Superannuation Planning & Advice Articles

SUPERANNUATION PLANNING & ADVICE

How much super should I have?

It’s all very well having retirement savings as a financial goal, but just how much should you plan to have in your super balance now, and when you retire? Above […]

According to a recent survey *, Australians tend to underestimate the amount of money needed in our retirement years by as much as 20%. Survey respondents, including active Australian investors, revealed […]

When is a good time to retire?

There has been much social and political debate since the federal government proposed pushing out the age at which Australians can access the age pension. Although most occupations don’t have […]

Downsize your home, upsize your super

Over 65? Thinking of selling your home? From 1 July 2018 you may be able to contribute up to $300,000 ($600,000 for a couple) from the proceeds of the sale […]

Early access to super

We all know that our superannuation is there to provide for our financial needs in retirement. That means we can’t usually access our super until we reach preservation age and […]

The role of estate planning in super

If you are thinking that a so called ‘Self-Managed’ superannuation fund (SMSF) might be suitable for you, one of the critical areas to address in the set-up phase is how […]

5 step superannuation check

Since you can’t access your superannuation until you reach a “Condition of release” which is for most people is retirement and that may be a long way off for some […]

The future for retirement

Research over recent years suggests that the secret to a long and healthy life is to continue working and to stay in control of your finances and life. The nature […]

Accessing super and qualifying age for the age pension

There is no strict retirement age in Australia. For many people, the age at which they consider retiring from the workforce is generally decided by a couple of factors: The […]

5 Strategies to prepare for the pension assets test changes

There are a number of strategies that retirees can implement to help them retain or improve their cash flow when changes to the pension assets test take effect. Over 300,000 […]

Seven habits of highly effective investors

by Russell Investments If you’re feeling a little bombarded by news about the US and Australian elections, Brexit fallout, RBA interest rate cuts, anaemic global growth—you’re not alone. In a […]

Super or the mortgage – a case study

Many people wait until their home loan is paid off before investing more in super. However, if you are currently making more than the minimum home loan repayments, you may […]

Insurance in super – is your cover adequate?

You have insurance cover in your superannuation right? You probably think you’re adequately covered, yet if something were to happen to you, you might be in for an unpleasant surprise […]

Important changes to the age pension in 2017

From 1 January 2017, there are some important age pension changes that could impact your benefits and warrant some pre-emptive action. What’s changing? The lower asset threshold that determines your […]

Closing the super savings gap

While as a nation we collectively face a large retirement savings gap, there are a number of smart things you could consider doing to help make sure your future financial […]