Articles by
Barbara Drury
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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.
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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?”.
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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.
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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.
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What is the cost of living in retirement in Australia?
One of the challenges of retirement planning is working out how much income you will need to live the good life. Here are some tips to get you started.
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How to compare super funds in 7 easy steps
If you are considering switching funds, or choosing a fund for the first time, comparing funds has never been easier.
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Which are Australia’s largest super funds?
Bigger is not always better but it can help super funds in a fiercely competitive market for members and performance.
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How to benchmark your super fund
Your super is too important to set and forget, so we show you how to tell if your fund is delivering the returns, benefits and other services you need.
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ETFs: How to use them and what they cost
Exchange-traded funds have made building a well-diversified investment portfolio easier and more cost effective than ever, as growing numbers of SMSF investors are discovering.
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How our super and pension fund rankings work
Have you ever looked at your super fund’s investment returns and wondered how your fund compares with similar funds? Is it a consistently high performer or an inveterate underachiever?
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Retirement planning is about more than money
A healthy super balance helps, but living life to the full in retirement also requires a sense of purpose and meaning.
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Which super funds offer income for life?
If you’re worried about running out of super, a lifetime pension may offer not only income for life but more Age Pension to boot.
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Choosing an SMSF service provider
Most SMSFs will need to outsource some of their financial, legal and administrative tasks to professionals, so it’s important to know what to look for and what to avoid.
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SMSFs structures: Corporate or individual trustee?
Individual or corporate trustee. Which structure is more appropriate for you and do you know the advantages and disadvantages of each?
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Pension fund performance to December 2025
Retirees had much to smile about in 2025, when pension fund returns grew strongly even after withdrawing minimum pension payments.
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Super fund performance: Annual returns to December 2025
Super funds hit the trifecta in 2025, with strongly positive returns for the third year running, despite rising geopolitical tensions and volatile investment markets.
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The taper trap: Super and the Age Pension assets test
A quirk of our retirement income system can leave retirees with middling a super balance worse off than a full Age Pensioner. But there are ways to increase Pension entitlements
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2025 year in review, 2026 year ahead
It was a year when hope triumphed over uncertainty on financial markets, with all major asset classes – and super funds – delivering positive returns.
