Diversification was the key message for 2011, according to Warren Chant of rating company, Chant West. He says that the strong performance of unlisted assets has had a stabilising effect on fund returns in 2011.
Investment returns/losses for the growth investment options within super funds ranged from a low of -4.8% through to a high of 2.6%, according to figures released by rating company Chant West.
The median superannuation growth fund lost 2% in value for the 2011 calendar year, although the median fund is sitting on a gain of 2% for the 3 months to December 2011, according to rating company Chant West.
Use this list as a kick-start for your 2012 super resolutions. You may not keep all of your resolutions, but if you do just a handful of the tasks listed in the checklist below, you can strengthen the chances of a financially secure retirement.
Super is a concessionally taxed investment vehicle, which means the rate of tax that you pay on your personal income generally influences any decision that you make regarding your super savings. For your convenience we have included the latest income tax rates.
Q: If the SG contribution age limit is being removed completely effective July 2013, does this mean that additional concessional or non-concessional contributions can also be made by those aged over 75?
Merely thinking about your super means you’re straddling the first major hurdle that most Australians face when planning (or not) for their retirement and looking into your future. As an employee, you have your employer helping you with your retirement [...]
Q: Can you clarify whether income from a pension (from a taxed and/or untaxed super fund) is considered ‘assessable income’ and/or part of ‘total income’? Is it considered self employment income or employer income?
Q: On April 1 2011 I transferred from accumulation phase to pension phase (I turned 65 on March 27 2011). Is my super fund subject to tax (this tax year) on income earned up until the date of conversion or is no tax payable because the fund has been converted to allocated pension?
Q: I turn 55 soon and I am eligible for a super payout of $150,554 next month of which only the $554 is taxable at 16%. However I still intend to keep working and wondered how this will affect the tax payable on my super.
Q: I’m a pensioner with one investment property in Tasmania, which I sold a month ago been sell out. My question is how capital gains is calculated for a pensioner? I don’t know anything about this, so could you please [...]
My portfolio looks like heresy when measured against the orthodox modern diversified portfolio designed to manage risk, but I believe that my large asset allocation to Australian shares is actually a smart approach to ensuring the money does not run out over a 30-year retirement.