Category: Business Tips

Reasons Why You Should Have a Will in Canberra

When you write a will, you are planning for the future of your family long after you are dead. Writing a will helps in clarifying your final wishes about how your assets will be distributed among your family. Let us now explore the need to write a will and the laws surrounding wills in Canberra.

Six Merits of writing a will

Assets distribution:

This is one of the most important reasons why you should write a will when you have the mental capacity to do so. You will indicate how you want your assets to be shared among your family members and even charitable organisations. This is very crucial as it helps to avoid quarrels and wrangles among your family members after your death. Sadly, no one knows when their final breath will be, so it is vital to always have an updated will.

Guardianship for minors:

They will also allow you to designate guardians for your minor children who will care for and cater for their needs upon your death. Here, you need to designate someone that you trust and can care for your kids just as you.

Avoiding family disputes:

If a will is not in place, then family members will be involved in disputes which can lead to very serious fights and sometimes even bloodsheds.

Executor appointment:

An executor is a person who will be involved in upholding your wishes upon your death. You will need someone that you trust and be confident that they will execute your will as you have indicated

Charitable giving:

A will also allow you to hand over some portions of your property to charitable organisations, allowing you to specify how it will be used by the mentioned organisation. Any person can do this but those individuals who have enough to spare or no children mostly do it.

Peace of mind:

It is relieving knowing that you have left your assets in good hands and that your children will be taken care of after you have long gone. This helps one to have peace of mind and live a happy life while not having to worry about the future.

What are some of the laws governing wills in Canberra?

For a will to be valid, It should meet certain requirements. Here are some of the key aspects of the laws surrounding wills in Canberra:

Legal requirements:

A will must meet certain legal requirements to be valid, such as being in written form and signed by the testator in the presence of two witnesses and their signatures.

Mental capacity:

The testator should be in their right mind and have a clear understanding of the impacts of their wishes in a will.

Revocation:

A will can be called off by the testator at any point in time before their death, provided they have the mental capacity to do so.

Intestacy rules:

If a person dies without a valid will, then their property will be distributed based on intestacy rules and may not reflect their wishes.

It is important to have a valid will when you are healthy and in the right mental capacity as it helps in asset distribution, guardianship for minors, avoiding family disputes, executor appointment, charitable giving and peace of mind. Some aspects governing writing wills in Canberra include legal requirements, mental capacity, revocation and intestacy rules.

Talk to Canberra’s top wills lawyers for guidance and assistance in drafting your will.

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The Benefits of Corporate Leadership Training

The best leaders are those who are always on the lookout for bettering themselves. This can be achieved through attending various corporate leadership training program. There are certain custom leadership program which are designed for different firms with varying philosophies. The training usually covers the emotional, practical and theoretical aspects pertaining to great leadership abilities. The following are some of the benefits of leadership training:

Helps increase productivity

When the company has god leadership, it can actually improve the productivity of all employees who work there. These are the leaders who understand the people emotionally. They know what the workers are going through. They try to encourage them using all their knowledge. There is enough research out there which point that emotional intelligence is one of the most desired qualities in a good leader. This gives leaders the ability to empathize with their employees. They use strategies to engage them and in turn make their employees feel empowered. Leadership training can leaders hone their emotional intelligence and make use of it more effectively.

Helps retain staff

75% of people leaving their jobs don’t just leave because of their jobs but do so because of their bosses. It can be assumed that people quit their bosses instead of their jobs. This is because ineffective leadership is known to cause stress amongst people and this is what they can’t take. When a company invests in the training of its leaders, they make sure that they have a leadership line which is well prepared to handle all the employees and make them feel safe and secure. A happy employee means better productivity and increased returns for a company. So make sure that your leaders undergo corporate leadership training programs.

Helps nurture future leaders

You have to be smart about nurturing the few leaders within your company. This way there is a lineup of leaders always ready to take the place of people who are either leaving the company due to better prospects. Good quality leadership depends upon leadership abilities as well as proper training. It should be the management’s task to find out individuals who display all these qualities and send them for a corporate leadership training. It helps support the succession of future leaders and keeps the company in line with its competitors.

Improves employee engagement

All employees would like to be appreciated for their hard work. However, receiving constructive feedback is also pretty important for employees.it makes them feel valued. Also if they are facing certain issues, they know they can share it with heir management and rely on them to help resolve those issues. It is only skilful leaders who can provide the right kind of feedback. The proper method of delivering feedback is taught at leadership training programs.

Make the right decisions

Leadership is a blend of emotional intelligence, confidence and far sightedness. At a corporate leadership training programs leaders are taught to rely on their instinct and make the right judgments. They make sure to implement these strategies which would also help them make the right kind of decisions.

 

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Things that you must consider before hiring any tax agent in Rockhampton

The more you earn in Rockhampton, the more taxes that you are required to pay.  This is one of the most important rules and regulations that the government has put in place to ensure that they have collected some money. For this reason, the collection of taxes by the government has become one of the ways in which the country is financed. However, as an employee, it is very hard for you to work on your taxes unless you are helped by a tax agent so that you can do what is right.  Tax agents in Rockhampton have been trained to calculate taxes for their clients and also ensure that they have paid those taxes on their behalf.  For this reason, you will be required to get yourself a tax agent whom you can be very comfortable working with. The processing of selecting a tax agent is not that simple, and hence you need to be very careful about the person that you will be employing to handle your money and taxes. This is why you need to consider the following factors anytime that you are selecting a tax agent.

1. The qualifications of the agent

One of the important things that you need to be very careful with is whether the agent that you are about to hire is qualified in handling your taxes. At times it is very hard for you to identify the tax agent who is qualified, especially if they do not have their credentials. However, you must ask the tax agent to produce their credentials so that you can be sure of the tax agent that is qualified. The other thing that will help you know whether the tax agent is qualified is looking for a tax file number since it is only given to the tax agents in Rockhampton that are qualified.

2. The reputation of the agent

You must also consider the type of reputation that the tax agent has. There are some people who will want to hire a tax agent because they know where they come from or even because they are friends or neighbours. However, this is not the right criteria that you should use to hire your tax agent. Therefore, you must ensure that you have done your research on the type of reputation that the agent has so that you do not hire an agent who has a very bad reputation.

3. The area of specialisation of the agent

There are different areas of specialisation that the agents have. For this reason, you must be very sure about the areas of specialisation of the tax agent you are hiring. This will be essential to you since you will have the chance of getting the tax agent who can help you with the type of tax needs you have.

4. Additional services offered

You should also ensure that you ask your potential tax agent about other additional services that they offer. For this reason, in case you had other tax issues, could help you instead of hiring another tax agent.

5. The cost of services

Whenever you are dealing with your money, you must be very careful about the money that you spend paying for the services that you get. For this reason, you must be very careful about the amount of money that your tax agent will charge you for the services that you require.

Kenna tax agents in Rockhampton can help put your business in the right direction.

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What To Consider Before Hiring Gold Coast Lawyers

Some of the most influential people in the Gold Coast are the lawyers. This is because they will always help you in case you have any cases and also when you need legal advice. For this reason, it is not wise that you hire a lawyer only when you have a case against you in a court of law. However, with the high population of lawyers in the Gold Coast, it is challenging to select the Gold Coast lawyers that are located almost in every street that you pass. For this reason, there is a reason for you to be very cautious when you are hiring any Gold Coast lawyer so that you do not fall in the hands of lawyers who are not helpful at all. However, there are factors that you can consider when you are hiring Gold Coast lawyers, and they will always help you to hire only the best lawyers. The following are some of the factors to consider before hiring Gold Coast lawyers.

The level of experience of the lawyers

When you are hiring Gold Coast lawyers, there are so many factors that you need to consider, but the level of experience that the lawyers should be among the first factors that you need to consider. For this reason, always take your time and research whether the Gold Coast lawyers that you are about to hire are experienced or not. To know whether the lawyers are experienced, you should ask them whether they have any past experiences with clients that have had similar cases like you. Another way of finding out whether the Gold Coast lawyers are experienced or not is by asking them the number of years that they have been working as lawyers in the Gold Coast. The more the number of years, the more the experience they have gained.

The reputation of the lawyers

The reputation that the Gold Coast lawyers will also help you in identifying the best lawyers. However, you cannot ask the lawyers about their reputation since they will be tempted to cheat you so that they can get the contract. For this reason, you should ask your friends or neighbours about the lawyers you are about to hire so that they can recommend you the best Gold Coast, lawyers. The other thing that can help you in learning the reputation of the Gold Coast lawyers is by reading online reviews of previous clients. Go for the lawyers that have a positive reputation since you will get the best services.

The costs of the services offered

Money is also a concern when you are selecting Gold Coast lawyers. Always ask the lawyers about the amount of money that they charge for the services they offer. Always hire the lawyers who you will afford to pay.

The location of the lawyers

The other important issue is the location of the lawyers. The place where the lawyers are located will determine whether they can be flexible or not. Always hire the lawyers who are located in a location near your home or place of work since the distance is convenient for both of you.

The credentials of the lawyers

Lawyers know the law very well. For this reason, a lawyer who is qualified in law and has passed through a law school understands the importance of having the right credentials. Bruce Legal – Gold Coast Lawyers are all licensed and qualified to practice their profession.

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Bankruptcy in Australia

Bankruptcy is a process whereby a person is legally declared, unable to service his/her debts. This releases the individual from almost all the debts he owes. The debtor can file for bankruptcy, and it can be filed voluntarily (debtors petition), or the creditors can force you into bankruptcy when they apply in court (creditors petition). When a person has a debt of any amount that he/she cannot pay, they are eligible to apply for bankruptcy. If you voluntarily apply for bankruptcy, and the Australian Financial Security Authority (AFSA) accepts your application, they appoint a trustee who manages your financial affairs. The trustee works with you (the debtor) to establish and manage your financial affairs by:

  • Informing your creditors about the bankruptcy situation,
  • Contacting your creditors to assess their claims,
  • Taking control of part of your income to repay some of your creditors.
  • Selling your assets, such as land, houses or vehicles above a specific value and,
  • Trying to reacquire any assets you might have transferred or sold shortly before bankruptcy.

 

Advantages of bankruptcy

  • All debts that are eligible for bankruptcy are cleared upon the end of bankruptcy duration (usually three years and one day). The eligible debts include unsecured debts, such as utility bills, medical and legal bills, outstanding rent, credit cards, personal lines of credit, store charge cards, payday loans, and unsecured personal loans.
  • Creditors cease all debt collection processes and legal action
  • Income up to a certain amount threshold is protected
  • You can operate a sole proprietorship (sole trader) business.
  • Creditors must accept the bankruptcy, and they cannot reconsider this decision at a later date.
  • After five years, the bankruptcy record is removed from your credit history.
  • Some of your property is protected by bankruptcy, for instance;
    • Tools of a trade valued up to a certain amount
    • Sentimental valued items such as trophies, medals, or your wedding ring
    • Personal injury compensation, superannuation, and life insurance policies
    • A vehicle that is worth less than a certain amount of money
    • Ordinary household items like home appliances, clothes, and reasonably valued furniture

 

Disadvantages of bankruptcy

  • The period of bankruptcy lasts for three years, with the possibility of an eight-year extension by your trustee if you fail to comply.
  • The bankruptcy record remains in your credit history for five years (or longer). This means you are unlikely to access loans from mainstream financiers during this period.
  • The bankruptcy record remains in the NPII (National Personal Insolvency Index) forever
  • There are non-eligible debts which are not exempted from bankruptcy. For example, secured loans (car loans and mortgages), government education debts, penalties, outstanding child support payments, debts incurred by fraud, fines, and penalties.
  • Your trustee has total control of any non-protected property which can seize and sell if need be. Examples of non-protected property include;
    • Real estate assets such as land and houses
    • Inheritance, winnings, and tax refunds
    • Money in bank accounts over a certain threshold
    • Vehicles worth more than a certain amount
    • Personal items like luxury electronic items, jewellery, antiques, and
    • Significantly valued artworks
  • The trustee manages any your overseas travels during the bankruptcy period.
  • Certain professions such as tax agents, accountants, real estate agents, gaming room attendants, and finance brokers are restricted if you become bankrupt.
  • You cannot be a company director or manager during this period.

For more comprehensive information, NR Consulting offer bankruptcy help in Brisbane.

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Conveyancing Maryborough: facts for the first time buyer

For anyone looking to purchase a property for the first time, conveyancing might not be too easy to understand. There is a pressure to arrange the finance for a new home along with making sure that all legal documentation is in place as well.

Finding the right legal service provider is crucial at this point. Besides getting the finance for the place, the second most important things to is to find a lawyer to help assist with the legal matters. Conveyancing solicitors in Marybrough can help make the process easier.

The following are a few facts on conveyancing.

  • Conveyancing involves the transfer of properties from one owner to another
  • It is always advisable to go for professional conveyancing in Maryborough
  • The major reason why anyone would hire a conveyancing lawyer is to make sure that all the documentation of the property are in order and that there are no hidden issues.
  • It helps the buyer buy the house in a smooth way where there is no hitch and no legal matters which might hinder the process.
  • For those buying a house the conveyancer might ask for an upfront search deposit. This is simply done to ensure that the conveyancer has enough cash for disbursement on your behalf.

How much will I be charged for conveyancing in Maryborough?

The amount for the complete process can vary, it depends on all of the following factors:

  • The value of the property. There are several firms which still charge the fee based upon the size of the property. It is better to avoid such firms because things have changed and the size of the property really shouldn’t have an impact on the conveyancing fee.
  • A property which has a lease hold might have a higher conveyancing fee because of the additional paper work which might be involved.
  • For a home which is a high risk area and which would require more research the fee would definitely be more.
  • In cases where there is a matter of missing papers such as guarantee and permissions, the buyer or the seller might need to invest in an insurance policy. Your conveyancing solicitor would guide you on this matter.

Disbursements

When you ask for a conveyancing quote you need to make that it should consist of two parts. The first part involves the basic fee. This is the fee which the solicitor charges for their time and documentation. The second is based upon disbursements.

The following are a few disbursements which you might encounter during the whole process:

  • Copies for land registry. These involves copies for both the buyer and the seller
  • If you are buying a property with a mortgage there is a need for a bankruptcy search o be carried out.
  • Drainage searches
  • Liability searches
  • Environmental searches
  • Land registry fees
  • Land tax

Do you need conveyancing in Maryborough? Conveyancing is a pretty competitive proceeding. Make sure you pick the right solicitor to help you with the process. Avoid falling into a trap. If something appears to be too cheap, make sure to check the document for legal clauses.

 

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Personal Finance Tips Every Adult Should Know

Being an adult is hard. Especially when it comes to the world of taxes, finance, and budgets. Even if you have a little background knowledge of how the world of finance works, you will still get jumbled up with all the complexities and planning. We all know that young adults manage money in a poor sense. When they step into the real world, their theoretical knowledge is of no use and they have to learn about managing their money in a more practical manner.

This article focuses on the key tips that every adult should know about personal finances in order to become a good financial planner hobart. To get your finances under control and to make the most use of them, some of the most important characteristics are smart planning, learning the basics and a foolproof strategy. Here are some key tips you as an adult should know about.

Always Set a Budget

One of the best basic things you can do when planning on managing your finances is that you set up a budget for all your income and expenditure. After a careful and crucial detailed assessment of where you should spend and how much you should spend, always save up some for your rainy-day account. This will help you in gathering up your savings as well. Budgets also play a very important role in letting you spend in a more regular and strategic way.

Check and Balance

check and balance

To have a check and balance on your spending habits is also one of the most important financial tips that you can follow. To have knowledge about where you spend your way and how much you can save if you don’t spend it on various extra stuff will definitely help you to save a huge chunk of your money.

You can restrict spending extra money by not eating outside all the time, or going out for movies or shopping at expensive stores etc. This will develop a sense of responsibility and a knowledge of acceptability in you.

By following the 50/30/20 rule, you will have plenty of checks and balance on your income and your savings. 50% of your income goes to things that are essential to living like food, utilities, transport, rent etc. 30% of your income goes to your lifestyle choices like entertainment, vacation, eating out. The rest 20% should be spent on saving up for the future and retirement fund.

Always Invest Early

If you have this idea that adults don’t invest and they wait at least till they get older, then you can’t be more wrong. To wait for old age just so you can invest in one of the huge mistakes a lot of young adults make. These days there are several investments plans for the property, business etc. that can help you in investing from the start so that you can reap of the benefits at the old age.

You should not wait to get old to start investing for the future. Nowadays, there are several opportunities for you to invest in a lot of different stuff like property etc. the earlier you start investing, the more long-term advantages you will benefit from.

Always Go for Insurance

You should always get insured to handle your money in the best way possible. There are a lot of unforeseeable circumstances that can happen. Sudden accidents can happen or there can be some major catastrophes that you aren’t prepared for. Insurance can help you in this way by protecting you against these sudden incidents.

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How to Prepare an Effective Business Plan?

Your business plan is a crucial document for your new business. It explains who you are, describes your company and shows how you will make it profitable.

A well-written business plan can help you gain the trust of lenders, investors and stakeholders. It should show that you are engaged in your business and that you have the skills, knowledge and confidence to achieve your goals.

Elements of a good business plan

Your business plan should contain the following:

  • The name of your company and a description of its activities
  • An analysis of the market and competition
  • An analysis of what sets you apart from the competition
  • A marketing plan
  • Your organizational and legal structure
  • A human resources plan
  • An analysis of your financial needs and your equipment needs
  • Your key financial data

BDC’s article How to Write an Effective Business Plan gives you an overview of the basics to include in your plan. You can also check out our article on common mistakes to avoid when creating your business plan .

You can use BDC’s free business plan template to help you write your plan. The Canada Business Network also offers a guide and good examples of business plans by business line.

Get additional information

You may have done informal market research yourself .Gather this information using both primary and secondary sources.

Secondary sources include statistics and trends of your market and customer base. Relevant data can be found on Statistics Canada’s websites and the Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. Specialized publications, associations, think tanks and academic research are also good sources of information.

Primary sources include surveys, personal interviews, and focus groups. They can provide you with a new perspective on the attitudes and behaviors of your target audience. When you search, make sure your survey goes beyond your circle of friends and family.

Like other parts of your business plan, your market research should be periodically updated whenever you need to make an important business decision.

Set measurable goals

Setting goals for your business plan helps your team stay focused, and committed to achieving your vision. Your goals are aligned with every aspect of your business plan. Here are some examples:

  • Finance – Collect a specific amount of capital, reach your cash targets, become profitable.
  • Operations – Launch new products, offer new services, improve efficiency by a coefficient x.
  • Human Resources – Find employees with specific skills, create an integration protocol, set up an employee evaluation system.
  • Sales and Marketing – Create a unique brand, develop your business plan, reach your sales targets.

You should have measurable targets to monitor your progress during the year.

Do you need a marketing plan?

If your company is doing a lot of marketing, it may be appropriate to prepare a separate marketing plan . For an introduction to marketing concepts, read the BDC article A 5-Step Marketing Plan, full of common sense .

Your marketing plan may include the following:

  • A SWOT analysis that examines strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to your business.
  • A description of your target market .
  • Clear objectives: shares and market segments, number of customers and customer loyalty, size and volume of purchases made, etc.
  • A description of your marketing strategy.

Prepare an “elevator speech”

In addition to your business plan, you should also prepare an ” elevator speech “. This is a short and compelling presentation that describes your business in less than 90 seconds.

Not everyone has the time or inclination to read your business plan. To attract the interest of your contacts, you must be able to present your company to investors, lenders, partners and potential customers, the time it takes an elevator to reach the top floor of a building.

To achieve this, your presentation must be clear and concise, stand out from the crowd and be tailored to your audience. You have to know your business thoroughly, because those who listen to you might ask you tough questions.

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What to do before starting a business?

Do you dream of being your own boss? Do you have a great idea for a product or service? Are you looking for a way to give back to your community and to your country? If so, you could make the right choice by starting your own business.

We offer resources to help you assess whether you have the personality of an entrepreneur, to explore business ideas and start your business.

Self evaluation

Starting a business can be a rewarding and rewarding experience. However, this professional choice may not be for you. Before you make the jump, take a few minutes to find out if the opportunities and challenges of entrepreneurship fit your personality.

Try the self-assessment of the online entrepreneur .

Explore ideas and ask questions

You may have the talent to spare and be eager to start your business, but it’s important to take the time to think about how you can turn an idea into a successful business .

Is your project original?

If your idea is really innovative, you need to check if it needs intellectual property protection to prevent others from copying it.

If your product or service is not innovative, ask yourself how you can compete. How will you differentiate your offer ?

How will you make money with your product or service?

Even if you believe that your product or service is exceptional, you need to take the time to find your target audience and your sources of revenue.

Here are some of the questions you need to ask yourself:

  • What is your target market?
  • How much is your target audience willing to pay for your products?
  • If your customers do not want to pay for your products and services, do you have an alternative business model?

How will your product or service end up in the market?

Will you take care of all the steps required to put your product or service on the market (development, production, packaging, marketing and distribution) or will you choose a partnership with other companies?

For a novice entrepreneur, the challenge of mastering all these steps is considerable. That’s why it might be better to focus on what sets you apart from the competition. Then, you can partner with other companies to help you with non-core activities.

For example, you might choose to focus on the design of your product and license the production, marketing and distribution management to a well-established partner.

What resources do you need?

When you know when and how to take action, you will need to evaluate your costs.

You will need to determine the number of employees required , set a time frame for marketing, and determine the recurring costs to pay. Be sure to include in your estimate expenses such as office space, supplies, various insurance and benefits.

When you have answered these questions, estimate your income forecasts for the first year. Base this estimate on the size of your market, industry trends, and your expected market share.

Once you’ve done this, you’ll be ready to write your first business plan , which you can use to attract investors and lenders.

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