Preparing for loss of capacity or death is vital for SMSF members. It's important to ensure your trust deed is watertight.

There are more than 600,000 self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs) in Australia, managing close to $900 billion of assets on behalf of over a million Australians.

As any small business owner knows, entrepreneurship can be all-consuming. Juggling jobs and wearing multiple hats can soon leave business owners with little time for anything else. But ignoring your mental health and wellbeing comes at a cost and that cost is burnout, writes results coach and change facilitator Sue Giacobbe.

When you’re faced with a decision, do you trust your feelings or do you look at the situation objectively, making a careful list of pros and cons? Emotions exert a strong influence on our decisions, so it’s important to have a bit of balance between reason and emotion – particularly when it comes to the big decisions in life.

It is a special feeling to welcome a new child or grandchild into the world and watch them grow. Sharing their joy as they reach new milestones is priceless.

Of course, there is a real cost – raising a child is expensive, particularly now as the cost-of-living spirals higher.

As our superannuation balances grow larger, it makes more sense than ever to keep track of the many rules changes that have recently happened.

So, check out these latest changes in case they affect you.

If you need help in your home, or can no longer live independently, the Australian Government provides a range of aged care services.

These services are subsidised, but you need to contribute to the cost if you can afford to.

If you're planning to retire, you need to consider:

your age including if you have reached your preservation age

when you can access your super

how much tax you will pay on amounts you receive

if good leaver conditions apply if you are part of an Employee Share Scheme

if the retirement capital gains tax concession applies, if you sell your small business.

How much tax you pay on your super contributions and withdrawals depends on:

your total super amount

your age

the type of contribution or withdrawal you make

The ranks of Australians receiving the Age Pension are increasing. It’s important to understand who is eligible and its role in retirement planning.

A way for retirees to unlock the equity in their homes.

The reverse mortgage or equity release loan is a relatively new mortgage product that has been created for retirees who are asset-rich but cash-poor.

Think you have been scammed? These steps will help you take action quickly to stop the scammers and limit the damage.

Know that you are not alone and you can recover from this. There is support available, if and when you need it.

Many retirees may want to help younger family members by gifting part of their savings. But if things go wrong in the future, the joy may turn to grief.

Australians are increasingly “thinking small” when it comes to buying a home and cracking the property market. And with perks like affordability, more desirable locations, and lower maintenance, it’s little wonder why.

The thought of retirement is an enticing one for many of us. Imagine throwing off the shackles of the workforce and being able to do whatever you want, whenever you want. But why wait until you are retired to do the things you love?

The rising cost of living is grabbing all the attention right now as people struggle to pay the increasing prices. But in the meantime, our collective wealth has been growing steadily and is being transferred to the next generation at increasing rates.

The start of a new financial year is the perfect time to get your financial affairs in order. Whether it's tidying up your paperwork, assessing your portfolio or dealing with outstanding issues, there are plenty of practical actions you can take.

As the end of the financial year approaches, now it is an excellent time to consider boosting your retirement savings by making additional contributions to your superannuation.

There are different types of contributions available, and each comes with different tax implications.

Life is pretty frantic, and it is common to feel like it’s a struggle to keep up the pace. In fact, feeling exhausted is so common that it has its own acronym, TATT, which stands for "tired all the time".

While it’s somewhat comforting to know you’re not alone, it’s certainly not a nice feeling, so let’s look at some of the best ways to get some bounce back into your step.

When life tosses up an unexpected event – such as retrenchment, a medical emergency or even just a big bill to fix the car – it can be nerve-wracking worrying about how to deal with the crisis. And, if funds are short, that just adds to the stress.

But imagine that you have a secret cash stash – an emergency fund – that will cover the costs, giving you the mental space to deal with the problem.

When interest rates are high, the mindset you have toward your loan should be different to when interest rates are lower.

Being able to make your ongoing repayments when rates are high is an achievement in itself.