You are a long-time retired
Rohan Brown • November 29, 2023
For many retirees, there is now a reasonable expectation of increased life expectancy. For many this could mean 20-30 years of life after retirement. However, for many this is a challenge after a long working life.
It is becoming a challenge for many and leading to mental health challenges for retirees. The issue is that for many, work has been go, go, go for 30-40 years of our lives. For many it is also what defines who we are and what we are about. Other than family it is probably the one thing that provided day to day direction and purpose. Work can also be a social outlet, allowing mixing with fellow team members and customers.
A point I make with many of my clients is that in retirement they must have a reason to get out of bed in the morning. A purpose to drive then, keep mentally stimulated. Often at such a retirement stage it is hopefully not about the financial reward, but fulfillment and purpose. Where a family business is concerned retirement may mean more of a pottering stage of life. Coming and going as they feel, still being depended on and sense of being needed and still being there adding to the business overall success. For others, retirement may mean selling out of a business or total retirement from active employment in that business. In such as cases there may not be the ability to be involved in the business or industry.
So, what can we do?
- Plan for retirement, think about those things you are wanting to do that work has always got in the way of. Write a bucket list and do them. Fishing, bowls or golf everyday may sound like fun, but will that challenge you long term?
- Before retirement discuss with your partner the concept of retirement. Do you have the same expectations? It will be a big change in your lifestyle dynamic.
- Phase towards retirement. There is no hard rule of being all or nothing when it comes to work. Where possible consider working towards a phase out approach, start by not working on certain days, ease out of certain work commitments or pass on many of the tasks you perform.
- Take a sabbatical from work, re-energise and go back. The break may also allow a reset in the way you work and on return the role may have evolved to keep you engaged for a few more years.
- Change the sort of work you do, moving into different roles or change employers.
- Consider voluntary work, providing you years of skills to other organisation that may be requiring assistance. This is win-win, the group get expertise and you have continued purpose.
- Keep learning new things, taking the opportunity to do short courses, learn practical skills. This may also include skills learnt in volunteering on the job.
- Pay it back, use your long career of skills to upskill the future generation just starting in your industry.
- Join clubs and special interest groups to mix with other likeminded people. Don’t just join for the activities, but also to socialise.
If there is something to take from this article it is, be aware of mental health. Check in on yourself, others around you or family members that are transitioning. If you are feeling ‘retirement’ is taking a toll, seek help. There are many great resources to assist this change in life, simply do an internet search for retirement mental health.
The post You are a long-time retired appeared first on Green Taylor Partners.
More GTP Articles
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic concept—it’s part of our everyday lives. From smart phones to online banking, AI is quietly working in the background, making things faster, easier, and more efficient. But like any tool, it comes with both advantages and challenges. The team at GTP are constantly learning about AI and how it impacts what we do, our work and in life for our clients—whether you’re running a small business, working the farm, managing your investments, or raising a young family. How AI Can Help You Here are some ways AI could be integrated into your life right now: 1. Automating Routine Bookkeeping For business owners, managing receipts and invoices can be a time-consuming task. AI-powered tools like Xero or MYOB now use machine learning to automatically categorise expenses, match transactions, and even flag anomalies. This means less time in the office, more time doing what you do best and more time doing what you love. 2. Smarter Budgeting and Saving Young families and retirees alike can benefit from AI-driven budgeting apps like Frollo. These tools connect to your bank accounts, track spending habits, and offer personalised suggestions to help you save more or reduce costs. They can even alert you when bills are due or if you’re close to exceeding your budget. 3. Crop and Weather Monitoring For those on the land, AI is transforming agriculture. There are now apps that use satellite imagery and machine learning to predict crop yields, monitor soil health, and provide early warnings for pests or drought. These insights help make better-informed decisions—potentially improving both productivity and sustainability. 4. Enhanced Customer Service If you run a business, AI chatbots can be used to respond to customer queries outside business hours, freeing up your time and improving client satisfaction. Many businesses are also using AI to analyse customer feedback and buying patterns, helping them tailor services and stay competitive. 5. Personalised Investment Advice Investors may already be using AI without realising it. Many superannuation platforms and investment apps now use AI to offer tailored portfolio recommendations based on your goals and risk tolerance. While this doesn’t replace personalised financial advice, it can be a helpful tool in managing your retirement income. 6. Time-Saving Tools for Busy Families For young families juggling work, school, and household duties, AI can help streamline daily life. Virtual assistants like Siri, Google Assistant or Alexa can manage calendars, set reminders, order groceries, and even help plan meals based on what’s in the fridge. AI-driven shopping apps can also track prices and suggest budget-friendly options—saving both time and money. The Limitations of AI While AI can be incredibly helpful, it’s not perfect. It relies on data, and if that data is wrong or incomplete, the results can be too. AI doesn’t understand context the way a human does—so it may make errors in judgement that you wouldn’t. Privacy is also a concern; many AI tools collect and analyse personal information, so it’s important to read the fine print, choose trusted providers and very carefully consider entering any personal details. In Summary AI offers exciting possibilities across many aspects of everyday life—from saving time and money to improving decision-making. But like any tool, it’s most effective when used wisely and with care. AI is not a replacement for human advice. It can support decision-making, but when it comes to tax planning, legal matters or big financial decisions, there’s no substitute for speaking with a qualified, trusted professional. Jess created this blog using ChatGPT by providing a detailed prompt providing details on writer perspective, audience and various content parameters. Edits have been made following fact-checking and to correct context as required.
Setting the right price for products and services drives sales, profitability, and enables long-term growth. Here are some pricing strategies that can help unlock significant business potential. 1. Understand Costs Effective pricing is only possible with a good understanding of costs, such as: Fixed Costs: The expenses that remain constant regardless of production levels, like rent, salaries, and insurance. Variable Costs: The costs which fluctuate based on production volume, including raw materials and direct labor. Break-even Point: The minimum sales volume required to cover all costs, and a valuable baseline for pricing decisions. Accurate and frequent financial reporting is necessary in order to keep a handle on these metrics. 2. Analyse the Market Enlightened leaders study their competitors’ pricing strategies, especially what they charge and the value offered at those price points. They also carefully monitor market demand (e.g. based on seasonal or economic factors) because high demand may justify higher prices. 3. Value-Based Pricing Strategic pricing means understanding customer perception of value. Products should be priced based on perceived value in addition to the costs of production. Also, understanding the value proposition enables the seller to highlight unique features and benefits of their products. That way, they market and sell in ways that persuade customers to choose them over competitors. 4. Dynamic Pricing Different circumstances may warrant different prices. For example, adjusting prices based on real-time demand is common in industries like travel and hospitality. Promotional Pricing means offering temporary price reductions to stimulate demand, clear out inventory, or attract new customers. 5. Bundling and Packaging It can make sense to combine multiple products or services into a single package at a discounted rate. This can increase perceived value and encourage customers to purchase more. A related concept is tiered pricing, whereby different tiers of products are offered at varying price points to cater to different customer segments, such as budget-conscious and premium customers. 6. Monitor and Adjust Pricing Since market and economic conditions are constantly in flux, leaders should continuously monitor pricing strategy performance. This regular review includes gathering feedback from customers and sales teams to understand how pricing impacts sales and customer satisfaction. A small variation in price can significantly impact business profitability and growth potential. Use these strategies to unlock the full profit potential of your business!
Gone are the days when you had to keep shoeboxes full of fading paper receipts. But many individuals and business owners still wonder: do I need to keep paper receipts for tax purposes? The short answer is no—but you do need to keep records. Let’s walk through what the ATO expects, how to store your records properly, and how to make life easier at tax time. The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) does not require you to keep physical paper receipts—but it does require that your records be: Legible (easy to read) Accurate Complete Stored safely for at least 5 years That means digital copies are perfectly acceptable, if they meet the above criteria. You can store your receipts in many formats: Scanned images or PDFs Photos from your phone (if details are clear) Emails or digital invoices Files stored in cloud systems (like Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive) Just make sure: The date, amount, supplier, and purpose are clearly visible. You can access the file if needed (e.g. if the ATO audits you). Here are some easy ways to stay organised and compliant: 1. Take a Photo Straight Away Got a work expense? Snap a photo of the receipt on your phone before you lose it. 2. Use Cloud Storage Create a folder for each financial year and upload scanned receipts, invoices, and bills. Bonus: no risk of fire, water damage, or faded ink. 3. Accounting Software Tools Programs like Xero, QuickBooks, and MYOB let you upload and attach receipts to specific transactions. Easy and secure. 4. Label Everything Clearly Use file names like “2025-03-01 - Bunnings - Office Shelving - $124.pdf” so it’s easy to search. How Long Should You Keep Records? For individuals and sole traders: 5 years from when you lodge your tax return. For companies and trusts: often 5–7 years, depending on your structure and obligations. If you’re claiming deductions for depreciable assets, keep records for 5 years after the asset is fully written off. What Not to Do Don’t throw away receipts until they’ve been safely saved digitally. Don’t rely on ink receipts—they fade fast! Don’t store files only on your phone—back them up in the cloud or on a secure computer. You no longer need to keep piles of paper, but you do need to be smart about saving your receipts. With digital tools and a little organisation, you can stay ATO-compliant and reduce tax-time stress.
Buying your first home can be a daunting process, but one of my key tips would be to make yourself aware of the government incentives that are available. These include: First Home Guarantee The First Home Guarantee enables first home buyers to buy or build their new home with a 5% minimum deposit of the property value and borrow up to 95% from your lender. Housing Australia will provide a guarantee to the lender, up to 15% of the property value. Eligibility Criteria To be eligible for the first home guarantee, you need to: - Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident - Have taxable income below the individual cap of $125,000 or $200,000 combined for joint applicants - Have a minimum deposit of 5% of the property value - Be at least 18 years old - Be a first home buyer or not have owned a property in the last 10 years in Australia - The home must be owner-occupied Various types of homes can be covered under this guarantee and an eligibility tool is available here: https://www.housingaustralia.gov.au/support-buy-home/eligibility-tool First Home Owners Grant (FHOG) If you are buying or building a new home valued up to $750,000, you may be eligible for a one-off grant of $10,000. The home must not have been previously sold or occupied, rented or leased out. Eligibility Criteria To be eligible: - You must be at least 18 years of age at settlement date or at the time construction of the home is finished. - At least one applicant (you or other part owner/s) must live in the home for at least 12 months, within 12 months of settlement or completion of construction. There are exceptions to this requirement for Australian Defence Force members and there are limited circumstances where this requirement may be varied. You will not be eligible, if you and/or your spouse: - Have already received the FHOG. - Have owned another residential property in Australia prior to 1 July 2000 - Have lived in a home that either of you owned, on or after 1 July 2000 for more than 6 months There are some exceptions to these requirements, and a checklist for eligibility is available here: https://www.sro.vic.gov.au/first-home-owner/will-i-be-eligible-first-home-owner-grant#1 Land Transfer (Stamp Duty) Exemption or Concession Stamp duty is payable when you buy a home or property, or on the transfer of property. The amount you pay will depend on the dutiable value of the property, how the property is used, whether you are a foreign purchaser and if you are eligible for any exemptions or concession. The duty exemption or concession is available in addition to the FHOG, for those purchasing their first home and principal place of residence, which can be previously owned /established or new. If your new home is valued up to $600,000, you may be eligible for a duty exemption, where you will pay no stamp duty on the purchase. If your new home is valued between $600,001 to $750,000, you may be entitled the duty concession, where you will receive a reduction of stamp duty payable. The value of the property (dutiable value) is usually the contract price, however if the price you pay for the property is less than the market value, the dutiable value will be the market value. To be eligible for the exemption or concession: - Your contract of sale must be dated on or after 1 July 2017. If your contract date is prior to this date, you may be eligible for the concession only. - All the purchasers of the property must meet the same eligibility criteria as the FHOG. - You or your spouse must not have already received the exemption or concession. How much stamp duty will I pay? - A calculator is available to calculate the duty you would pay, and can be accessed here: https://www.e-business.sro.vic.gov.au/calculators/land-transfer-duty Think you have overpaid your duty? - You can apply for a reassessment for up to 5 years after the duty was paid if you were eligible for an available benefit and didn’t claim it. Visit this link: https://www.sro.vic.gov.au/land-transfer-duty/apply-for-a-duty-refund Special Circumstances and Other Eligibility: You may also be eligible for a duty exemption, concession or reduction under some of these circumstances: - Buying an off-the-plan property? You may be eligible to receive a duty concession as a first homeowner buying an off-the-plan land and building package or a refurbished lot, eligibility can be accessed here: https://www.sro.vic.gov.au/land-transfer-duty/offtheplan - Buying vacant land to build your first home? You may may be eligible for the stamp duty exemption or concession, and eligibility can be accessed here: https://www.sro.vic.gov.au/first-home-owner/exemption-concession-reduction#vacant-land - Pensioner or commonwealth concession cardholder? There may be special duty concession or exemption available, for more information, visit https://www.sro.vic.gov.au/land-transfer-duty/pensioner-and-concession-cardholder-duty-reduction - First home owner with a family? As a first homeowner with a family who bought their home on or after 1 January 2006, you may be entitled to a duty exemption or concession, eligibility can be accessed here: https://www.sro.vic.gov.au/first-home-owner-with-family-exemption-or-concession Temporary Exemptions and Concessions: Other temporary benefits available to first home buyers, even if you don’t qualify for the first home buyer duty exemption or concession include: - Duty waiver for purchases of Victorian residential property with a dutiable value of up to $1 million for contracts signed on or after 25 November 2020 and before 1 July 2021. - Duty exemption or concession for the purchase of residential property, with a dutiable value of up to $1 million located within the City of Melbourne local government area. More information about these temporary benefits can be found here: https://www.sro.vic.gov.au/first-home-owner/exemption-concession-reduction More information for First Home Buyers For more information, visit https://www.sro.vic.gov.au/first-home-owner
It is common for businesses to make mistakes when it comes to goods and services tax (GST). As a result of those mistakes, businesses may underpay by claiming credits to which they are not entitled, or they may overpay the ATO. It is important to understand some discrepancies that may arise whilst you, as a businessperson, are reconciling your accounts. Below are some common mistakes to be aware of: 1. Not every business expense includes GST. The following purchases won’t have GST attached: - Bank fees & interest payments - Most basic food items and medical supplies - Council & Water rates - Most motor vehicle registration fees - Stamp duty - ASIC fees - Land Tax - Donations You are attempting to recoup unpaid GST if you claim credits on these expenses. Always check whether a supplier invoice includes GST before you claim a credit. 2. Claiming GST twice It is common to report the same income or expense twice. Below are some examples when this may occur: - Financed purchases: a business buys an asset (e.g., a vehicle), and claims the full GST credit up front, then later claims GST on each finance payment. Finance repayments do not include GST as this has been accounted for with the purchase of the asset. - Duplicated sales entries: a business accidentally records the same sale twice and pays double the GST it collected. These errors overstate your GST and cause the business to either pay more to the ATO than it owes or to claiming a larger refund than the business is owed. 3. Mixing Business and personal expenses - Claiming GST on personal purchases: GST credits apply only to business expenses. - Not splitting business and personal use: if you buy a laptop and use it 50% for personal use, you can only claim the 50% of GST used for business purposes. Most businesses should have a drawings / loan to director account in their software to account for personal expenditure from the business. 4. Claiming GST credits on non-registered suppliers & contractors When a business claims GST credits, it is crucial to confirm that the supplier or contractor they have paid is correctly registered for GST. - Use of the ABN lookup website ( https://abr.business.gov.au ) can confirm whether the supplier or contractor is registered for GST. - If they are registered, GST credits can be claimed on the expense. - If they are not registered, then there is no GST included in the total price and the expense must be recorded as a ‘GST-Free’ expense. How to maintain GST compliance? - Ensure your accounting software is properly configured for GST (refer to prior GTP blog articles that outline GST codes), and although an account may be GST inclusive, some transactions will need to be manually changed to GST free in line with expenses that do not attract GST. - Keep valid tax invoices for purchases (even attach these to their corresponding transactions in your software) - Separate business and personal expenditure - Reconcile GST accounts regularly - Ask for help when needed (contact your accountant) Get in touch with your Accountant for any queries.
