Trudi McConnell

The concept of micro-retirement — taking a deliberate break from work, not at the end of your career but in the middle of it — has moved from fringe idea to mainstream planning consideration. Australians in their thirties, forties and fifties are increasingly asking whether they can afford to pause, travel, pivot, or simply stop for a year before returning to the workforce. The answer, with the right planning, is often yes. What counts as a micro-retirement? A micro-retirement is any...

Running a business in Australia means your personal finances and your business finances are deeply intertwined — often more than you realise. The decisions you make about structure, cash flow, superannuation, and insurance have long-term consequences that extend well beyond the business itself. Separating personal and business finances Many business owners, particularly in the early years, run personal and business expenses through the same accounts. This creates problems at tax time,...