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  • Downsizing your home and the Age Pension

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    Downsizing your home and the Age Pension
    May 14, 2013 - In the 2013 Federal Budget, the government announced a pilot program to assist senior Australians to downsize to a home more suitable to their needs without reducing their Age Pension entitlements. - Read more
  • Super Charter and Council of Custodians: Have your say by 21 June 2013

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    Super Charter and Council of Custodians: Have your say by 21 June 2013
    May 14, 2013 - In April 2013, the federal government announced that it intends to establish a Council of Superannuation Custodians. This Council will monitor a proposed Charter of Superannuation Adequacy and Sustainability, and assess future superannuation policy against this Charter. - Read more
  • Temporary concessional cap for over-60s from July 2013

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    Temporary concessional cap for over-60s from July 2013
    May 14, 2013 - The federal government will be introducing a temporary concessional cap for over-60s from 1 July 2013, which will also apply to over-50s from 1 July 2014. Draft legislation has been prepared for this change. - Read more
  • Say goodbye to 2015/2016 income tax cuts

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    Say goodbye to 2015/2016 income tax cuts
    May 14, 2013 - Due to a budget blowout caused by “an over-hang from the global financial crisis and strong Australian dollar”, the federal government has informally announced (drip fed via a series of casual comments in various interviews) that the income tax cuts, that were to take effect from 1 July 2015, are no longer going to happen. - Read more
  • Medicare Levy increase helps pay for NDIS

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    Medicare Levy increase helps pay for NDIS
    May 10, 2013 - The National Disability Insurance Scheme is going to become a reality with a guaranteed financial contribution sourced directly from taxpayers, and promised contributions from the states of Australia. Bravo to the federal government, state governments and to the individuals and organisations who helped make this happen. Meeting the complex lifetime daily needs of a diverse [...] - Read more
  • Super funds gain 12.9% for year to date (and 4.5% for 3 months to March 2013)

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    Super funds gain 12.9% for year to date (and 4.5% for 3 months to March 2013)
    April 23, 2013 - The median superannuation growth fund gained 4.5% in value for the 3 months to March 2013 (and 12.9% for the first 9 months of this financial year), with shares and listed property being the stand-out asset classes, according to rating company Chant West. - Read more
  • 2013 Federal Election: new super changes summary (April 2013)

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    2013 Federal Election: new super changes summary (April 2013)
    April 5, 2013 - On 5 April 2013, federal treasurer Wayne Swan, and Minister for financial services and superannuation, Bill Shorten announced a bucket of changes to the existing super arrangements. - Read more

How super works

Covers the most popular questions on how superannuation works, including how to find lost super, how much money is enough, and simple step-by-step superannuation guides.

Super for beginners: Top 10 must-know facts

Super for beginners: Top 10 must-know facts

  • 10 super tips for a financially healthy retirement
  • Women and super: A worry-free financial future in 6 steps
  • Free retirement planning assistance now available
  • Accessing super early: 12 legal reasons to cash your super
  • Fund choice: Comparing super funds in 8 steps

See all articles in How super works

Super & Tax

Find out how your superannuation is taxed including what happens if you retire before the age of 60, how the earnings on your super savings are taxed, how your super contributions are taxed, and much more.

Super for beginners, part 15: Super tax – as easy as 1-2-3

Super for beginners, part 15: Super tax – as easy as 1-2-3

  • Who can make tax-deductible super contributions?
  • Capital gains: Reducing tax via super contributions
  • I’m 59 and I have $180,000 in super. Will my super be taxed?
  • Tax-free super: what happens when I start a pension just before turning 60?
  • No tax in retirement because you SATO
  • Estate planning: Dear Dad, Tax for everything

See all articles in Super & Tax

Comparing super funds

Which super fund is most suitable for you? Find out how to compare funds, where to find the latest information on fund performance, and discover the important features of super funds.

Comparing super funds: Who’s who in the super zoo

Comparing super funds: Who’s who in the super zoo

  • Fund choice: Comparing super funds in 8 steps
  • Top 10 performing super funds for 2012 calendar year, and for past decade
  • Top 10 performing super funds for 2011/2012 year
  • Investment performance: We’re the best super fund. No, we’re the best…
  • Check out the cheapest super funds
  • 10 handy uses for the APRA200 performance list

See all articles in Comparing super funds

Boost your super

Find out how much your employer must pay into your super fund, how much you can contribute, the tax-free bonus the Government gives you and other contribution strategies.

Super concessional contributions: 2011/2012 survival guide

Super concessional contributions: 2012/2013 survival guide

  • Your 2012/2013 guide to non-concessional (after-tax) contributions
  • Cashing in on the co-contribution rules (2012/2013 year)
  • Do I have to be working to make super contributions?
  • Find lost super in 4 steps, and make quick cash
  • Non-concessional contributions: Re-contribution strategy still applies

See all articles in Boost your super

Popular superannuation topics

Age Pension Concessional contributions How much super do I need? Industry funds Investment performance Is my super fund performing? Making superannuation contributions Non-concessional contributions Salary sacrifice Superannuation Guarantee (SG) Superannuation Q and As Top 10 Super Lists Women and super

Retirement planning

Retirement planning covers how much super is enough, planning for retirement, boosting your super, starting an income stream, claiming the Age Pension, and lots more.

Free retirement planning assistance now available

Free retirement planning assistance now available

  • Women and super: A worry-free financial future in 6 steps
  • A comfortable retirement: How much super is enough?
  • Setting a retirement target: Living on more than $56,000 a year
  • Crunching the numbers: a $1 million retirement
  • Retirement: Why can’t $1 million last forever?
  • How $1 million can last longer than you

See all articles in Retirement planning

SMSFs

This section is for Australians running self-managed super funds, covering the current issues facing SMSF trustees, setting up, running and investing in your SMSF.

SMSF: How much does a DIY super fund cost?

SMSF: How much does a DIY super fund cost?

  • SMSF trustee declaration: a quick guide
  • Oops! Top 10 SMSF boo-boos
  • How do I find a SMSF provider?
  • SMSF pensions: How do I start one?
  • How can a SMSF live forever?
  • SMSF confidential: the inside story on DIY super funds
  • SMSF pension: Can I still make super contributions?

See all articles in SMSFs

Accessing superannuation

Find out how to legally access your super, including what happens before the age of 60, or you relocate overseas, or you want to withdraw your super to cover your mortgage or other bills.

Accessing super early: 12 legal reasons to cash your super

Accessing super early: 12 legal reasons to cash your super

  • If I retire before 60, when can I access my super?
  • I’m leaving Australia: Can I access my super?
  • Transition-to-retirement pension: How does a TRIP work?
  • What a relief! Minimum pension payments reduced by 25% for 2011/2012 and 2012/2013
  • Peace of mind, at a cost: 10 things to know about annuities

See all articles in Accessing superannuation

The SOAPBOX

The must-read section of SuperGuide. These popular and compelling columns generate debate about issues affecting Australians planning for retirement, or living in retirement.

Surviving the post-GFC era: 10 super strategies

Surviving the post-GFC era: 10 super strategies

  • Swan attack – freeze contributions caps and halve co-contributions
  • Monkeys* stop women taking control of super
  • Guest contributor: How $1 million can last longer than you
  • That’s not fair! (No 1): Salary sacrifice can cause a SG pay cut
  • Financial advice: Only 16 (10 + 4 + 2) independent financial advisers in Australia
  • Gearing can be the means, but not the end

See all articles in The SOAPBOX

Welcome to SuperGuide

  • SuperGuide was founded by Trish Power, author of Superannuation for Dummies, DIY Super for Dummies, and Super Freedom. SuperGuide is the only independent website for consumers on superannuation in Australia, and it’s free.
  • You can find more than 500 articles about superannuation on SuperGuide. You can also discover whether your super fund is a top performer by checking out the SuperGuide Super Funds Guide. If you’re looking for any type of super expert, why not visit our SuperGuide Directory

Featuring all the latest information on superannuation, including Q&As and tips.

  • View April 2013 newsletter
  • View previous newsletters
  • Learn how to use SuperGuide

2012/2013 Contributions Guides

  • Concessional contributions
  • Non-concessional contributions
  • Co-contributions

Age-based superannuation guides

  • Super Guide for under 18s
  • Super Guide for your 20s, 30s and 40s
  • Super Guide for your 50s
  • Super Guide for your 60s
  • Super Guide for your 70s and over

Popular superannuation topics

  • 2013 Federal Budget
  • 10 ways to save your super
  • 10 more ways to boost your super
  • Superannuation for Beginners
  • How much super do I need?
  • Is my super fund performing?
  • Top 10 Super Lists
  • Must-read superannuation articles
  • Women and superannuation
  • Age Pension
  • Superannuation Guarantee (SG)
  • Superannuation Q&As

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Recent articles

  • Downsizing your home and the Age Pension May 14, 2013
  • Super Charter and Council of Custodians: Have your say by 21 June 2013 May 14, 2013
  • Temporary concessional cap for over-60s from July 2013 May 14, 2013
  • Say goodbye to 2015/2016 income tax cuts May 14, 2013
  • New concessional cap for over-60s, and for over-50s May 14, 2013
  • Superannuation Guarantee increases to 12%, eventually May 14, 2013
  • Concessional contributions caps: 10 facts you should know May 14, 2013
  • Australian income tax rates for the 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 years May 11, 2013
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All information on SuperGuide.com.au is intended only as a guide.

It is important to seek professional accredited financial advice when considering whether the information is suitable to your personal circumstances.

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About SuperGuide

SuperGuide is Australia's only INDEPENDENT website for consumers on superannuation.

SuperGuide was founded by Trish Power, author of Superannuation for Dummies, DIY Super for Dummies, Super Freedom, and many other books on super and investing.

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  • Books by Trish Power
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