All Topics / General Property / I’m Off To See A Wizard !

Viewing 11 posts - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)
  • Profile photo of GramyreGramyre
    Member
    @gramyre
    Join Date: 2004
    Post Count: 110


    (not the home loan mob)

    Step 1.

    Made a decision of where I want to be at what time in my life (tick!)

    Step 2.

    After making the commitment to real estate investment as a strategy I decided before I could do anything I should have an accountant have a look at my situation and advise me on where I actually stand and what would be best for me in the long run in the tax/investment stakes.

    Being a good girl, I searched the forums and got the name from many recommendations on here.

    I asked up front how much this was going to cost (I haven’t paid this much for a specialist surgeon!) and so would like to get value for money from this first visit .

    1. What should I take to the appointment in the way of paperwork/figures?

    2. What questions did you think of asking down the track that you wished you should have asked at the beginning?

    3. What else should I know

    ______________________

    I know I can, I know I can

    Profile photo of geogeo
    Member
    @geo
    Join Date: 2003
    Post Count: 1,194

    by the sound of things – you are going to pay too much for an accountant’s advice – there are some that offer free advice out there. If your in Melb – I can reccommend one.

    But I would take with you as many questions as you can possible. Until you meet this accountant, pick up as many magazines and articles and speak with people – anything you don’t understand, make a note of. I would also scan the forums on here and also anything you don’t understand – ask him.

    Try taking your previous tax returns and any income statements in the ways of interest earnings you have had. This way he can help you identify your tax issues. Ask him according to your criteria, what is the best method to save on Tax whilst earning pasisve income. And also while you are there – ask him hundreds of questions on Company and Trust structures and make sure he gives you all this in writing – your bound to come across it in your property investing career. Ask him if he has any pamphlets or brochures on the ATO, Tax scenarious, Companies and businesses and the like.

    but be careful – some charge by the hour. get the quote in writing first.

    Kind Regards,
    George.

    “If You never never ask, you’ll never never know”

    Profile photo of alpinaalpina
    Participant
    @alpina
    Join Date: 2003
    Post Count: 46

    hi gramyre,

    this is a great post and i’m very keen to see the responses.

    i think my situation is very similar to yours and plan to take a similar course of action.

    wealth creation and tax minimisation being my 2 main drivers :)

    good luck

    julie

    Profile photo of tonyy21692tonyy21692
    Member
    @tonyy21692
    Join Date: 2003
    Post Count: 128

    Hi Gramyre

    When selecting any adviser or consultant, I always look for someone with a demonstratable track record. That is they currently are doing it for a client, (this is the usual referral) or for for themselves. Just ask them.

    I also have to feel I can work with them on an ongoing basis. This is a value judgement.

    Good luck got to hop paying clients waiting.

    Regards

    Tony

    Profile photo of TerrywTerryw
    Participant
    @terryw
    Join Date: 2001
    Post Count: 16,213

    Also, read up as much as you can before you go, so you can follow and understand what the advisor is saying – you don’t want it all going over your head.

    Terryw
    Discover Home Loans
    North Sydney
    [email protected]

    Terryw | Structuring Lawyers Pty Ltd / Loan Structuring Pty Ltd
    http://www.Structuring.com.au
    Email Me

    Lawyer, Mortgage Broker and Tax Advisor (Sydney based but advising Aust wide) http://www.Structuring.com.au

    Profile photo of elveselves
    Member
    @elves
    Join Date: 2003
    Post Count: 507

    well I would suggest that even if it went over your head, stop them and ask until it doesnt fly over and ask for examples.

    you are paying for advice make sure it is what you want and that you understand it.

    Personally, I need an accountant i can sit and talk to, not one that talks at me. One who works with me. My own accountant was on shaky grounds a couple of months back.

    I thought my own accoutant had gone stale, he had been to my business and sat and talked to me, his fees were reasonable, however this year I actually slammed my fist down on his table, something he had never seen or heard me do.

    He told me something along the lines of he was not my portfolio manager, to whicb I replied I had paid him well for the last x years, and he knew, and was given each year my financials, in accounting books no less for the majority of years. The fact that he had sat on my books for about 10 months and he apparently had not kept an eye on certain things, really angered me.

    Needles to say, we exchange words in a firm but polite manner. He said to me if I were a man he’d have punched me, and I said if I were a man I would have hit him back! to which he laughed and it broke the air.

    It took a while for him to figure out, this was not a right and wrong, but he was there to do my work for which he got paid. I think he didnt expect my response, but he now knows I’m not there to be dumped on or made the escape goat, he has some responsibility.

    So this week he called me at work to answer some email questions I had sent him, asked him some more, told him to be more creative and to get back to me when he figured it out. No problem! He told me he was going on holidays and would get back to me later. I’m happy with that.

    it is only when you can get creative and can build a relationship and have enough trust in someone along the way (even when they derail) and that if you do argue, nothing is held as a grudge. We can move on, now that is the kind of realtionship I like.

    Having said that, I think my needs and my goals have now surpassed his working habits…..

    ” a blind man may see what a sighted man may not”

    Profile photo of elveselves
    Member
    @elves
    Join Date: 2003
    Post Count: 507

    I would also have your goals:
    short term
    Med term
    Long term

    tell accountant, what you want, what you are thinking, or ask what he can suggest (he in this case can also be she)

    Consider doing a risk profile yourself, there are some online. Get an idea of who you are and where you want to be in those timeframes and possibly how.

    Then ask accountant how they would suggest it, some wont give this advice, but if you phrase it like, well if I have this, what is the best way….eg line of credit? interest only loan? etc, that they can work with.

    Do I need a trust, or a company (many say no to both) but ulltimately down the track the structure you set up now obviously plays a part in where you will be down teh road…according to your situation. everyone is different.

    I think you know where you are going and what you are after, goodluck

    Elves

    ” a blind man may see what a sighted man may not”

    Profile photo of FFCommFFComm
    Member
    @ffcomm
    Join Date: 2004
    Post Count: 627

    I asked up front how much this was going to cost (I haven’t paid this much for a specialist surgeon!) and so would like to get value for money from this first visit.

    >They can be quite expensive!

    1. What should I take to the appointment in the way of paperwork/figures?

    >The first thing you’ve got to consider is time constraints, theres no point in taking reems of paper if you are going to see him for 30mins. Try to get a feeling in wether s/he will support you, rather than going there just for info

    2. What questions did you think of asking down the track that you wished you should have asked at the beginning?

    >First of ask about costs of running a company or trust, as well as basic book keeping fees and how much to start one up (round $1,200 per company/trust, nothing more).
    Also you want a accountant who will basically answer short email queries for free.

    3. What else should I know.

    >If they advise you to do something, ask why. Without the ‘why’ you cannot see wether they are good for you or not.

    >Also ask what type of structure they will suggest. You should be aiming for something like a trust with a company acting as trustee, or a trust or a company. It’s okay if they suggest for the first 2or 3 IPs to place them in your name (as long as they as relativly inexpensive) after 2/3 IPs you want a structure.

    >Lastly we don’t have Legal & Accounting forum for nothing…
    ->https://www.propertyinvesting.com/forum/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=23

    Rgds.
    Lucifer_au

    Profile photo of GramyreGramyre
    Member
    @gramyre
    Join Date: 2004
    Post Count: 110

    Thanks for the input guys. It will help a great deal at that appointment and I really appreciate the personal stories. I think that where I get the most learning from.

    I wil be chasing up the risk profiles for a look too (anyone have URLs?)

    Oops re the thread in general (will try harder next time!)[glum]

    ______________________

    I know I can, I know I can

    Profile photo of FFCommFFComm
    Member
    @ffcomm
    Join Date: 2004
    Post Count: 627

    O’h no – I ment queries to any Q’s you have of a Legal or Accounting way after you have seen your accountant. [:)]

    Rgds.
    Lucifer_au

    Profile photo of elveselves
    Member
    @elves
    Join Date: 2003
    Post Count: 507

    sorry for some reason the web site i had booked for risk profiles is not available.

    I did post to the list somewhere, but try google search too.
    sorry cant help [confused2]

    ” a blind man may see what a sighted man may not”

Viewing 11 posts - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)

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