In a world that often feels chaotic and uncertain, it's easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life, forgetting to pause and appreciate the simple joys that surround us. But amidst the challenges and hardships, there is always a glimmer of light waiting to shine through the darkness. Today, let's embark on a journey to explore the uplifting and positive aspects of life, reminding ourselves of the beauty that exists in every moment. Gratitude: A Key to Happiness Gratitude is a powerful tool that can transform even the most mundane of days into something extraordinary. Take a moment each day to reflect on the things you're grateful for, whether it's the warmth of the sun on your face, the laughter of loved ones, or the beauty of nature. By shifting your focus to the blessings in your life, you'll find that joy naturally follows. Embracing Imperfection Life is messy, unpredictable, and imperfect – and that's what makes it beautiful. Instead of striving for perfection, embrace the flaws and quirks that make you unique. Celebrate your successes, no matter how small, and learn from your mistakes with grace and humility. Remember, it's okay to stumble along the way – it's all part of the journey. Finding Joy in the Little Things Happiness doesn't always come from grand gestures or monumental achievements. Often, it's the little things that bring the most joy – a kind word from a stranger, a hug from a friend, or a quiet moment spent watching the sunset. Pay attention to the small moments of beauty and wonder that pepper your day, and you'll find that happiness is never far away. Spreading Kindness and Love In a world that can sometimes feel cold and indifferent, kindness is like a ray of sunshine breaking through the clouds. Make it a priority to spread love and positivity wherever you go, whether it's through a simple act of kindness or a heartfelt compliment. By lifting others up, you'll find that you lift yourself up in the process. Cultivating Inner Peace True happiness comes from within, rooted in a sense of peace and contentment that transcends external circumstances. Take time each day to nourish your mind, body, and spirit – whether through meditation, mindfulness, or simply taking a walk in nature. Cultivate a sense of inner peace that will sustain you through life's ups and downs, allowing you to navigate challenges with grace and resilience. Embrace the Journey Life is a journey filled with twists and turns, highs and lows, but it's also a journey filled with beauty, wonder, and endless possibilities. By embracing the bright side of life, finding joy in everyday moments, and spreading love and kindness wherever we go, we can create a world that is a little brighter, a little kinder, and a little more beautiful for us all. So let's embark on this journey together, with open hearts and open minds, ready to embrace all that life has to offer.

Boosting Your Superannuation: Seven Powerful Strategies

When it comes to being a Director of a company, there are administrative requirements that must be complied with, including keeping ASIC in the loop. We all hate paying unnecessary fees, and ASIC loves to charge fees. To avoid late fees, ASIC must be told about any changes to company details, including your business or residential address, within 28 days. If your company's information changes, please let us know so we can notify ASIC on your behalf. Example: Jarryd gets a late fee Jarryd recently moved his company to a new storefront. In the rush of changing to his new principal place of business, he forgot to update his address details with ASIC. A month later, Jarryd logged into his online account to change his address to reflect the address of his new principal place of business. Because it was outside the 28 day timeframe, the company was charged a $93 late fee. If he had waited longer and lodged the change of address more than a month late, the company would have been charged a $387 late fee. To avoid fees in the future, Jarryd realises it's important to update his details as soon as they change. In summary, be like Jarryd and realise the importance of advising Clear Vision Accountancy Group of any changes. Example supplied by ASIC

A superannuation death benefit nomination can be binding or non-binding.  A non-binding nomination has no expiry date. A binding nomination can be lapsing (valid for 3 years) or non-lapsing (no expiry date). Superannuation death benefit nominations are legal directives to a trustee of a superannuation fund informing the trustee of how a member would like their superannuation benefits paid if the member were to pass away, provided the beneficiary/ies are eligible to receive the benefits. This is separate from a Will, which covers your estate assets. If you value certainty in estate planning, you should enquire about the nomination options your superannuation fund offers. There are a variety of templates for SMSF lapsing and non-lapsing binding death benefit nomination forms, as well as non-binding death benefit nomination forms, available online; however, given the document's legal significance and the constantly shifting legislative and regulatory landscape for SMSFs, hiring a specialised estate planning lawyer to draught the nominations is strongly recommended. In conclusion, both lapsing and non-lapsing superannuation death nominations are important in determining the distribution of benefits upon a member's death. Understanding the differences between these types of nominations is essential for individuals to make well-informed decisions that align with their intentions and goals. We drew inspiration for this article from SMSF Alliance.

Airbnb vs. Traditional Rentals: Where Should You Put Your Money? Investing in real estate can be a smart way to make your money work for you and secure your financial future. These days, there's a trendy twist to this classic investment strategy – Airbnb rentals. But how does Airbnb stack up against good old traditional rentals, and what does it mean for your ability to secure loans for future investments? Let's dive into it! Airbnb: The Good Stuff: Show Me the Money: With Airbnb, you can potentially rake in 2-3 times more money compared to traditional rentals. This is especially true if your place is in a touristy spot. Flexibility Rules: Airbnb lets you call the shots. List your property when you want, for as long as you want. You can even block it for renovations, maintenance, or those last-minute personal getaways. The Not-So-Good Stuff: Hands-On Gig: Be ready to roll up your sleeves because Airbnb is a more hands-on gig. You'll need to arrange cleaning, restocking, and deal with those unexpected "Oops, I locked myself out" moments. Rollercoaster Occupancy: Airbnb's occupancy rates can feel like a rollercoaster ride. It depends on things like where your place is, the time of year, and what's happening in the market. Be prepared for the occasional dry spell and budget for it. Quick Tips for Airbnb Hosts: Use apps to price your pad competitively. Two words: key lockboxes. One for check-ins and another for lockout emergencies. If you're not up for the hustle, more real estate agencies are now offering management of Airbnbs. Check local council rules before diving in; they can be strict about short-term rentals. Traditional Rental Property: The Good Stuff: Money on Lock: Traditional rentals offer financial stability. With leases usually running for 6-12 months, you know when the rent's coming and how much. Easy Breezy Maintenance: No need to deck out your place like an Airbnb. Traditional rentals are less time-consuming, and property managers can handle the nitty-gritty tenant stuff. The Not-So-Good Stuff: Poor cashflow: Traditional rentals might not fill your pockets as fast. And with current interest rates and expenses, your cash flow could be in the red. Rent Price Red Tape: New laws mean you can only up the rent once a year for existing tenants. That means slower income growth. Quick Tips for Traditional Landlords: Pick a property manager based on their skills, not just the price. Bedrooms are the Most Valuable Players in rental properties. More bedrooms usually mean more rent. The Money Talk: From a bank's point of view, both Airbnb and traditional rental income can count. But they do it differently. Rental Income: Banks usually look at rental income from the purchase date but play it safe by shaving off as much as 30% for expenses and vacancies. Some banks will consider only 10% for these expenses but one of our mortgage brokers will find the right bank for you. Airbnb Income: Airbnb money is treated like a business. You must show two years of tax returns to prove it's the real deal. Once you've got those, your borrowing power goes up. During those first two years, though, banks treat it as vacant and use the rental appraisal for your loan. So, whether you are team Airbnb or team traditional rental, just remember to chat it out with your trusted advisors– accountant, mortgage broker, and real estate agent. They'll help you make the best moves for your money. As always, any questions drop us a line! This article was kindly supplied by Plex Finance www.plexfinancegroup.com.au

Ok, so it doesn’t sound very exciting but bear with me because if you get this right, the excitement of watching your business go from zero to hero will make this article worth the initial yawn… Why? Because this aspect of managing your business is critical to ensuring you achieve your goals. Without Financial Performance Monitoring, that overseas holiday, new home, swimming pool may not come to fruition. If you plan to grow your business, you know that sales, profit margins and cash flow are KING! And if you don’t monitor these performance indicators you won’t see where the bottlenecks are and how you can unblock them. Financial Performance Monitoring covers many aspects of the business, including Profit Drivers; Stock management; Debtors collection; Creditor payments; Sales/Invoicing procedures; Cash Flow Budgets & Breakdown Sales. Lack of precise, regular and persistent reporting can lead to business disrepair… harsh but true. If you don't know where it hurts, how can you decide what has to be improved?

All business owners should monitor the performance of their business. Every business has maybe only three numbers they need to be watching weekly. And remember, Revenue is Vanity, Profit is Sanity, and Cash is king – so don’t think everything is about Revenue. 1. Preparation of Financial Statements: The primary reports that every business owner needs to see are the balance sheet and the profit & loss statement. They give an overview of the business's financial health and, in a nutshell, tell the owners everything they need to know about how their enterprise is faring. Realistically, if you can’t produce a profit and loss within 14 days after the end of the month, you need to re-assess your business systems in this area. 2. Review Aged Debtors Report: Every month, an aged debtor’s report should be prepared so the business owner can keep track of all the customers who owe them money – and then follow up with the slow payers! If you want to discuss this further, please get in touch with us on 07 4688 2500.

Phishers can make an email or text message appear and sound like it came from a trustworthy company, but there are several tell-tale signs to watch out for. Do not download, share, or reply to messages that: Ask you to enter personal ID details Ask you to confirm Card details Ask for your one-time passwords Ask you to enter Account details to unlock or verify your Account Come from an unusual address, or have misspellings or strange language  STOP Take a moment to stop and think. Don't make transactions or share sensitive information unless you are 100% sure the request is genuine. CHALLENGE Could it be a scam? Be extra cautious if there is any reference to urgency or payment. It is perfectly okay to reject or ignore any suspicious requests. PROTECT Contact your bank immediately if you think you have been a victim of fraud, revealed your Card number or any other sensitive information.

Get set for a Minimum Wage and Superannuation Increase The Fair Work Commission has announced that the National Minimum Wage will increase from $21.38 per hour to $23.23 per hour, amounting to $882.80 per week for a 38-hour week. The increase applies from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2023. It is important that employers review their payroll system before 1 July 2023 to ensure that adjustments are made for the first full pay period after that date. The minimum wage increases also affect other payments such as penalty rates, overtime, allowances and more. Superannuation From 1 July 2023, the superannuation guarantee rate will increase from 10.5% to 11%. If you are unsure of any of these changes, please visit https://www.fairwork.gov.au/ We drew inspiration for this article from Murdoch Lawyers