No early super access for business debts or tax bills
Q: I am a small business owner in the incubus stage. I have just submitted my taxes for the first time in 3 years as the struggle to keep a small business alive has left me working to live. I [...]
Accessing super early: Not for business debts
Q: I am in partnership in a franchise business that needs some financial input at this time. We have been struggling since the beginning of the recent financial crisis, and have fallen behind on rent and we are just managing to keep up with service providers.
Cooper Review: Our Government’s four-pronged response
‘Stronger Super’ is the catch-cry heralding in the Federal Government’s response to the Cooper Review report on the superannuation system.
Should I retire? I’m unemployed and have debt
Q: I’m 59 years of age and in March I lost my job. I have since been trying to find work but due to my age I’m finding it excessively hard. After much discussion with my wife we have decided that the best option would be for me to retire. As she earns a decent wage, I am unable to receive government assistance…
Labor’s gone long term on super
The Australian Labor Party’s superannuation and retirement policies are reasonably well-known.
Cooper Review: Top 10 recommendations from final report
On 5 July, the Government released the final report of the Super System Review (Cooper Review). Although there won’t be an official response on the final report for several weeks, the Superannuation Minister…
SMSFs: Can I purchase health insurance within my DIY super fund?
Q: I have searched the web and the ATO site to determine if we can have our SMSF pay health insurance premiums for members. Can we buy health insurance for fund members? The short answer is no. Health insurance cover is not considered to fit within the definition of the sole purpose test.
Gone missing! Have you checked your super lately?
If you have a few spare moments, I suggest you contact your superannuation fund and ask the person on the other end of the phone to verify your superannuation account balance, and confirm that no one has withdrawn any of your super cash lately.
SMSFs: More money for Superannuation Complaints Tribunal
In the latest preliminary report from the Super System Review (SSR) (see article SMSFs: Nothing exotic or personal says Cooper Review), the SSR recommends that the Superannuation Complains Tribunal (SCT) have a greater role to play in the resolution of complaints over death benefit payments.
Warning: APRA suspends trustee of 4 super funds
If you’re a member of one of the following super funds, then you need to read this article. Astarra Superannuation Plan, Astarra Personal Pension Plan, My Retirement Plan, (including subplans – Seagrims Retirement Plan, TIC Super, and Titanium Retirement Fund), Employers Federation of NSW Superannuation Plan.
THE SOAPBOX: Defending decent SMSF trustees
Based on the bagging that DIY super trustees have received in the media recently from government and certain sectors of the superannuation industry, you may be thinking that taking control of your retirement savings via a self-managed super fund (SMSF) [...]
