?  “Cloud” simply refers to computing ...

Recently, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has updated their approach to the tax compliance of small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) and wealthy individuals in Australia. What does this mean for you? It means that that more SMEs and wealthy individuals ...

    Audits can be seen as something of a chore, sometimes even a process to be feared. But a quality independent Audit can benefit your business both immediately and in the long-term. The primary goal of an Audit is to meet your legal obligations. It’s a ...

We have found that a common challenge for business leaders is to make their vision and passion for the business clear and relevant enough so that it keeps them and their team inspired to perform. Too often we see business owners spending too much time on ...

Did you know you can save money by buying your personal insurance in super? This is because super can offer cash flow and tax benefits. Most super funds offer insurance that can help you, or your dependants, to pay off debt and replace your income if the ...

One of the biggest expenses in most businesses is income tax. Therefore, it makes sense that this expense should be forward managed and planned. Now is the perfect time to assess how your business has performed so far in the financial year. You have ...

No matter how much money we have, or what stage of life we are at, we all have to make decisions about cash every day. Some of these are small, like your morning cup of coffee, while others are much bigger like a new car. Are your cashflow decisions ...

Running a business can be so intensive that we don’t always have the chance to think about where we’re headed. Occasionally that can mean we miss out on an opportunity or end up heading in a direction we never intended. With a clear picture in mind, ...

Picture this...You own a home, and have a mortgage. You have 2 young children that attend Primary School. You have become ill, and become unable to work for 6 months. How will you make the mortgage repayments? Think about it this way. If you are unable ...

If you don't have a plan for your estate, don't panic ... it's not too late to start now! Preparing an estate can raise uncomfortable questions and is tempting to put off. However, if you don't plan for your estate your wishes may not be clear, your ...

Mike (62) and Stacey (51) were married and lived in Sydney. Mike had two children, Steve and Fiona (38 and 36), from his previous marriage which ended when his first wife died. Stacey also had a daughter who had just completed high school. Mike was still ...

One of the largest challenges faced by fast growing businesses is how to keep the momentum of growth whilst ensuring that the business attracts and retains great people and ensures they do not burn out. Motivating and managing people is a complex ...

Fast growing businesses will inevitably confront the challenge of balancing their priorities. Importantly, keeping existing clients happy, gaining new clients whilst ensuring the business remains profitable. The consequence of this is the difficulty in ...

Your compass… Your guide… Where is your compass pointing? Core values define the identity and culture of a business. Leadership provides your business with direction and helps inspire your people to follow your vision. That journey is guided by the core ...

SME businesses face a greater challenge when looking to raise capital than listed companies. Equity capital is difficult to source and often involves an arduous process. As Private Equity Firms are often a costly option debt financing is more commonly ...