Articles by
Barbara Drury
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My retirement planning diary (Part 1): Donald you shrunk my retirement!
After deciding I would retire this year, the current market turmoil has put a Trump-sized hole in my plans. If you’re in the same boat, come along for the ride as I review my situation over the coming months.
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Choosing a super fund: Does size really matter?
Size can be an advantage when it comes to economies of scale and investment clout, but big is not always better.
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Mind over matter: The psychology of retirement planning
Understanding how common behaviours and cognitive biases can short-change your retirement is the first step to taking control of your financial future.
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How much super do I need to retire?
The good news is you probably don’t need anywhere near the $1 million often touted to retire in the style to which you have become accustomed. Here’s how to set your savings target.
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SMSF returns are competitive with large funds
While lagging the performance of large super funds some years, SMSFs have outperformed them over the longer term.
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Common ‘myth-conceptions’ about retirement income
Given the complexity of super and how it interacts with the Age Pension, it’s not surprising that misunderstandings abound. So let’s bust a few myths.
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Which are Australia’s largest super funds?
We’ve done the digging to help you make the most of what your super fund has to offer.Australia’s biggest super funds are getting even bigger, thanks to a spate of mergers and organic growth.
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What to do if the market tanks and you’re retired, or close to it
Volatile financial markets make it difficult to plan ahead, but in uncertain times having a plan and sticking to it can make a big difference to your retirement outcome.
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How to plan for your retirement
It can be difficult knowing where to start when you are ready to think seriously about retirement, but working through these easy steps will help.
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Do SMSFs rely too heavily on bank shares for dividend income?
Interest rates are finally on the way down, raising concerns about bank profits and dividend payments. Should SMSF investors be worried?
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What is the cost of living in retirement in Australia?
To understand how much income you will need to fund your desired retirement lifestyle, first you need to work out how much you are likely to spend. Here’s how.
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Retirement income rules of thumb: Do they measure up?
If you are getting serious about planning your retirement income needs and don’t know where to start, these handy estimates could help.
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SMSFs and insurance: Rules and considerations
Even if you have life insurance outside super or in a pre-existing fund, SMSF trustees are still required to consider their insurance strategy.
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Super fund performance reckoners: Annual returns for 5 investment categories
In these reckoners you can view the median super fund returns for 1, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 15 years across five different investment options for the last 10 calendar years and 9 financial years.
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What are the penalties for SMSF non-compliance?
SMSFs offer a high degree of flexibility and control over your retirement savings, but there are legal guardrails and hefty penalties for trustees who breach them.
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The role of cash and bonds in your portfolio and what’s available
High interest rates are loathed by borrowers but they are money in the bank for people seeking reliable income with a high degree of safety from their investments.
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Can I get free financial advice?
If you could do with some help with your finances but can’t afford a professional adviser, all is not lost. Free financial advice and digital tools are out there if you know where to look.
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2024 year in review, 2025 year in preview
For the second year running, investors had a surprisingly good year in 2024 thanks to moderating inflation, economic growth holding its head above water, falling interest rates (just not in Australia) and buoyant share markets.
