Friday, April 3, 2026

The power of Leverage


 


One of the best-known commentaries on debt is contained in Rich Dad Poor Dad , published in 1997 by Robert Kiyosaki, an American investor and entrepreneur. Kiyosaki famously distinguished between “good debt” and “bad debt,” writing: “The rich use debt to get richer. The poor and middle-class use debt to get poorer.”


In Australia there are significant advantages of using “good debt” to invest in property taking advantage of #negativegearing and #capitalgrowth.

Many people are against borrowing money, whereas the rich understand using leverage or “opm” other people money.

Let’s take an example of someone who has $1m to invest.


No #Leverage

 buy a $1m with a return of 5pc net and capital growth of 5pc per year after expenses and After CGT)

You will pay tax on $50k per annum say at 30pc betting $35k per annum 


In 10 years you will have made $350k in net income and $500k in capital appreciation 

Total $850k in 10 years .


With #Leverage 

 But 5 properties of $1m with a deposit of 200k eqch 80pc gearing. 

Buy $5m worth of property with a return of 0pc net and capital growth of 5pc per year After CGT)

You will pay tax on $0k per annum.

In 10 years you will have made $250k in capital appreciation per annum

Total $2.5m in 10 years .

It really comes back to having a steady income flow so that 

1. you have the option to jump on an opportunity when it presents itself.”

2. You have the ability to find any potential shortfalls 


Inspired by an afr article by Jessica Penny showing how Sandilands has built his wealth with 4 mortgages!


Thursday, March 5, 2026

🏦 Leveraging Commercial Property for Business Success 🏆

From my friend Farid Zaki


The SMSF Edge: 

📝 A guide on how business owners can use their Super to transition from tenants to landlords:


For many business owners, the transition from tenant to landlord is the ultimate milestone of success. Moving your operations into a property you own via a 

Self-Managed Super Fund (SMSF) is a strategic move that can transform a monthly overhead into a long-term retirement asset.


🎯 The Leaseback Advantage

The most significant benefit for business operators is the ability to lease the property back to their own business. While strict Australian Taxation Office (ATO) rules normally prohibit SMSFs from dealing with "related parties," commercial property (classified as "business real property") is an exception. This allows your business to pay rent directly into your super fund rather than to an external landlord.


🏆 Strategic Success Factors:

✅ Asset Protection: Property held within an SMSF is generally protected from creditors. If your business faces a downturn, your retirement asset remains safeguarded within the super structure.

✅ Concessional Taxation: Rental income within an SMSF is typically taxed at a flat rate of 15%. If you hold the property until you enter the pension phase (usually after age 60), both rental income and future capital gains can become entirely tax-free.

✅ Security of Tenure: As your own landlord, you eliminate the risk of sudden rent hikes or non-renewal of leases that can cripple a hospitality venue’s goodwill.


🧭 Navigating the Transition:

To successfully transition, business owners can utilise a Limited Recourse Borrowing Arrangement (LRBA). This specialized loan structure allows the SMSF to borrow for the purchase while ensuring the lender only has recourse to the property itself, protecting the rest of your super balance.


⚖️ Key Compliance Rules:

1️⃣ Sole Purpose Test: The investment must be maintained solely to provide retirement benefits for members.

2️⃣ Market Rates: Your business must pay "arm's length" market-rate rent. You cannot provide "mates' rates" to your own company.

3️⃣ Renovations: Under an LRBA, you cannot use borrowed funds for significant improvements that fundamentally change the asset's character. Repairs and maintenance are permitted, but major fit-outs must typically be funded by the SMSF's cash reserves or the tenant.


🎯 By leveraging an SMSF, business owners can stop renting and start building a legacy that serves them long term.


☎️📧📱 Please reach out to me and the ATP Accounting & Taxation Professionals team if you have any questions 🙋‍♀️🙋‍♂️🙋


#Accountants #TaxAgents

Discussing

#Accounting #Tax 

#WealthCreation #Investment

#Strategies including 

#CommercialProperty 

#Business #Property

#SMSF


Disclaimer:

The above is general information, please speak to your accountant, financial planner and advisors for your specific circumstances