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Tax time is approaching and many readers will be digging out their paperwork, putting their finances in order. Why not use this time to give yourself a financial health check? Here are some questions you need to ask yourself:
Home Loans
Have you reviewed your home loan in the past 12 months? There’s a spread between standard variable mortgage rates of around 5-6.2%. That’s a potential repayment difference of around $235 a month on a $300,000 mortgage. Are you getting the features you need and avoiding paying for the features you don’t use? Do you need a credit card or an offset loan? Check you are paying fortnightly – this will pay off your loan faster.
Insurance
Are you appropriately covered? Take a look at your home and contents – what would it cost to replace your belongings if something went wrong? What about life insurance? You want to make sure all your debts are covered and your family has enough to live off in case something happened to you. It’s worth also looking into trauma and/or income protection cover in the event of an illness or accident. If you had to stop working, how would you pay your household bills? If you don’t know what you need, engage an adviser to help you get the best premiums and ensure you’re adequately covered.
Savings
Do you know how much you have in savings? Do you have a plan for it? Cash is valuable and you can’t let it be eaten by inflation. Review the interest rates you are paid and compare it with other products, whether they are savings accounts or term deposits. The comparison sites are excellent for this.
Super
Do you know how much you have in super and how it’s performing? Go to your account and see how much you have, and what it is returning. Also, look closely at what fees are coming out: super funds vary in their overall fees by a factor as large as 2 per cent per year. Even if you go to a fund charging 1 per cent less than your current fund, the difference – over 30 years – adds up to tens of thousands of dollars. Small differences in fund performance produce big results in the long run, so spend some time selecting your investment options. Match volatility to your risk profile and life stage. Have a look at your original goals and assumptions: are they real? Do you really know how much you’ll need to live well in retirement?
Household costs
How much are you paying just to live? Review your telephone packages, your internet, your electricity/gas account and your petrol bill. By simply reviewing these household overheads, most people can save over $100 a month, which could be put to good use on your loan or in your super.
You won’t regret making this a habit. Remember, that a dollar saved is better than a dollar earned – you don’t pay tax on it.
Mark Bouris is executive chairman of <a href="https://www.ybr.com.au/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Yellow Brick Road</a>, a financial services company offering home loans, financial planning, accounting and tax, and insurance.
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Give yourself a financial health check as tax time approaches: Mark Bouris

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Some of the numbers associated with retirement seem really big. Take the lump sum that the average Australian couple will have to save in order to retire comfortably: one million dollars.
It seems like a lot of money, but it makes sense.
The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) says that an average couple will need around $56,000 per year in order to fund a comfortable retirement.
“Comfortable” in this case means that you’ll have private health insurance, that you’ll be able to get a decent car and good clothes, and that you’ll be able to maintain your home, plus have some money for domestic and occasional overseas travel.
What it doesn’t include are the things that a lot of people in retirement look forward to: helping their children with a deposit on a first home, taking multiple trips abroad, treating the grandkids to special gifts for birthdays and Christmases, and actually replacing that car a few times over the course of 20 years. It also assumes that you own your own home and that you don’t have any housing costs except for general maintenance and repair. Finally, it doesn’t factor in that you might have a large unforseen medical expense such as a hip replacement, which could cost you tens of thousands of dollars.
So if you factor in a few of these, in addition to allowing for cost of living increases at say 3% per year, then you’re looking at a number that’s more like $65,000 per year for you and your spouse.
If you can rely on average investment returns of 5% per annum, then you’ll need a least $1 million to generate that $65,000 income per year in retirement.
So what you need to do is work out how you’re going to do it, because even though it sounds like a lot, it’s actually obtainable. But you need to take control and you need to start planning early. Trust me, I haven’t met a person in their fifties or sixties who hasn’t wished that they started saving sooner. And if you think the compulsory super contributions are going to get you to the million dollar mark, think again.
If you’re a 30-year-old earning $70,000 with a current super balance of $30,000, and you put in the compulsory 9% over the next 35 years, you will retire at 65 with $330,000, which generates $21,500 per year for 22 years. Even if compulsory contributions are raised to 12%, you won’t get there. The same person who invests 12% cent over 35 years will end up with $420,000.
So set yourself a $1 million challenge and start taking control of your superannuation.
You now know your goal, so set yourself up with a solid plan and get some help if you need it. I’m not saying you have to come to a Yellow Brick Road branch, but you should talk to someone who can assist you. An adviser can work with you to create a plan, and then it’s up to you to own it.
Mark Bouris is executive chairman of <a href="https://www.ybr.com.au/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Yellow Brick Road</a>, a financial services company offering home loans, financial planning, accounting and tax, and insurance.
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Compulsory super contributions alone won't fund a 'comfortable' retirement: Mark Bouris

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Technical terminology is okay if it provides shorthand for complex ideas.
But in superannuation, jargon tends to push people away.
That’s a pity, because super is built on basic concepts.
So if you’re feeling a bit confused by it all, here are the five ideas you need to get your head around it:
<ol start="1">
<li>
Super is a tax arrangement: it is not an investment. You are putting money aside for your retirement (9% of wages) and the government encourages you to do this with tax benefits on contributions and investment earnings. It is the most tax-effective way to save for retirement.</li>
<li>
Super is income replacement: when you no longer work for income, you’ll need to replace this income using your assets (i.e. property and super). The income replacement rate is the percentage of your working life salary that you’ll need to earn in retirement. The sweet spot for singles is around 70% of average salary to live comfortably. For couples it’s more like 55% of combined salaries.</li>
<li>
Establishing a goal: you’ll need assets to generate your replacement income. So, you need a goal. Assume that your investments return 5% per annum. This means you must have enough assets so that when they earn 5% per annum, they produce your replacement income. For example, if you earn $60,000 per year, you’ll need a lump sum of $840,000 to replace your working life income. Your goal should include owning your home by retirement.</li>
<li>
The compound effect: often referred to as earning interest on interest. It works like this: if you put $1,000 into a fund that returns 10%, after one year you earn $100 interest. If you reinvest the principal amount plus the interest ($1,100), then next year you have $1,210. You’ll double your money in seven years by reinvesting like this. Now, add to this a regular contribution, over forty years and with extra contributions and occasional lump sums, in a tax concessional fund, and the compound effect is turbocharged. Superannuation is – in effect – a 40-year compound effect.</li>
<li>
Planning: Most super funds cater to people wanting low volatility and low returns (cash, bonds), through to high volatility and high returns (local and global shares). And all points in between. Generally, people close to retirement choose low volatility-return options while people in their twenties choose high volatility, because they have the time to weather downturns and make their gains. You should match your life stage and goals to your investment profile. Planning covers life insurance, home equity draw-downs, transition to retirement, annuities and special concessions for some Australians. These can be complex so you should take some advice from a professional.</li>
</ol>
Complexity aside, most Australians can create a retirement plan with a pad, a pen and an internet connection (remember to only rely on information from organisations with an AFSL).
The complexities will emerge – they always do. But you can start towards a comfortable retirement by taking control, setting a plan and empowering yourself to pursue your goals.
Mark Bouris is executive chairman of <a href="https://www.ybr.com.au/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Yellow Brick Road</a>, a financial services company offering home loans, financial planning, accounting and tax, and insurance.
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Let's lose the jargon around superannuation: Mark Bouris

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I have been astonished by the correspondence from women in the past few weeks, and one of the topics that has come up time and time again is how women’s retirement plans are derailed when they get divorced.
One of the changes for the better over the past 40 years has been equality for women. However, economic liberation hasn’t necessarily followed: women generally earn less than men doing the same job, they have much <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/economy/women-are-disadvantaged-in-our-superannuation-system-mark-bouris/2013042160591">lower balances for superannuation</a> and ‘no fault’ divorce – while empowering – generally leaves women at a financial disadvantage.
When married people retire, they generally share their <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/trends/seven-potential-ways-to-improve-women-s-superannuation-savings-mark-bouris/2013042860761">superannuation savings</a>. They also own the family home and other assets together, which means they share the security and yield from these assets.
This means the woman’s non-earning years of having kids and raising a family is covered in retirement by the partner.
But what happens to the women whose marriages don’t make it?
Think about this example. A couple gets married and decides to start a family. The man is earning $70,000 per year and the woman is earning $50,000 per year. The couple decides that the wife is going to take five years off to raise the kids and then she is going to work part-time for the next five years, earning say $30,000. Over that 10 year period, the husband will accumulate approximately $92,000 in super whilst the wife will only accumulate approximately $19,000 (based on 9% compulsory super contribution and a compounding rate of 5% pa for the ten year period).
And then they get divorced.
At present, the couple then will more than likely end up in the family law court fighting over who gets what. Often the situation leaves the wife high and dry in terms of super savings as the result of her raising the family.
This scenario is playing out all too often. But why?
The government and the financial services industry could be doing more to even the scales in this area, but ultimately women have to recognise this situation as a reality and they have to plan for it.
Here are a few ideas:
<ul>
<li>Use the spouse contribution system and split all savings into super equally while both of you are working</li>
<li>If you are earning $37,000 or less and want to contribute your own cash to super, the government will help you by putting in an additional 50% of what you contribute (up to $500)</li>
<li>If divorcing, negotiate a fair share of the total pool of super</li>
<li>Never leave the big picture finances to one partner. Share the responsibility, learn the ropes</li>
<li>In the settlement, think twice before opting for the family home, especially if it comes with a big mortgage</li>
<li>Get expert advice. Ask around and select an adviser who speaks to women, not down to them.</li>
</ul>
Good retirements are made, not fluked. And to get there, you need to take all possible scenarios into consideration – especially the negative ones. Understanding your situation and knowing what you need to do financially can be one less thing you have to worry about. Good luck.
Mark Bouris is executive chairman of <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ybr.com.au/">Yellow Brick Road</a>, a financial services company offering home loans, financial planning, accounting and tax, and insurance.
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Six ideas for protecting women's superannuation during life's hurdles: Mark Bouris

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The events of the last few months have emphasised to me the importance of financial education.
It started with the argument about the government changing superannuation tax rates. And in the past few weeks I’ve written about how women fare under the superannuation system. I’ve been amazed at the feedback.
Given the correspondence I’ve received, I am convinced of the need to educate Australians about investment strategies for retirement.
One of the strongest arguments for this is the advent of ‘defined contribution’ superannuation. Back in the day we had ‘defined benefit’ super schemes, where you were guaranteed income for life based on how many years you worked for an employer. But in 1992 that changed, and now you’re guaranteed a percentage of your wages paid into super, where it’s invested in shares, property, bonds and cash.
So you are responsible for building your superannuation into a lump sum that pays you income in retirement. But simply having contributions put into your super doesn’t mean you understand how the system works or what is expected of you. And that’s the big issue.
So along with contributing super for employees, we should be teaching people how to optimise their retirement investments. After all, two people can put the same amount into super all their lives and one can end up with substantially more savings than the other.
It comes down to details that not everyone understands: what are the options? What is a risk-reward trade off? What does volatility mean? Why are voluntary contributions so important? What is the income replacement ratio and why does it matter?
Paul Keating introduced compulsory super and subsequent governments have supported it. Governments can’t be responsible for everything, but it is their job to ensure the system works, which requires a basic level of understanding.
While it’s easy to say that financial literacy should be taught in schools, we in the financial services industry have a responsibility to ensure that people understand their super. And the first thing we can do is remove some of the jargon. A universal system should use universal language.
Employers are also in a position to talk about retirement investing and perhaps organise events such as lunchtime investment seminars. Unions could do more: they run some large super funds and that gives them access.
Finally, the debate about super is too often tax-based. It would be constructive to remind people that superannuation is actually a tax arrangement, designed to increase returns and to encourage members to put more in.
The bottom line is that education, like superannuation, is best started early. Read this from one of my Twitter followers this week: 36 years hairdressing, virtually no super. It's been an important topic for my 2 daughters who are in there early 20's. I had already implemented some of your ideas, the girls super is on 15%. Want to secure their future.
Like the mother above, we must learn from our mistakes and ensure our children don’t repeat them. The first step is education.
Mark Bouris is executive chairman of <a href="https://www.ybr.com.au/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Yellow Brick Road</a>, a financial services company offering home loans, financial planning, accounting and tax, and insurance.
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We have a responsibility to ensure people understand superannuation: Mark Bouris

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I guess my column struck a nerve last week.
I made the point that <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/economy/women-are-disadvantaged-in-our-superannuation-system-mark-bouris/2013042160591" target="_blank">superannuation favours men over women</a>. Not because of sexism but because our lives are different: women spend more time out of the full-time workforce because they have children, they raise them and they’re often the ones who respond to family emergencies such as serious illness.
This means women’s average super balances end up being a little more than half of their male counterparts. Their retirement savings, on average, are inadequate to fund a comfortable retirement, yet women retiring at 65 today can easily live into their nineties.
The response to last week’s column was huge and I received personal messages from many of you through Twitter and on our Facebook page. Many people noted that I identified the problem but didn’t offer a solution. So here are a few suggestions to think about:
<ul>
<li>
Contributions: the superannuation guarantee is about to start rising, to 12% of wages by 2019. We could look at this being struck at 15% of wages for women. The actuary firm Rice Warner, currently has an application before the Human Rights Commission to be allowed to pay 15% superannuation to female employees.</li>
<li>
Taxes: superannuation is taxed at contribution and on earnings. We could drop one of these taxes to allow new mum’s contributions to grow faster.</li>
<li>
Maternity cover: employers may have generous maternity leave schemes, however the employee’s super is not contributed while they’re on leave. Some employers are paying the full SG while the female employee is on maternity leave.</li>
<li>
Government matching: to encourage women to stash money into super while they’re working, the government could look at matching female voluntary contributions dollar for dollar. Make them tax-free.</li>
<li>
Spouse concession: while a mum is out of the workforce raising a family, her spouse should be allowed to make contributions to her account tax-free.</li>
<li>
Advice rebate: along with women’s lower lifetime contribution levels, there is a widespread lack of understanding and comfort with the superannuation system. All financial services providers know this and don’t know what to do about it. We could look at fully tax-deductible financial advice for women, or allow fund managers and adviser groups to provide ‘free’ advice and claim the deductions themselves. Either way, women who are confident and informed will be more engaged with super and will be more likely to make good decisions.</li>
<li>
Education: we have to start early, in our schools. Teaching the basics of investment and financial adequacy will empower young women with information.</li>
</ul>
Finally, the purpose of superannuation was to create an actuarial income in retirement: to have a lump sum large enough that you can live off the interest.
Half of our population is going to struggle to achieve this, and it saddens me to see so many women feeling guilty and embarrassed about their lack of retirement savings, when they should be engaging and forming a strategy.
So I’d like to end by saying to my female readers that you are not to blame.
This is a problem of the system, not of gender.
Mark Bouris is executive chairman of <a href="https://www.ybr.com.au/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Yellow Brick Road</a>, a financial services company offering home loans, financial planning, accounting and tax, and insurance.
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Seven potential ways to improve women's superannuation savings: Mark Bouris

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There was a big argument about superannuation earlier this year. Unfortunately, it was about taxing the ‘fabulously wealthy’ and missed a much bigger issue in superannuation: the disadvantage to women.
Superannuation is predicated on time spent in employment, and the gross income of each member. So while the current median super balance of men aged 35 to 44 is around $41,000, for women of the same age it’s $22,600. For those about to retire – 55 to 64 year olds – men have a median $91,000 compared to women with $55,000.
The problem isn’t so much gender bias as structural inadequacy.
Women have different lives to men. They typically take time out to have kids, they work part-time when they re-enter the workforce, and in order to have flexibility with their family responsibilities, they often work on contract from home or they do informal work for cash. All of these choices take contributions out of their super.
During the week I asked my female Twitter followers what financial issues they had right now and what money concerns they had for the future. And I must thank these women for responding – candour about money takes some guts.
Many female respondents said they couldn’t commit to superannuation strategies when they have kids to raise, bills to pay and a mortgage to service (or a deposit to save for).
This connection between current living pressures and poor savings is why the current superannuation system has a compulsory contribution component (9% of wages currently). But relying on compulsory super doesn’t get you to the desired income replacement rate of 70% by the time you retire. It gets you slightly over half – it’s your voluntary contributions that get you to 70 per cent replacement of your working-life salary.
Clearly, women are not making voluntary contributions.
Another theme I saw in the Tweets was the subject of young divorcees: women who marry in their twenties and divorce in their thirties. This is a significant life disruption and leaves women the poorer, especially if property is split and they have custody of children.
Perhaps the most chilling element was the admission that superannuation was beyond their understanding, out of their control and not really set up for them.
They have a point. When you look at the superannuation industry, the funds focus on nine-to-five, full-time workers. They don’t really talk to casual, part time and self-employed workers – the cohorts in which women are strongly represented.
I am largely concerned that we are pushing women away from super, especially if the current system is forcing them to turn away, or turn off completely. What matters most is that half our population is disadvantaged by a supposedly universal system. That’s not something we can ignore.
In the 2030s there’ll be more than five million retirees, and the women can expect to live into their 90s. That’s 30 years of retirement, and they’ll all need an income.
It’s time to bring women into the system.
Mark Bouris is executive chairman of <a href="https://www.ybr.com.au/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Yellow Brick Road</a>, a financial services company offering home loans, financial planning, accounting and tax, and insurance.
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Women are disadvantaged in our superannuation system

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Many Australians dream of owning a business, and I am approached often for my opinions on the matter. Here’s a few questions to ask yourself before becoming a business owner:
What is the demand?
A business can only succeed if it meets a demand. So your first job is to ascertain the aggregate demand for your goods and services. You can get information from business intelligence services, government agencies and industry bodies. You must understand demand before opening your doors.
What do I bring?
Can you do the same as your competition, cheaper or faster or better? Will you work for less, do you have better technology, better employees, newer systems, greater innovation etc? Are you meeting excess demand with a me-too idea? All successful business people know what they bring to the market and they capitalise on it. So, you should know exactly why the market will deal with you and not your competitors. Know what makes you different and what it’s worth.
Do I have the money?
There are well defined cash flow dynamics in business – they operate around the average billing cycles and payment cycles. You should be able to chart the peaks and troughs of your cash flow so you can match outgoings to payment cycles and not run out of money. Having charted these dynamics, you can work out when and why you will need outside capital, in the form of a bank loan or other facility. Credit should always be planned in advance and you can get an accountant to do this as part of your planning if you don’t fully understand it. The worst position is to reach a critical point where you drop prices to push sales, thus reducing your profit margin. Advanced planning for capital avoids this disastrous spiral.
Can I build a team?
The idea of the business owner being a lone genius, doing all the thinking, is a dangerous fantasy. All successful business owners have a team of people who can add to their business goals. And these people must be rewarded and given incentives to keep them going. In general, a business owner first needs excellent people to cover the finance, operations and sales roles. That leaves you as the leader.
Am I a business owner?
Ask yourself: can I rise early, work myself to a stand still, spend all night doing paperwork and never take a holiday? Can I carry every decision on my own shoulders? Can I live a life when I’m never off the clock? If you prefer life to be predictable and you like a 40-hour week, perhaps proprietorship is not for you.
The business life is a wonderful challenge and a great way to contribute to society. However, I would advise anyone wanting to go into business to start with one simple rule: know your purpose. Business can be a hard, lonely, exhausting road and you’ll need to know why you’re doing this before you start the journey.
Good luck.
Mark Bouris is executive chairman of <a href="https://www.ybr.com.au/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Yellow Brick Road</a>, a financial services company offering home loans, financial planning, accounting and tax, and insurance.
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Do you have what it takes to own a business?

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From July 1, your compulsory superannuation contributions will start to increase. The increase will be gradual, moving from 9% in 2013 to 12% in 2019.
The rise is going to boost Australians’ super accounts over the long term. An increase of 9% to 12% is 33% more into your <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/trends/australians-are-not-saving-enough-for-retirement-mark-bouris/2013021759365">retirement</a> savings, which is significant.
So this is a time to get serious and ask: am I doing all I can to grow my nest egg for retirement?
The key to this is the compound interest effect. The joy of having your money locked away for several decades and earning interest is that it gets a chance to compound (earning interest on the interest), and along with regular contributions – not to mention a concessional tax rate – your savings are accelerated.
The compound effect works best when every cent is being worked on, so you must concentrate as strongly on costs as you do on revenues.
But if you have a look at your annual super statement you’ll see a list of figures with a minus sign in front of them. These are the withdrawals from your balance, for fees.
The largest fee is the management fee – the percentage of your balance that is taken to administer the funds.
Take two 30-year-olds, each earning $60,000, with $30,000 in super. One of them is paying 0.9% in management fees, and the other 1.5%.
By the time they retire, the person paying 0.9% has paid $77,892 in fees, and the other $118,649.
Management fees are easy to compare online and switching to a more reasonable fund can save you thousands – over $40,000 in the case above.
Other fees also differ across the industry, as do life insurance premiums.
Importantly, when you find cost savings in super, you boost savings without taking market risk.
Returns are also important. I’m not a fan of reviewing super performance every year, because when people change investment options in line with the hottest performers, they always miss the growth period by several months and then they are charged for changing.
It’s better to set up an investment framework based on your risk profile, which relates to what you want to earn in returns.
In terms of fund selection I suggest you look at a fund’s ten-year performance. This is not a guarantee of future performance but it does show you how a manager performs with a long-term savings vehicle like super.
This is especially the case with volatile assets such as shares and property – you should be looking at what a manager can achieve over a decade, because this gives you the time in the market to weather the troughs and still take the gains.
Remember: small differences are important in superannuation and if you can lift long-term returns by 1%, and reduce costs by 1%, you are boosting your super without taking much risk.
Finally, superannuation is not a tax. This is your money, so become engaged, stay informed and retire the right way.
Mark Bouris is executive chairman of <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ybr.com.au/">Yellow Brick Road</a>, a financial services company offering home loans, financial planning, accounting and tax, and insurance.
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Stay informed about your super: Mark Bouris

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The Bucket List is a movie about a list of things that two men plan to achieve before they die.
But there’s another kind of bucket list – the things you need to take care of before you die. We avoid talking about them yet they are the things you can do to make life better for a whole bunch of people, including your spouse, kids, employees and yourself:
Will: usually drafted by your solicitor, a will is a document that sets out the distribution of your assets and the guardianship of your kids when you die. Anyone who owns property, has children or owns a business should have a will, because if you don’t, your assets will be distributed by a court-appointed administrator.  A will doesn’t just give you control, it removes expensive uncertainty for those you leave behind.
Insurance: that protects you in the event of death, illness or disability. There are different types: life <a target="_blank" href="/news">insurance</a>, which pays an amount to named beneficiaries upon your death; total and permanent disability insurance (TPD), which pays an income if an accident disables you; trauma cover, which pays a lump sum for diagnoses of nominated illnesses; and income protection insurance which provides a percentage of your income for a certain time should you be rendered unable to work. They should be regularly reviewed to ensure they are sufficient for their intended purposes.
Power of Attorney: if you’re left mentally incapacitated by an accident, but there’s still a business to run or a family to provide for, you need a power of attorney. It’s a document that appoints a person to act on your behalf even though you’re still alive. It allows your attorney to perform many tasks, including debt collection, voting at meetings, operating bank accounts and carrying out delegated functions (but not personal, medical or lifestyle decisions). An enduring power of attorney, unlike an ordinary power of attorney, will continue to operate even if the donor loses full legal capacity.
Superannuation death benefit: every superannuation fund member must nominate who gets their superannuation when they die. You can nominate that your retirement savings go to your estate or you can specify which percentage of your super goes to whom. Superannuation can be a large sum of money and it’s important that you stay up to date with the listed beneficiaries of this asset.
Vault: consider having a 'vault' that contains all your passwords and user names for online applications and security devices such as alarms and locks. It should be kept in a safe place with access granted to the power of attorney or executor so they can close down accounts and access secure areas. Your vault should be secured in a safe or a deposit box.
This is hardly the bucket list you write a movie about, but it is the kind of thing that responsible adults have to attend to. Even if it seems like a drag to you, someone else might thank you for it.
Mark Bouris is executive chairman of <a href="https://www.ybr.com.au/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Yellow Brick Road</a>, a financial services company offering home loans, financial planning, accounting and tax, and insurance.
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The bucket list for responsible adults: Mark Bouris

A who's who of Australian surfing, business and entertainment has emerged on title records following the completion of Esprit Rainbow Bay, the latest boutique beachfront apartment development by former professional surfer Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects.

The completed project has attracted an enviable collection of owners, many with long-standing ties to the southern Gold Coast and the surf culture that has helped define Rainbow Bay and neighbouring Kirra for generations.

Given Gedoun's own background in surfing, it perhaps comes as little surprise that some of Australia's most recognisable surfers have chosen to buy into the development overlooking one of the country's most celebrated stretches of coastline.

Pezet Matheson directors Jayde Pezet and Todd Matheson launched the project in late 2021, and have managed the sales campaign all the way through to its sell-out and recent completion.

<img alt="Esprit" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="08fc6261-b84e-4b09-8a44-66d3067fd0d1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-29%20at%208.51.05%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=4AOcb6ETZwNUnMPdTtz1B3pZAIB_jgZ2" />

Former world champion Mick Fanning, who grew up in Coolangatta, secured an apartment in 2023. He paid&nbsp;$2.07 million. Last year he sold his Bilinga home for over $16 million.

Three-time world champion Joel Parkinson also purchased in the development, alongside big wave surfer Mark Mathews. Mathews bought the most expensive apartment in the building, spending just over $4 million.

Joining them is Rip Curl founder Doug Warbrick, whose company helped shape Australia's global surfing industry over the past five decades.

The appeal of Rainbow Bay has extended well beyond the surfing community.

International DJ Paul Fisher purchased an apartment through his investment vehicle, YLB Developments, an abbreviation of his trademark phrase "You Little Beauty".

The purchase comes as Fisher and his wife Chloe are developing their own luxury apartment project further north in Palm Beach. Their boutique beachfront development, Pescado, comprises just seven apartments on Jefferson Lane, which start from just shy of $6 million. The couple intend to retain the two-level penthouse as their Australian base between international touring commitments.

Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy and his wife Wendy have also invested in Esprit, purchasing two apartments after spending decades holidaying on the southern Gold Coast. They also have a luxury apartment in Joe Adsett's Rockpool, less than 400m away from Esprit.

<h2>Boutique project draws owner-occupiers</h2>

Esprit launched in 2021 and sold strongly, with buyers drawn to its boutique scale, beachfront position and contemporary design.

The completed development comprises 94 apartments across 11 levels, offering expansive floorplans designed primarily for owner-occupiers rather than the investor market.

Crowning the building is Club Esprit, pitched as being the Gold Coast's first residential rooftop wellness centre. The roof features a&nbsp;25 metre magnesium lap pool, which is surrounded by wet daybeds and poolside cabanas,&nbsp;multiple barbecue areas,&nbsp;a yoga and relaxation play lawn, and a private dining room with a kitchen scullery, bar, lounges, and an outdoor terrace.

The wellness centre is&nbsp;fully equipped with a Technogym, ice bath, infra-red sauna, steam room, thermal room, and treatment room. The roof has views spanning&nbsp;Rainbow Bay, Snapper Rocks and the Pacific Ocean.

<h2>S&amp;S Projects continues to shape Rainbow Bay</h2>

S&amp;S Projects founder Paul Gedoun has become one of the key figures behind Rainbow Bay's evolution over the past several years.

After establishing S&amp;S Projects, Gedoun has focused on delivering lifestyle-driven apartment developments designed primarily for owner-occupiers seeking a permanent coastal home.

Esprit is Gedoun's third completed project in Rainbow Bay, following Flow and Awaken, both of which achieved record prices for the suburb.

He is now delivering <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/radia-rainbow-bay-271-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Radia Rainbow Bay</a>, a 38-apartment development on Boundary Street that is currently selling, and has no plans to leave the precinct anytime soon. S&amp;S Projects has also lodged plans for its fifth Rainbow Bay development, an 88-apartment project on Boundary Street featuring a strong wellness focus.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/first-look-s-s-projects-proposes-88-apartment-wellness-tower-at-coolangattas-boundary-street">First look: S&amp;S Projects proposes 88-apartment wellness tower at Coolangatta's Boundary Street</a>

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Joel Robinson

Who's who of buyers revealed as Esprit Rainbow Bay settles

Nature Based Cities (NBC), the not-for-profit organisation focused on improving biodiversity and nature outcomes in urban development, has launched its latest industry design guidelines and accreditation framework, this time targeting precinct-scale residential communities.

The move extends NBC’s influence beyond its initial focus on medium and high-density residential developments. Several projects have already achieved NBC accreditation since the launch of its Medium &amp; High-Density Residential Guidelines in early 2025.

The expansion into masterplanned communities and new residential precincts reflects the growing need for stronger nature-positive benchmarks as Australia’s outer suburban growth corridors continue to expand at pace.

Paul Hameister OAM, NBC Founder and the Executive Chairman of Melbourne developer Hamton who itself leans heavily into nature and biodiversity in its developments, says the&nbsp;nature-first approach to mitigate the effects of climate change has become standard in other parts of the world such as the UK, but Australia is lagging.&nbsp;Australia’s environmentally sustainable design (ESD) rating tools have no minimum mandatory requirements for living landscapes.

“We’ve always wanted to do more, and we know other developers who want to do more, but the ESD rating tools just aren’t there,” Hameister says. “In Australia, you can have a five-green-star rated building that’s concrete and glass with not a blade of grass. 
 
“The focus is on reducing emissions, which is laudable, but there hasn’t been enough attention paid to protecting and re-establishing nature. We need both for the health of the environment and for communities.”

He says that having now&nbsp;made good progress in supporting developers of medium and high-density residential projects, NBC is now looking to bolster better nature-based decision-making and recognise developers of greenfield projects in the outer ring and large inner-ring brownfield precincts, who want to champion nature and living landscape as a defining feature.

Since 2022, the not-for-profit has sought to remove the roadblocks preventing developers from incorporating nature and living landscapes into their projects, shifting the conversation from the reduction of emissions and grey infrastructure, toward recognising nature as an essential infrastructure.

The New Communities Design Guidelines and Scorecard arm developers with the tools needed to deliver a nature positive outcome for their new communities. Intended to be adopted at the outset of the planning process, the guidelines are designed to help create communities that are cooler, healthier and more resilient while also enhancing social wellbeing and long-term economic value.&nbsp;

New Communities developers seeking accreditation will be independently assessed across a range of key criteria including ecology, tree canopy, biodiversity, and walkability. Once the masterplan is complete and submitted for approval, the scorecard is formalised based on proposed outcomes. Projects that meet the NBC criteria will receive either Commended or Exemplary accreditation outcomes, creating a clear benchmark for nature-positive new communities in Australia.&nbsp;

Janis Fischer, Director at Tract and NBC Advisory Council member, said the development of new communities in our suburbs can have a substantial impact on nature and biodiversity.

"By incorporating nature-based design principles at the inception of a project, developers and their design teams can achieve nature positive outcomes that are good for both people and the planet.’’&nbsp;

NBC accredited New Community projects will gain access to NBC branding and marketing tools to help communicate their nature-based credentials to purchasers and the broader market.&nbsp;

Nature Based Cities: A new Australian benchmark for developing nature-positive new communities

Apartment buildings are increasingly being designed around how people actually live day to day, not just how they want a building to look.

For buyers, that shift is showing up in practical inclusions that respond to changing habits. Work-from-home spaces, EV charging, wellness amenities, secure bike storage and parcel management are becoming part of the broader apartment conversation, reflecting a move toward buildings that reduce friction in everyday life.

Online shopping has become one of the clearest examples of that change.

Australians spent a record $82.6 billion online in 2025, with nearly one in four retail dollars now spent online. That has made parcel delivery a regular part of apartment living, rather than an occasional inconvenience.

For apartment residents, however, the delivery process can be less straightforward than it is for detached homes. Parcels may be left in lobbies, redirected to Post Offices, missed entirely, or placed under the responsibility of building managers and concierge teams.

That is why secure parcel infrastructure is increasingly being considered alongside more familiar apartment amenities.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-VjjLwoViX0?si=A3k7ws9NX35Uac7_" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Australia Post Parcel Lockers offer one way to address the issue. When a parcel arrives, residents receive a notification through the AusPost app or SMS, then collect it using a QR code or one-time PIN. The parcel is kept secure, accessible and removed from common areas.

The broader Parcel Locker network now includes more than 1,500 locations across Australia, positioned at Post Offices, shopping centres, supermarkets, transport hubs and other accessible locations.

For new apartment projects, the relevance is clear. A building’s amenity offering is no longer only about lifestyle spaces, but also about convenience, security and functionality.

As buyer expectations evolve, secure parcel delivery is becoming part of the same design conversation as flexible working, sustainable transport and resident wellbeing.

It is one less thing for residents to worry about, and another example of apartment design adapting to the way Australians now live.

Apartment design is adapting to the way Australians shop

While school holidays and trips to Europe tend to define the winter property market, there's been no cold snap at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-walden-north-sydney-177-walker-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">The Walden</a> in North Sydney.

Developer-builder&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/aland">ALAND</a> sold more than $35 million worth of apartments throughout June, including a $6.8 million apartment that now ranks among the highest apartment sales ever recorded in North Sydney.

SRM Residential agent Ben Stewart said buyer demand throughout June reflected a mix of improving market confidence and longer-term thinking from owner-occupiers.

"We're seeing strong demand from owner-occupiers who are taking a longer-term view," Stewart said.

"Many recognise the opportunity to secure an apartment in an iconic building and premium location while values remain attractive. They may initially lease the property, but the intention is to eventually move in themselves, rather than purchasing purely as an investment."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=367129]

Located at 177 Walker Street, The Walden will deliver 161 one, two, three and four-bedroom residences across a 30-storey tower designed by Rothelowman. Every apartment occupies a corner position, maximising natural light, cross ventilation and views across Sydney Harbour, the Opera House, Sydney Heads and the northern districts.

Rather than a traditional balcony, the residences feature winter gardens that seamlessly extend the open plan living areas, creating versatile spaces for relaxing or entertaining throughout the year. Floor-to-ceiling glazing draws in natural light while showcasing sweeping views from the building's elevated Walker Street position.

Every apartment features high-end Calacatta marble, bespoke joinery, and fully integrated appliances.

The larger residences have been planned with distinct entertaining and private zones, with many master suites positioned on corners to capture natural light and harbour views. Walk-in dressing rooms, freestanding baths and refined stone finishes reinforce the house-like feel that has resonated with downsizers and owner-occupiers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6393]

Rothelowman Principal Ben Pomroy said the project was designed to make the most of its unique position overlooking the harbour.

"The Walden is a celebration of all things beautiful, curated for those who expect nothing less than exceptional," Pomroy says.

"Meticulously designed entertaining spaces and light-filled living areas that capitalise on capturing the natural beauty of Sydney's iconic harbour."

Residents will also have exclusive access to The Pavilion, a dedicated amenity building featuring a rooftop pool, wellness studio, gymnasium, sauna, concierge service, residents' lounge, private dining spaces and work-from-home facilities.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6402]

The project marks ALAND's first major luxury apartment development in Sydney's inner-city market after more than two decades delivering residential communities across Greater Sydney.

Founder and CEO Andrew Hrsto previously said the rarity of the Walker Street site made it an opportunity the company could not overlook.

"This is a rare opportunity to bring a truly exceptional project to life in one of Sydney's most iconic locations, and to showcase our craftsmanship and design expertise at a world-class level," Hrsto said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6383]

The Walden has been introduced to the market at a time when demand for living in North Sydney is at an all-time high. Billions of dollars have been invested in infrastructure, including the recently opened Victoria Cross Metro station, located just 300 metres from The Walden, providing residents with direct access to the Sydney CBD in just minutes.

Private investment has also transformed the area through the arrival of new retail and dining destinations, elevating the lifestyle offering in what was once considered primarily a commercial precinct rather than an aspirational residential address.

The Walden is currently under construction and is scheduled for completion in 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134323]

ALAND records $35 million in sales in North Sydney as The Walden bucks quiet winter selling season

The long-awaited redevelopment of the former Eastlakes Shopping Centre site has reached a major milestone, with Conquest's plans for a new mixed-use precinct officially placed on public exhibition.

The State Significant Development Application would transform the 1.7-hectare site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/19a-evans-avenue-eastlakes-nsw-2018">19A Evans Avenue</a> into one of Sydney's largest urban renewal projects, delivering 736 apartments above a new shopping centre anchored by Woolworths, alongside specialty retail, dining, commercial space and new public open spaces.

The public exhibition marks the next chapter for the project after <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/conquest">Conquest</a> acquired the stalled Stage Two development from Crown Group, who completed the first stage across the road prior to their voluntary liquidation.

<img alt="First look: Conquest unveils plans for 736-home Eastlakes Shopping Centre redevelopment" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5fca22c5-d1ed-4e2c-8801-03f7df1eafc8" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/eastland%20podium.png?VersionId=uomwr41nF8CmLUZRDcu3mHQechlbxucS" />

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Designed by DKO Architecture, the proposal comprises four residential buildings ranging from 14 to 18 storeys above a two-level retail podium. The development would deliver 736 apartments, including 74 affordable homes, 215 Build-to-Rent apartments and 521 market residences. Provision has also been made for dual-key apartments, which could increase the total number of dwellings to 877.

At ground level, the shopping centre has been designed as the suburb's new meeting place, anchored by a full-line Woolworths and complemented by a curated mix of fresh food retailers, cafés, restaurants, health services and everyday convenience shopping. Generous pedestrian links and landscaped public spaces will connect the retail precinct through to Jack Mundey Reserve, creating a more walkable and connected neighbourhood.

Conquest CEO Michael Akkawi said the redevelopment was about far more than replacing a shopping centre.

"Eastlakes has been overlooked for too long, and this is the community’s moment. We are building a shopping centre and homes, a genuine heart for the suburb, and we genuinely want locals to help shape it."

"We enrich communities through the creation of homes, places, and experiences designed for life, built to last, and owner for generations. That starts with listening, so we warmly encourage everyone with a connection to Eastlakes to view the plans and share their thoughts."

<img alt="First look: Conquest unveils plans for 736-home Eastlakes Shopping Centre redevelopment" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="22f6fb20-54fb-4bd7-8a92-48fafdd00608" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/eastland.png?VersionId=cugp7s9hrMHGJJdYzkeAkrFoQgnF4GXf" />

DKO said the design had been shaped by the site's landscape setting and surrounding open space.

"Our vision for the site embraces its unique Bidjigal identity by blending the residential living with generous landscaping and a material palette inspired by the Bidjigal locality, and celebrating the panoramic views to Botany Bay and the wetlands reserves."

"Taking cues from Country, we seek to harmonise built form with the landscape and lightly touch the earth. By reconnecting, retaining and regenerating existing ecology, and weaving in natural elements, we can deepen our connection to Country."

The landscape strategy extends across the podium and rooftops, incorporating communal gardens, children's play areas, lawns, community gardens, family gathering spaces and extensive tree planting. New landscaped links will also strengthen the connection between the precinct and Jack Mundey Reserve, while publicly accessible open spaces have been integrated throughout the development.

The proposal builds on Conquest's broader placemaking strategy for the site. Through an ongoing partnership, local artist Joe Rashbrook has been appointed Urban Art Curator, working alongside young residents to transform the project's site hoardings into a public art gallery that allows the community to engage with the redevelopment before construction is complete.

Conquest has rapidly expanded its development pipeline since acquiring the Eastlakes site, with more than $6 billion worth of mixed-use projects now in planning across Sydney, including Stanmore, Castlecrag and Waterloo.

Conquest CEO Michael Akkawi said the redevelopment was about far more than replacing a shopping centre.

Mark Bouris

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