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.
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?
Does Trish Power offer personal financial planning advice?
Q: I have met many financial planners including 3 independent ones, but they don’t seem to know much and all said different things. They don’t seem to show interest and care for my retirement.
I’m under 60. Does my super payout also affect my other income, and tax bill?
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.
Do I pay tax on a super account in the last year of accumulation phase?
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?
Does my superannuation pension income affect tax payable on other income?
Q: How does the income from an account-based pension affect taxation payable on other income received from salaries, dividends, capital gains and investments? Or, is there no affect whatsoever regardless of the amount of pension taken in any one year [...]
For your convenience: Income tax rates for the 2011/2012 year
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.
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.
I retired at 59. Do I pay tax on my superannuation lump sum?
Q: I retired in September 2011. I’m now living on a tiny super pension since then of $640 a fortnight. In September 2011, I also received a $15,000 superannuation lump sum. The tax free component of my total superannuation is [...]
