Age Pension rates, Seniors Health Card, Independent financial advice, SMSF investment
Welcome to the September 2018 edition of the SuperGuide Premium newsletter. Highlights include:
- AGE PENSION RATES: New rates apply from 20 September 2018. Find out how much you could be eligible for with our Age Pension calculator.
- COMMONWEALTH SENIORS HEALTH CARD: The income thresholds for the CSHC have also been raised. Learn more about the benefits of the card, and how to apply
- INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVICE: SuperGuide has been tracking Australia’s truly independent financial advisers since 2010. Sadly there are far fewer than there should be. Find out who is on the list from your state.
- SMSF INVESTMENT: We look at the assets that are most popular with SMSF trustees, and how in specie transfers work.
- LIFECYCLE SUPER FUNDS: These present a different approach for super fund members to set and forget. They are designed to match your risk profile to your age, but how do they perform compared to standard super funds?
THE SOAPBOX
How to get your super in shape for retirement
As retirement nears, setting your super on the right path is more important than ever.
Writing your SMSF investment strategy (including templates)
As an SMSF trustee, your fund’s investment strategy is one of the most important documents you will ever create so it’s important to get it right.
FEATURES
Commonwealth Seniors Health Card: Eligibility and how to apply
Our updated guide which now features a thorough video explainer, detailing the main benefits, the income thresholds and tips on how to apply.
Which asset classes are popular with SMSFs?
Control and flexibility are popular reasons for starting an SMSF, and a close look at where trustees are investing shows they are making good use of these attributes.
Division 293 super tax explained (including calculator)
High-income earners pay extra tax on their concessional super contributions, so it’s important to understand the rules.
In your 50s or younger? The super rules that apply to you
When you reach your 50s, it’s time to get serious about your super, so here’s the key super rules for your age group.
MAKING SUPER CONTRIBUTIONS
Non-concessional super contributions guide (2025–26)
Making a personal contribution into your super can be a great way to boost your retirement nest egg and enjoy the tax-effective benefits of the super system.
Making super contributions after age 60: Even in retirement
If you have cash to spare or receive a windfall, there are many ways you can add to your super later in life, even if you are no longer working.
Managing capital gains tax in your SMSF
It’s possible to reduce or even eliminate the amount of tax your fund pays on asset sales with these simple strategies.
In specie transfers and SMSFs: What you need to know
If you’ve ever wondered if you can transfer shares or a business property into your SMSF, the answer is yes but strict rules apply.
AGE PENSION CHANGES
Age Pension rates (March 2026 to September 2026)
Age Pension rates are rising again. Check the latest rates for singles, couples and transitional pensions and learn what you may be entitled to.
Age Pension calculator (March 2026 update)
Our Age Pension calculator gives you an estimate of your potential Age Pension entitlements based on your situation, assets and income.
What is the Age Pension age?
The age at which eligible retirees can start receiving the Age Pension has risen to 67. Bad news if you were born from 1957 on, but the good news is there are no plans to lift the age further.
Age Pension assets test rules (from March 2026)
This article details the rules and limits of the Age Pension assets test (how much your savings and other assets are worth), which is one half of the means test (along with the income test) that determines how much Age Pension you could be eligible for.
Age Pension income test rules (from March 2026)
A common question for those nearing or in retirement is “How much can a pensioner earn before it affects the pension?”.