Asset classes: Naming the investment winners for the 2011 calendar year
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.
Top 10 performing super funds for 2011 calendar year
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.
Super funds lose 2% for 2011 year (12 months to December 2011)
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.
8 steps to super success
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 [...]
2012 checklist: 10 super tips for a financially healthy retirement
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.
Is super pension income considered ‘assessable income’ or ‘total income’?
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?
Super contributions beyond the age of 75
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?
Non-concessional contributions at 64
Q: My wife turns 65 in early June 2011 . Can I make a spouse contribution of up to $450,000 before her birthday? Her last non-concessional contribution of $157,711 was made in 2007-08.
Do sale of shares satisfy a work test?
Q: I am 68 years of age. Does assessable income from sale of shares satisfy a work test for concessional contributions to super up to the $50,000 cap, or does one need to have other specific employment income for at least 40 hours to satisfy the work test?
Which financial year do salary sacrifice contributions fall in?
Q: I salary sacrifice into my super. My super contribution for the month of June 2011 is not available to my super fund until July 2011. Will this contribution fall under the 2010 financial year limit or the 2011 financial year limit?
I have exceeded the contributions cap. What can I do?
Q: It seems I have exceeded the contributions cap in 2007-2008 by $6,600 and the ATO has imposed a penalty. Can you provide any guidance on what sort of pleas they would consider?
