Articles by
Barbara Drury
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My retirement planning diary (Part 6): Light at the end of the tunnel
In the final instalment of my retirement diary, I review my progress and set the date.
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What age should I retire?
There are no hard and fast rules around when you can retire, but there are practical issues to consider and money is just one of them.
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How to plan your spending through the 3 stages of retirement
Far from being one long holiday, retirement tends to be a tale in three acts, with different spending patterns along the way.
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What are the risks and benefits of getting financial advice?
Quality, affordable advice can make an enormous difference to your retirement outcomes, but it pays to know how to sort the good from the bad and downright ugly practices.
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My retirement planning diary (Part 5): The psychology of retirement
With so much focus on having enough savings to retire, it’s easy to forget what it’s all for – living!
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Super fund mergers: What does it mean for members?
If your fund is involved in a merger, don’t panic. You could end up better off, but you do need to make sure your new fund is still a good fit.
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8 warning signs of a dodgy financial adviser
Bad financial advisers are thankfully the exception rather than the rule, but they do exist so it pays to be aware of some common red flags.
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Pension fund performance to June 2025
Pension fund members enjoyed robust returns in the latest financial year, with many retirees growing their balance even after making withdrawals.
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Super fund performance: Annual returns to June 2025
Against all expectations and a backdrop of escalating trade and geopolitical tensions, super funds continued their three-year winning streak in 2025 financial year.
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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.
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My retirement planning diary (Part 4): Crunching the numbers
Now that I have a retirement income target in mind, it’s time to buckle up and test drive some retirement income calculators to see if my target is achievable.
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Key superannuation rates and thresholds for 2025-26
A new financial year brings updated thresholds for a range of super measures. Take a look at the new numbers to check for opportunities.
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Minimum pension drawdown rates (2025–26) and calculator
There’s no limit on the amount you can withdraw each year from an account-based super pension, but there are age-based minimum annual withdrawal rates. Here’s how they are calculated.
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Australian income tax brackets and rates (2025-26 and previous years)
This financial year is one of the few in recent times where the income tax brackets or rates have not changed, although you may see a change in base income if your wage includes super, due to the increase in the Super Guarantee from 11.5% to 12%.
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How superannuation works: Super for beginners guide
Super often ends up being your biggest asset outside the family home, so it pays to understand how it works and then to keep tabs on it.
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SMSF reporting and record-keeping requirements
SMSFs have many attractions but keeping up with the admin is not one of them. Here’s what you need to know to stay on the right side of the law.
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How to start a super pension and what to consider first
When you retire there’s more than one way to withdraw income from your super; we explain your options.
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Low Income Tax Offset (LITO): How it works
Low-income earners may be eligible to reduce their tax bill by as much as $700, without lifting a finger. Check our guide to who’s eligible and for how much.
