June 2022 newsletter

As we see the dawn of a new government, we asked some of Australia’s top experts in superannuation and retirement planning what they think the government should be focusing on.

Superannuation assets rise by nearly 10% over the year, Mercer to acquire BT Super, inflation hits retirees, super fund customer satisfaction awards, new super fund mergers announced.

Are you and your super fund a perfect match? All will be revealed in your fund’s product disclosure statement.

If your kids are old enough to have scored their first fulltime or part-time job, now’s the time to pass on everything you wish you’d known about super at their age.

Does super bamboozle you? Take this quick quiz to learn some of the super fundamentals.

If retirement beckons, it’s worth knowing which funds are best at addressing the needs of retired members.

More women and people of diverse backgrounds on superannuation fund boards should translate to better outcomes for members.

Super funds dipped in September, with the median Growth fund down 0.4% as shares and bonds fell, but a weaker Australian dollar helped limit the loss.

Falling foul of the in-house asset rules can be a costly mistake for SMSFs and continues to be a tricky area for trustees.

If more control over the investments and tax in your super is appealing but you don’t fancy the additional attention and time an SMSF requires, direct investing with a public-offer fund could be for you.

Even small personal contributions can supercharge your retirement savings once compound interest and tax do the heavy lifting.

People wanting to give their super a substantial boost later in life can get more bang for their buck by combining these two popular strategies.

Retirees with more super can end up with less income than someone on the full Age Pension, thanks to the assets test. Here’s how the taper trap works, how big the gap really is, and why a smaller balance is rarely the answer.

Structuring an investment portfolio designed to support you throughout retirement is a different challenge to the strategies you used to build wealth during your working life.

Retirees often regard the government-mandated minimum withdrawal rates for their super pension as a default maximum, so how are these rates set and should you consider withdrawing more?

If your partner dies and you would like to combine your pension with their death benefits, this strategy could provide the way.

Changes to minimum shifts for home care workers could make it more difficult for elderly clients to make their funding packages cover the care they need.