Even though it’s “Friday the 13th”…I don’t want to scare you!  But I do want to warn you…identity crime is on the rise, and it’s an area everyone could do with taking into consideration, particularly with the increased amount of cyber activity!

Identity crime occurs when someone commits a fraud or crime using an identity which has been stolen or manipulated, or in some cases a new/false identity can be created with the use of stolen information.

Criminals often start with some of your basic information which can lead to rather detailed crimes, and the potential to have a significant impact on your financial situation and your lifestyle.

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) have some great tips and advice for protecting your identity, the link can be found here, and includes a short video and an online security questionnaire.

Of the items that make up your personal information, one of the most important is your Tax File Number (TFN).  You should only disclose your TFN when absolutely necessary and with people or organisations you trust.

And of particular interest to me…is the advice from the ATO to ensure your tax agent is registered!  You can check registration details by searching the Tax Practitioners Board website (I promise you’ll find me there!).

On a lighter note…has anyone seen the movie “Identity Thief”?  I just love Melissa McCarthy!

Regards

For some reason or another, a recent dinner conversation turned to insurance…riveting hey?

Right from the outset I will point out that I am not a Licensed Financial Planner, nor am I an Insurance Broker (which means I cannot give you advice regarding insurance products and I don’t earn a commission from their sale).

But I do think it’s important to talk about the concept of insurance, and remind everyone to review their insurance on a regular basis.

There are so many types of insurance these days, but the most common financial insurances are life insurance, TPD insurance (total permanent disablement) and income protection insurance.

From a lifestyle perspective you might look at home and contents insurance, car insurance and private health insurance.

And if you are in business, professional indemnity insurance and key person insurance may be areas you need to look at.

Whatever your requirements, I urge everyone to see an expert in the field (if you don’t know one…ask your family, friends or work colleagues for a recommendation)…and ensure you review your insurance needs on a regular basis (at least annually), you’d be surprised at the life events that can have an impact on the value and appropriateness of your insurance!

Regards

It’s a public holiday here in Victoria today…we’re celebrating the Queen’s Birthday!

For some this means a day off work…but for others work is still on the agenda.

As such, I thought it was an opportune time to remind everyone about the importance of getting wage rates right.

Employers should ensure they are paying their staff at the correct rate, as well as meeting their other payroll obligations.

Apart from the legal risk of underpaying staff…wage rates can have a significant impact on workplace performance and ultimate business success!

Staff should also check they are being paid at an appropriate rate, and find out the implications of working on a public holiday if it relates to them.

I usually refer to the Fair Work Ombudsman in the first instance, but if you belong to a union or an industry body, they may be able to give you advice and if necessary you can seek expert advice from workplace lawyers.

So…if you’ve got the day off today, I hope its relaxing for you…and if you’re working, I hope it’s productive!

P.S. Minimum wages are set to change on 1st July, 2014…ensure your business is ready!

Regards

It’s Frivolous Friday!

Last week I attended a 30th birthday celebration for a family friend and I was discussing “Tiffany” with the birthday boy’s sister (you know who you are, here’s your post on Tiffany…read carefully because I’ll be quizzing you!).

We’ve talked a lot about the “little blue box” in recent times, and I’m so happy that she has finally been for a visit…and found herself a little something special…

I remember preparing for my first visit to a Tiffany store, and being so nervous…thinking that the sales staff would just look at me like I didn’t belong there..thankfully that wasn’t the case!

Everyone I’ve dealt with has been helpful and accommodating…even the door man, while serious in his security role, is friendly if you offer a smile or “hello/goodbye” as you pass through his door.

I love bling, and feel very lucky that I’ve been able to accumulate a nice collection of blue boxes…but I also like to window shop and look at the sparkles.  The beauty of being a frequent visitor to the Collins Street store is that it’s located right next door to the Lindt café (but that’s a post for another Frivolous Friday…)

Please…can someone tell me a romantic Tiffany story…please?

Regards