Articles by

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.

Can I return to work after I access my super?

20 November 2024

It’s generally possible to return to work after you retire and start withdrawing your super, but the rules vary according to your age.

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Super and pension fund performance: Where does your fund rank?

20 November 2024

Now updated to 30 September 2024. 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?
What is the sole purpose test, and how does it work?

20 November 2024

As the name suggests, the savings you accumulate in super are meant to be for one purpose only. Straying from that purpose can be costly.

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Platforms and wraps: Benefits and downsides

18 November 2024

Technology is at the heart of recent innovation by platform providers as they compete against each other, industry funds and SMSFs for your super and non-super investments.

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Are pension withdrawal rates safe?

5 November 2024

Retirees often regard the government-mandated minimum withdrawal rates for their super pension as a default maximum, so how are these rates set and should you consider withdrawing more?

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Selecting a retirement income calculator

4 November 2024

Most super funds provide tools to help you estimate your annual retirement income and how long it should last. But how reliable are they? It pays to know what to look out for.

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Which super funds offer income for life?

24 October 2024

It’s been a long time coming, but more super funds are now, or soon will be, offering retirement products that reduce the risk of outliving your savings. Here’s what’s on offer.

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How do SMSFs invest?

9 October 2024

If you run your own SMSF, have you ever wondered where other SMSFs or mainstream funds invest their money? This is how.

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SMSF trust deeds: Rules, guidelines and updates

2 October 2024

Your SMSF trust deed is your fund’s most important legal document, so it pays to get it right from the outset and to carry out regular health checks.

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Which super funds accept transfers from KiwiSaver accounts?

25 September 2024

If you have savings in a KiwiSaver account, you can voluntarily transfer them to an Australian super fund under the provisions of a Trans-Tasman Retirement Savings Portability scheme that was introduced on 1 July 2013.

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SMSF investment: 20 most popular LICs/LITs

24 September 2024

They may have lost ground to newer investment products such as ETFs, but listed investment companies and trusts are still prized by many SMSF investors.

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SMSF investment: 20 most popular managed funds

24 September 2024

Despite the inroads made by ETFs in recent years, traditional managed funds remain popular with SMSFs seeking easy access to global shares and fixed interest.

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SMSF investment: 20 most popular international shares

24 September 2024

While the number of SMSFs investing directly in global shares is still relatively small, the booming tech sector is attracting an increasing number of those that do.

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SMSF investment: 20 most popular Australian shares

24 September 2024

SMSF investors continued their love affair with dividend-paying Australian shares in the year to June 2024, with all the usual suspects in the top 20.

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SMSF investment: 20 most popular ETFs

24 September 2024

ETFs were the fastest growing asset class among SMSF investors in the year to June 2024, with a surge of inflows to international shares driven by booming tech stocks.

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Location the missing ingredient in retirement planning

22 September 2024

When you start planning your retirement, where you live can be just as important as your super balance and have an even bigger impact on your quality of life.

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How do tax-deductible superannuation contributions work?

11 September 2024

Making a tax-deductible super contribution can be a great way to boost your retirement savings. Find out whether they could be the right strategy for you.

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How much can I afford to spend in retirement?

11 September 2024

Retirees often live more frugally than necessary due to fears their money will run out, but this simple rule of thumb could help many retirees spend and enjoy life more.

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