The promise of retirement downsizing is a delectable dream: no lawns to mow, a low-maintenance lifestyle, a hefty mortgage paid off, and cash left over for travel and fun. But for many Australians, the reality is a transition “soured by a lot of things that happened along the way,” turning into a “claustrophobic nightmare”. The...
The Bank of Mum and Dad is one of Australia’s biggest lenders, a testament to the generosity of parents helping their children navigate an increasingly unaffordable property market. However, as well-intentioned as this help may be, it is a financial minefield, and emotional decisions without legal and financial advice can lead to costly mistakes—potentially hundreds...
At Hayton Kosky, our goal is to make complex legal processes as clear and straightforward as possible for our clients. We were delighted to receive a glowing 5-star review from a recent client, following the settlement of her new Gateway Bank Reverse Mortgage Access loan, introduced by Seniors First. The client’s feedback, which echoed...
In a landmark development for supported decision-making, the Victorian Government has introduced the Supportive Power of Attorney (SPA) under the Powers of Attorney Act 2014 and the newly updated Powers of Attorney Regulations 2025. This innovative legal tool marks a significant shift toward recognising and enabling the autonomy of people who may need assistance to...
October 27, 2025 It’s the kind of news that sends a chill down the spine of every Australian with a superannuation account. Yesterday, Netwealth, an ASX-listed financial giant with a market cap of nearly $8 billion, formally asked the federal government to use public funds to bail out its members to the tune of $101...
The Silence of a Home Full of Memories The silence in a large family home, once filled with the vibrant chaos of a growing family, can become a heavy, palpable presence. For many adult children, this silence is the soundtrack to a slow-burning anxiety: a parent, now in their 80s or 90s, living alone in...
In our connected world, it’s increasingly common for Victorians to have a footprint that spans the globe. You might own a holiday apartment on the Gold Coast and another in Queenstown, an investment portfolio in New York, or shares in a London-based company. This global reach is exciting, but it adds a layer of complexity...
From banking to booking holidays, our lives have moved online. So, why should estate planning be stuck in the past? The COVID-19 pandemic pushed many aspects of our lives into the digital realm, and the traditionally paper-heavy world of wills and estates was no exception. This shift has sparked a nationwide conversation about electronic wills,...
Estate planning is one of the most important, yet frequently overlooked, aspects of managing your financial affairs. It’s more than just drafting a will; it’s a comprehensive process of arranging your affairs to ensure your assets are managed and distributed according to your wishes, both during your life and after you’ve passed on. For Victorians,...
When Peter and Sue, successful Melbourne professionals with a substantial asset portfolio, sat down to plan their estate, they faced a question that troubles many high-net-worth families: how can we ensure our hard-earned wealth is protected and benefits our children and grandchildren long after we are gone? A simple will just wouldn’t cut it. Their...
