Help! How can we find independent investment advice?
Question: My husband and I are looking to start a SMSF. We have been able to find sources for the set up, accounting and audit of the fund and are now looking for assistance on the portfolio.
Transition-to-retirement pension: Can I work full-time and take a TRIP?
Question: Your site says: “By starting a TRIP, you don’t have to retire to withdraw your super benefits. You can work part-time or full-time or even casually.” But on the TRIP form I have from my super fund it says I have to be permanently retired or be working part time. Which is correct?
Super in 3 steps: You’re probably richer than you think
Here’s a tip: a quick and easy way to feel instantly richer is to take the following 3 steps: 1. Find out how much money you have sitting in your superannuation account; 2. Locate any lost or forgotten super accounts; 3. Consolidate your super accounts, and potentially save thousands of dollars.
Who can make tax-deductible super contributions?
If you’re self-employed or not employed, you can claim a tax deduction for your super contributions. An individual under the age of 18 however can only claim a tax deduction for super contributions when his or her income comes from gainful employment, such as carrying on a business.
A case study: I’m 53. Is it too late to save for my retirement?
Q: I am 53 years old. I do not contribute to super and I have never been a saver. I have just paid off my unit. I earn only $37,000 a year, so I have never had a highly paid job.
Tax-free super for over-60s
If you’re aged 60 and retired, you can receive your superannuation benefits tax-free — as a lump sum or as an income stream (regular payments over a period of time). It sounds incredible but it is certainly true. You can enjoy a tax-free income in retirement assuming you have sufficient super savings to deliver you that regular income in retirement.
Super for beginners, part 24: Do I have to withdraw my super when I turn 65?
Q: I turned 60 in June 2007. I retired, sold my large house, downgraded, invested spare money into my super believing I would be making $25,000 per year until age 65. One month after I invested, I lost $50,000 just like that.
Updated life tables: Is the tide shifting for Australian life expectancies?
Australians born today are expected to live longer than Aussies born five years earlier, on average, according to the Australian Life Tables 2002-2007 (released by the Australian Government Actuary). The prospect of a longer life doesn’t see to apply however if you’re a woman in your eighties or nineties.
Are you eligible for a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card?
The question is a popular one among prospective retirees, and the answer can be best explained by dividing the question into four parts.
Super for beginners, part 17: Four must-knows about super’s tax rules
If it were not for tax, superannuation wouldn’t exist.
Co-contributions: Can I claim the tax-free bonus for the financial year that I retire?
Q: I’m aged 69 and I will retire in December 2010. Am I entitled to make a deposit into my super fund and receive the Government co-contribution for the 2010/2011 year?
