What you need to know
Estate planning is the process of ensuring that your wealth is directed according to your wishes after you die. Making sure your wealth goes where you want it to is not just a simple matter of preparing a will – although a will is almost always a key part of your estate planning.
You also need to consider things such as your superannuation benefits, family businesses, assets owned by legal entities such as family trusts as well as assets owned as joint tenants, etc.
It is also vital that your estate planning be consistent with your current financial planning, to ensure that your affairs are handled as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible, both now and in the future.
That said, it can be difficult to know exactly what the community wants you to do! Australia’s taxation rules are complex – in fact, according to the government itself, each Australian faces a potential 125 taxes that they are liable to pay. This makes it imperative that you seek qualified, quality tax advice provided by someone who is legally allowed to provide it