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...]
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: This article is regularly updated with new figures to allow readers to compare what a $2 million retirement can deliver if retirement savings are invested with returns of 7% a year, or if invested on retirement with returns of 5% each year. If you opt for a 5% investment return, rather than, … [Read more...]
Note: This article is regularly updated with new figures (in particular the effects of Age Pension changes), to allow readers to compare what a $1 million retirement can deliver if retirement savings are invested with returns of 7% each year, or if invested on retirement with returns of 5% a year. … [Read more...]
Note: This article is updated regularly with the latest lifestyle/income data. The most recent data was released in May 2013 (for lifestyle costs as at March 2013), and includes Age Pension rates effective from March 2013 (until September 2013). Due to reader demand and the current market … [Read more...]
Note: This article is updated regularly with the latest lifestyle/income data, and latest Age Pension rates. The most recent data was released in May 2013 (for lifestyle costs up to March 2013) and includes March 2013 Age Pension rates (which apply until September 2013). Due to reader demand and the … [Read more...]
Q: I’m looking for information on an approximate breakdown of how many Australian financial advisers are part of a dealer group, and how many are operating by themselves as individual businesses. I’ve asked ASIC, FAA and the FPA and I can’t get an answer. Looking through the ABS stats it also … [Read more...]
Note: Every few months or so, we update this article with the latest performance data on superannuation funds (and pension funds) issued by SuperRatings, SelectingSuper, ChantWest and the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA). This article contains the latest data for investment … [Read more...]
For the 2011/2012 year, the ATO supervisory levy for self-managed super funds has increased from $180 to $200. The levy hike is an 11% increase from the previous financial year, and a massive 400% increase from the ATO levy that was payable 5 years ago. In the 2012 Federal budget, hidden in the … [Read more...]
Note: This article reports that the most unlikely people can be victims of investment scams. SuperGuide suggests that it is not only the scams you have to watch out for – being mis-sold legitimate but high-risk investments can be just as probable, and a lot more costly as the failed investments in … [Read more...]
Q: The investment return on my super fund account doesn’t seem to compare with the investment returns that I read about in the newspapers. Are the newspapers wrong, or am I in a rubbish super fund? A: Every month or two (or more recently, every week it seems) the media reports the … [Read more...]
Q: I'm new to Australia and I have no idea where to start with my super in order to have the best outcome 40 years from now. So far, I have had my super spread between 3 industry super funds, as organised by temp employment agencies. I know this is not the way to continue, but I am not sure who to … [Read more...]
On 8 May 2012, Federal Treasurer Mr Wayne Swan released the 2012/2013 Federal Budget promising to deliver a $1.5 billion surplus. Mr Swan announced the following superannuation-related changes: Super contributions surcharge for high-income earners. Doubling of the contributions tax to 30% … [Read more...]
In what must be one of the more embarrassing (and unacceptable) situations for the financial planning industry, a study was released in late March 2012 that found only 3% of financial plans were considered ‘good’. Oh dear! Not great timing, especially since the financial planning industry is … [Read more...]
This article is updated every few months with the latest lifestyle/income data. The most recent data was released on 15 November 2011 (for lifestyle costs as at September 2011). You’re thinking about your retirement and worried about whether you’ll have enough money to live the life you want, … [Read more...]
