Buddha's words

Buddha's words
My inspiration. We are what we think, All that we are arises from our thoughts, With our thoughts we make the world. Photo copyright Sean Duggan

Monday, September 21, 2015

Do you want a testamentary trust will?



Dear readers

In this day and age when most families have assets worth more than $1 million, it is necessary to think about preparing a testamentary trust will instead of a simple will.


What is the difference? The main issue is asset protection especially from a failed marriage. There is also good tax savings.


Please see the attached slide.


https://www.slideshare.net/raymond_tan/testamentary-trust-wills



Do send me an email if you have any questions at ray@tanandtanlawyers.com

What is a binding financial agreement?

 Dear readers

I seem to be preparing quite a few binding financial agreements recently.

They are like pre nuptials and are very useful if drafted properly so that your assets are protected in the event of a marriage breakdown.

Val Antoff from my office has been great in preparing the slideshow for more information on binding financial agreements.

Have a look at:


http://www.slideshare.net/valantoff/binding-financial-agreements-in-western-australia?next_slideshow=1


Do send me an email if you have any questions at ray@tanandtanlawyers.com

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Volunteering at the Shopfront

Dear readers

Spent another interesting night volunteering at the Shopfront at Maylands.

We nearly could not open shop as there was only me, Brian and Jeannette at the soup kitchen and the safety protocol requires at least 4 persons to open up to receive the homeless.

Luckily 3 more volunteers came in at 6.05 pm.

Jeannette is to be complimented for her volunteering work. She is Irish I believe and has been helping at the Shopfront for over 6 years.

She was the guiding light in the kitchen giving me directions.

We had over 60 visitors today asking for more and more toasties and soup.

The gratifying part is when some of the people we help come and say thank you and good night. Some are demanding expecting charity as their right. Most are aware of their situation and thankful for the soup kitchen.

One actually wrote a poem for the volunteers and I will publish it here,


When I got home my youngest son asked me if I had a warm fuzzy feeling in my heart. Yes, I did, it is good to be able to help the less fortunate. In our world of privilege, it is good to give back.

Good night.

Sunday, August 2, 2015

Seminar on Estate planning at South Perth 13 Aug 2015





Estate Planning Seminar

Presented by your trusted legal advisor

Tan and Tan Lawyers would like to invite you to attend a seminar to discuss your estate planning matters.

Cost of Seminar: A gold coin investment or any amount you wish. The funds will be used to sponsor Raymond Tan in his 7th CEO Sleepout. Raymond sleeps out annually as a homeless lawyer to raise funds for the St Vincent De Paul Society to help WA’s homeless. This is an annual fundraiser and Raymond has taken part for 6 years in a row.

Date of Seminar: Thursday, 13 August 2015 from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Place of Seminar: South Perth Library, Cnr South Tce & Sandgate St, South Perth, WA 6151

Estate planning is crucial to protect your hard earned assets from falling into the wrong hands. The seminar will allow attendees to hear the estate planning tactics used by the rich and famous to protect their assets.

The talk will be for 40 mins followed by questions and answers.

Please send in your email confirmation of attendance by 12 August 2015 as space is limited.

Email to ask@tanandtanlawyers.com to book your seat.



Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Volunteering at the Shopfront

Dear readers

I have been sleeping out as a homeless lawyer for 6 years. That has been gratifying, being able to know that I have helped the homeless through the CEO Sleepout event.

However that is a yearly event and I starting thinking that I can and should do more.

I visited a Chinese man in a nursing home as a community visitor. What started out as a fortnightly visit bringing him Chinese food ended up with me visiting him for over 10 years. I think I may have contributed to Michael's heart condition with all the roast pork I bought him as I could not bear to see him eating the nursing home food.

Anyway, Michael passed way last December. I have felt a hole in my soul since as I believe I should do more social work.

So I volunteered at the Shopfront which is located at Maylands. It opens in the day and at night to provide food and comfort to the homeless and the unfortunate.

Today was my first day as a volunteer and I enjoyed myself. Helping to feed and serve the less fortunate. Looks like this will be my new fortnightly volunteer work.

I was just surprised how much we can feed the visitors to the centre. I was most amazed at bread that was brought in by a donor who owned a bakery. There were piles of bread.

Will update all regarding my volunteer work.

Night.
 

Friday, June 19, 2015

Homeless lawyer

Dear readers


This is the 6th year that I am sleeping as a homeless lawyer to raise funds for the homeless in WA.

This year I dragged in my son's badminton coach and her husband Matt. I have Andy Yuan and Leona Gu too.

They have all done well raising funds and awareness for the homeless.

I was ranked 6th in WA and maybe 19 Australia wide after raising $34000. This was without the usual top up from Minderoo Foundation that has been supporting the sleep out for 5 years. Last year they top up $10000 so that I reach $33000. 

I still managed to raise $34000 without the Minderoo top up. Thanks to Frank and Henry Pua, The Cheahs and Frank Liang who donated $3000 each. So generous of them. 

I was glad that the friends I brought in enjoyed the experience.

However it is not an experience I wish anyone. It was raining tonight and it was difficult finding a safe and dry place to sleep.

Got to sleep now and get ready for breakfast at 6 am. That is a luxury the homeless do not get.

Night.

Raymond Tan


Thursday, June 18, 2015

Registrations













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Homeless lawyer at WACA

















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Last dinner before braving sleepout


Having dinner at caffeitalia at hay st before registering for the sleepout. It is raining outside.







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Location:Hay Street,East Perth,Australia

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

CEO Sleepout and the Korean magazine plus Tan and Tan Lawyers celebrate 5 years at Terrace Rd



Dear readers

Got some publicity on the Korean press re the sleepout but have no idea what they are saying. Any Koreans who can translate?








Tan and Tan Lawyers also celebrated 5 years at Terrace Rd. We had a lunch at the park. Now, how many law firms can do that. The weather was great and we had some clients enjoy the lunch with us including a Perth park ranger.





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Monday, June 1, 2015

The 2015 CEO Sleepout

Dear readers,

Do you feel the cold? It is getting colder and colder each night. I am reminded of how the homeless in WA survive in the cold and the wet. This year I am taking part in my 6th CEO Sleepout to raise funds for the homeless in WA.

Last year I got 4 other Asian CEOs to take part with me and they were all males.  This year I have Lily Chen, Leona Gu, and Yu Li Zheng to keep me company while we raise funds for the homeless. Matt Posa will also accompany us as we try and raise as much as possible for the WA homeless.

Please see here an article about the Asian CEOs.


Friday, May 29, 2015

Article re Asians CEOs at sleepout




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Wednesday, May 20, 2015

More announcements regarding the Significant Investor Visa and the Premium Investor Visa



Summary of the announcement made by the Dept of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) on the Significant Investment Visa (SIV) and the Premium Investor Visa (PIV)


The DIBP has made an announcement on 15 May 2015 regarding the complying investment framework for the SIV and the PIV. 

1.     Elements that apply to all investments for the SIV and the PIV

·       The funds must be unencumbered and lawfully acquired;
·       Investors are required to reinvest funds within 30 days of withdrawing them from a complying investment or cancelling the investment in order for the investment to continue to be complying;
·       Direct investment into residential real estate is excluded and indirect exposure through investment vehicles is to be restricted to less than 10 % of a vehicle’s net assets; and
·       Exclude “loan back” arrangements where the investment is used as collateral by investors.

2.     Complying investment framework that only apples to the SIV

There are two mandatory investment components and one balancing investment component:
  • At least $500,000 in eligible Australian venture capital or growth private equity fund(s) investing in start-up and small private companies. The Government expects to increase this to $1 million for new applications within two years as the market responds;
  • At least $1.5 million in an eligible managed fund(s) or Listed Investment Companies (LICs) that invest in emerging companies listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX); and
The balancing component:
  • A ‘balancing investment’ of up to $3 million in managed fund(s) or LICs that invest in a combination of eligible assets that include other ASX listed companies, eligible corporate bonds or notes, annuities and real property (subject to the 10 per cent limit on residential real estate). 

What about the PIV requirements?

It is still very much a work in progress as far as the government is concerned.

They have decided the following will apply at least:

·       There are no mandatory  complying investment components with which the PIV must comply;
·       The Austrade will take the role to nominate the PIV applicant. Austrade will assess the nomination application against the criteria based on entrepreneurial skill or talent and ongoing benefit to Australia and character/ integrity check.  the PIV can only be applied for by invitation of Australian government.
·       It is not clear how Austrade will headhunt or invite the PIV applicant?

What must the PIV invest in?

On the first reading, it seems the PIV can invest in the following areas as complying investment: 

(a)   Australian securities exchange listed assets;
(b)  Australian government or semi-government bonds or notes(NB: the SIV is not allowed to invest in Australian government bonds under the new framework);
(c)   Corporate bonds or notes issued by an Australian exchange listed entity
(d)  Australian proprietary limited companies;
(e)   Real property in Australia excluding residential property (NB: the SIV is allowed to indirectly invest in residential property with no more than $500,000);
(f)   Deferred annuities issued by Australian registered life companies; and
(g)  S&T government approved philanthropic donation. 

There is no indication yet from Austrade as to what percentage of the fund the PIV must invest in the above mentioned areas. 

So we wait a bit more to see the process will develop.