Super fund performance reckoner: Monthly returns for 5 investment categories
In our reckoner below you can view the median monthly investment returns for 5 superannuation investment options going back to January 2016.
Home / Archives for Barbara Drury
Barbara is a financial journalist and author with over 30 years’ experience in Australia and the UK. She is a contributor to The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age Money section, and has worked for the Australian Financial Review and The Australian.
Barbara is the author of Alan Kohler’s Eureka Report Guide to Personal Investing, Sorting Out Your Finances for Dummies and Personal Finance for Dummies and co-author of Investing for Dummies with James Kirby.
In our reckoner below you can view the median monthly investment returns for 5 superannuation investment options going back to January 2016.
Super funds continued their positive run in March, with the median Growth fund up 1.9% over the month.
Don’t be rattled by pundits saying you need $1 million to retire. The amount you need will depend on your personal circumstances, not a figure drawn out of a hat.
The Service Pension provided similar benefits to the Age Pension for veterans, their partners and widow(er)s, but the eligibility requirements are different, as you would expect.
The way super intersects with the Age Pension has a big impact on retirees with ‘middling’ super balances, but it’s important not to fixate on short-term pension entitlements at the expense of long-term financial security.
Now that the stage 3 tax cuts are law, most Australians will receive a tax cut in 2024-25. Until then, existing income tax rates and thresholds apply.
The ATO has increased scrutiny of SMSFs and common areas of non-compliance with superannuation law, and the penalties for getting it wrong can be substantial.
Age Pension rates increase on 20 March 2024. This article also explains how the Age Pension works, and includes the latest Age Pension rates for residents, non-residents, and the transitional Age Pension.
There’s no getting around regular asset valuations for your SMSF, and it needs to be done by the book.
While interest rates have lifted off their historic lows, franked dividends from shares are still a happy hunting ground for income-seeking investors.
Our Age Pension calculator gives you an estimate of your potential Age Pension entitlements for the period 20 September 2023 to 19 March 2024.
A common question for Australians planning their retirement is if, and when, they will be eligible for the Age Pension.
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.
A common question for those nearing or in retirement is “How much can a pensioner earn before it affects the pension?”.
If your super balance is underwhelming, even small personal contributions can supercharge your retirement savings once compound interest and tax do the heavy lifting.
The number of SMSF trustees who have unmet advice needs is growing, but upcoming reforms and new technology offer the prospect of improved affordability and access.
If retirement beckons, it’s time to work out how much income you think you will need to fund your desired retirement lifestyle. Here’s what you need to consider.
A strong finish for shares and bonds provided stellar returns for pension fund members in 2023, more than wiping out the previous year’s losses.
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