Ally Wealth Management

If you’re an Australian living in the UK with an investment property back home, don’t assume the tax treatment is straightforward.

Since the UK tax changes from 6 April 2025, your Australian property can sit at the intersection of two tax systems.

Rental income.

Interest deductions.

Capital gains.

Estate planning.

None of these should be looked at in isolation.

The key is understanding how the UK and Australian rules interact before you sell, refinance or restructure anything.

The biggest retirement mistake isn’t always having too little.

It’s focusing on net worth instead of income.

We meet plenty of Australian expats across the globe with impressive balance sheets.

$3 million in property.

$200,000 in the bank.

Another $500,000 in shares.

On paper, they look wealthy.

But retirement doesn’t run on net worth.
It runs on cash flow.

You still need money every year for:
→ Housing
→ Travel
→ Healthcare
→ Family
→ Day-to-day living
→ The lifestyle you actually want

That’s why I think a better retirement question is:
“How much annual income does our portfolio need to produce?”

Then work backwards.

Because having $3 million tied up in assets can feel very different from having a portfolio deliberately structured to fund the next 30 years.

The goal isn’t just to retire with a big number.

It’s to make sure that number can support the life you want.

Father’s Day is a reminder of something easy to miss.

Our kids are growing up at the exact same time our parents are getting older.

Life gets busy.

Work. School. Travel. Family commitments.

And it’s easy to assume there will always be another chance to make the call, book the trip, ask the question, hear the story.

But some of the most valuable things in life have nothing to do with money.

The ordinary moments.

The family stories.

The videos you almost didn’t take.

The time spent together.

We spend a lot of time helping people plan for the future.

But good planning should also create the freedom to enjoy the people who matter while you can.

Happy Father’s Day from everyone at Ally Wealth

What would you do differently if you knew you were moving back to Australia in exactly five years?

That one date can change a lot.

How much cash you keep.

How you invest.

What you do with super.

Whether you buy, sell or retain property.

And how you prepare for Australian tax residency again.

A good repatriation plan is usually built backwards from the life you want to return to.

Five years gives you time.

And time gives you options.

Three years of making a REAL difference.

Today we’re celebrating William Cant’s 3-year anniversary with Ally Wealth.

Over that time, Will has become an integral part of our team and, more importantly, a trusted adviser to so many of our clients across the globe.

We’re incredibly grateful for the care, energy and commitment he brings every day.

Congratulations on three years, Will, and here’s to many more.

The latest episode of the Money Side Up podcast is out.

The 2026-27 Federal Budget has introduced some of the most significant changes to property taxation, Capital Gains Tax (CGT) and negative gearing in decades.

In Episode 29 of the Money Side Up Podcast, Senior Adviser Joel Kerin and co-host Jarrad are joined by tax specialist Bradley Murphy of Murphy Tax Lawyers and Advisors to discuss what these changes could mean for Australian expats, property investors and those planning to return home in the future.

Key topics include:
→ The impact of the proposed CGT and negative gearing reforms
→ Property market implications for expats
→ Strategic planning opportunities and risks
→ Superannuation considerations under the new rules
→ Practical actions investors should consider now

If you're an Australian living overseas, investing in Australian property, or planning your return home, this episode provides valuable insights to help you stay informed and prepared.

Check it out with the links below.

Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/episode-29-2026-27-australian-budget-impact-for-australian/id1751279090?i=1000787252698

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Rx1Na1bTUG5siY4Fv7KrZ?si=bZL7KJycRQKW_P9u7SOfzA

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2F9iIINAC3A

Ep 29 | 2026-27 Australian Budget Impact for Expats Episode 29 - 2026-27 Australian Budget Impact for Australian Expats...

A UK ISA may be tax-free while you’re living in the UK.

But that doesn’t mean Australia will treat it the same way when you move home.

Once you become an Australian tax resident again, the tax treatment can change materially, including on future income and capital gains.

So one of the key questions to ask is this.

“Where am I likely to live long term, and how should this investment be structured before I return?”

For Australian expats in the UK, planning should start before boarding the flight back to Australia.

Living in Singapore doesn’t mean you need to invest in Singapore.

Many Australian expats confuse where they invest with where they’re taxed.

You can live in Singapore, invest through the ASX, hold Australian shares or ETFs, and still have your capital gains treated based on your tax residency.

As a non-tax resident of Australia, capital gains tax in Australia doesn't apply.

This allows Australian expats to build a truly global portfolio and manage their FX risk.

The first $100,000 you save as an expat probably shouldn’t be treated the same way as the next $100,000.

And that distinction matters.

For many Australian expats, the first chunk of savings should serve as security:

→ Emergency reserves
→ Repatriation costs if you need to move home
→ A future home deposit
→ Ongoing international school fees
→ Short-term uncertainty

That money often needs to stay relatively liquid.

But once those foundations are covered, the job of the next $100,000 can change.

That money may be better directed towards:

→ Long-term investments
→ Retirement savings
→ Super, where appropriate
→ Mortgage reduction
→ Wealth creation strategies

The mistake we often see is treating every dollar like the first dollar.

Everything stays in cash because they're not sure how long they'll be overseas for.

And before they know it, years have passed and a large amount of capital is sitting idle.

The goal is to make sure each dollar is doing the job you actually need it to do.

Liquidity first.

Then growth.