Articles by
Barbara Drury
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SMSF investing: 20 most popular international shares
Direct holdings in international shares fell in 2024–25 due to volatile market conditions but perhaps also to the growing appeal of ETFs to access global markets.
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SMSF investing: 20 most popular Australian shares
Australian shares remain the most popular asset class for SMSF investors, with portfolios dominated by the big banks and miners.
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SMSF investing: 20 most popular ETFs
Gen X and Millennials are fuelling the rapid take-up of ETFs by SMSF investors, drawn to their instant diversification, global reach, accessability and low cost.
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MySuper funds: What they are and who offers them
Default MySuper funds have been undergoing a makeover in recent years, with performance under the microscope and fees falling.
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How do I transfer a UK pension to an Australian super fund?
It can make sense to bring your UK pension funds home to Australia, but the process is far from straightforward. We explain how it’s done.
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Which SMSF expenses are tax deductible?
The expenses associated with running your own super fund can add up, so it’s important to understand which expenses you can, and can’t, claim as a tax deduction.
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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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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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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.
