This is a comprehensive guide to wills and estate planning, written in plain English and from an independent point of view. This book, designed for families of all types, also explains how to save for retirement while minimising tax.

The book complements the author's well-known and popular Understanding the Stock Exchange, Understanding Investment Property and Wills and Family Records.

This comprehensive work will help readers to handle their wealth in an effective way and in due course to pass it on to their heirs in accordance with their wishes. It analyses various estate planning devices, from inter vivos and testamentary trusts to enduring and other powers of attorney and from prenuptial agreements and business plans to conventional and "do it yourself" superannuation schemes.

Other relevant topics covered include investments, the intelligent use of borrowed funds, the duties and attributes of an executor, income tax, capital gains tax, social security, organ transplants and preplanned funerals. Housing and retirement issues and other practical questions such as how to choose a stockbroker are also discussed. Various ways of making charitable donations and bequests are compared.

534 pages   9781920910778   RRP $A29.95

FROM THE FOREWORD by Norman Geschke OBE:

Are you in the 50 per cent of people who have not made a proper will? Are you interested in increasing your personal wealth? If so, then this comprehensive book is certainly for you. It should have a place in every home.

CONTENTS

Chapter 01 WHAT IS ESTATE PLANNING?
Chapter 02 INVESTMENTS
Chapter 03 LOANS TO INCREASE WEALTH
Chapter 04 WILLS AND INTESTACY
Chapter 05 EXECUTORS
Chapter 06 WILLS: SOME FURTHER ASPECTS
Chapter 07 POWERS OF ATTORNEY - FINANCIAL
Chapter 08 OTHER POWERS OF ATTORNEY
Chapter 09 OWNERSHIP ALTERNATIVES FOR ASSETS
Chapter 10 LIVING TRUSTS
Chapter 11 TESTAMENTARY TRUSTS
Chapter 12 RETIREMENT
Chapter 13 HOUSING FOR RETIREMENT
Chapter 14 LIFE AND DISABILITY INSURANCE
Chapter 15 SUPERANNUATION
Chapter 16 DIY SUPERANNUATION FUNDS
Chapter 17 INCOME TAX: BASICS
Chapter 18 INCOME TAX: OTHER ASPECTS
Chapter 19 CAPITAL GAINS TAX: BASICS
Chapter 20 CAPITAL GAINS: OTHER ASPECTS
Chapter 21 A SUGGESTED WORKSHEET FOR CAPITAL GAINS TAX
Chapter 22 SOCIAL SECURITY ISSUES
Chapter 23 INVESTMENT ADVICE
Chapter 24 THE FINANCIAL SERVICES REFORM ACT 2001
Chapter 25 MANAGED FUNDS CAN BE EXPENSIVE
Chapter 26 HOW TO CHOOSE A STOCKBROKER
Chapter 27 SHARES FOR CHILDREN
Chapter 28 ESTATE PLANNING FOR ONE'S PARENTS
Chapter 29 PRENUPTIAL PROPERTY SETTLEMENTS
Chapter 30 RECORD KEEPING
Chapter 31 GIFTS AND BEQUESTS TO CHARITIES
Chapter 32 SMALL SHAREHOLDINGS AS CHARITABLE DONATIONS
Chapter 33 ORGAN DONATIONS
Chapter 34 PREPLANNING FUNERALS
Chapter 35 MISCELLANEOUS
Chapter 36 SELECTED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Appendix A MARGINAL INCOME TAX RATES FOR 2006-07
Appendix B AVERAGE RATES OF TAX 2006-07
Appendix C EFFECTIVE RATES OF INCOME TAX FOR RESIDENT INDIVIDUALS WHO RECEIVE FRANKED DIVIDENDS, 2006-07
Appendix D CONSUMER PRICE INDEX
Appendix E WAGE RATES
Appendix F THE EFFECT OF INFLATION
Appendix G THE EFFECT OF COMPOUND INTEREST
Appendix H CAPITAL GROWTH READY RECKONER
Appendix I CAPITAL GAINS TAX ILLUSTRATION
Appendix J BEQUESTS TO VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATIONS
Appendix K GUARDIANSHIP AND ADMINISTRATION BOARDS
Appendix L CASE STUDY: AMP FINANCIAL PLANNING
Appendix M HOW TO CALCULATE A YIELD USING A SPREADSHEET
Appendix N CHECKLIST OF TYPICAL FAMILY ASSETS
Appendix O CHECKLIST OF EXPENDITURE ITEMS
Appendix P CHANGE OF ADDRESS CHECKLIST
Appendix Q USEFUL INTERNET LINKS