You can expect some difficult conversations between employers and employees in coming months as some salaried employees discover that the Superannuation Guarantee (SG) increase of 0.25% (taking the SG rate to 9.25%) will not benefit those employees on fixed remuneration packages. I have heard that … [Read more...]
Note: This article is written by Ashley Owen, Joint Chief Executive Officer of Philo Capital Advisers and a director of Third Link Investment Managers. This article first appeared on Cuffelinks.com.au, reproduced with permission. There’s a never-ending debate about income inequality and how … [Read more...]
From 1 July 2013, the official Age Pension age for women increases to 65 years, from 64.5 years previously. (From July 2017, the Age Pension age increases to 65.5 years until it reaches age 67 from July 2023.) Historically, the Age Pension age for women was 60 years, but since 1 July 1995, only … [Read more...]
If you own financial investments and receive the Age Pension, or you hope to claim the Age Pension, then you need to be aware of 2 important changes to the deeming rules for the Age Pension income test. These changes may mean that you’re eligible for a greater Age Pension entitlement. From 1 … [Read more...]
Note: This article is updated regularly when new financial advisers join the independence club (latest update June 2013). A financial adviser does not have to be a member of the IFAAA to join the SuperGuide list, provided they can declare that they satisfy the requirements of being an independent … [Read more...]
The upper asset thresholds for the Age Pension assets test lift again on 1 July 2013, which means more Australians may now be eligible for the PART Age Pension. A single person can own more than $735,000 in assets (excluding his or her home), and still receive a small PART Age Pension, while a … [Read more...]
In March, July and September of each year, the Federal Government changes the rules for claiming the Age Pension… for the better! The Age Pension income test and the Age Pension assets test are adjusted three times a year in line with increases in the Consumer Price Index. From 1 July 2013, the … [Read more...]
The upper income thresholds for the Age Pension income test lift again on 1 July 2013, which means more Australians are now eligible for the part Age Pension. A single person can earn just over $46,000 a year, and still receive a PART Age Pension, while a couple can earn just over $70,000 a year and … [Read more...]
The question is a popular one among prospective retirees, and the answer can be best explained by dividing the question into four parts: What is the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC)? Who is eligible for the CSHC? What year of income does Centrelink use when testing for CSHC … [Read more...]
Note: Starting date for the potential ban on off-market share transfers has now been deferred indefinitely (from its original start date of 1 July 2012, and then the later start date of 1 July 2013). At the time of writing, the federal government had not made a formal announcement confirming the … [Read more...]
This article is updated annually with new rates, or periodically to highlight changes (if any) to the Senior Australians & Pensioners Tax Offset (SAPTO) rules. This article includes SATO rates for the 2013/2014, 2012/2013, 2011/2012, 2010/2011, 2009/2010 and 2008/2009 years. Since 1 July 2012, … [Read more...]
Nearly 5 years ago, SuperGuide embarked on a long and arduous mission. We decided that we wanted to find every independent financial adviser in Australia, and to give these advisers an opportunity to let SuperGuide readers know that they exist. For the past 4 years or so we have published a list … [Read more...]
In early 2013, SuperGuide published two articles which triggered a lot of emails from readers, especially from women, about the financial demands placed on older women, and the financial denial many women and men experience when thinking about the lifestyle they are expecting in retirement. A … [Read more...]
Note: This article is a supporting article to the two-part series, ‘Crunching the numbers: a $1 million retirement’ and ‘Crunching the numbers: a $2 million retirement’ (links for these articles are set out at the end of the article). If you live off the earnings only from your invested … [Read more...]
Note: SuperGuide will keep you regularly updated on the superannuation policies announced by the major political parties, right up to when the federal election is held on 14 September 2013. From that date, we will then explore what the party in power has in store for us, in terms of superannuation … [Read more...]
