Articles by
Barbara Drury
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Passive versus active: Which investment style is best?
As the debate over passive vs active investing continues, both have their place in SMSF portfolios, depending on your financial goals and risk tolerance.
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ATO SMSF supervisory levy: Cost and guidelines
In a world of ever-increasing prices, the ATO’s annual SMSF supervisory levy has been remarkably stable for almost a decade.
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Retiring overseas: Implications for your super and tax
If you dream of retiring to an exotic overseas location where the living is easy, be sure to look at the financial, health and other considerations before you make the leap.
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What are MySuper products, and which super funds have MySuper products?
Default MySuper funds have been undergoing a makeover in recent years, with performance under the microscope and fees falling.
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Super funds with the lowest income protection insurance premiums
Income protection premiums continued to increase at a significantly higher rate than death and TPD premiums in 2023, but the cost of cover varies widely.
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Super funds with the lowest life and TPD insurance premiums
As the cost of living rises, life and TPD insurance premiums inside super have bucked the trend with little or no movement in 2023.
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Consider these two risks before you start a super pension
Market volatility and economic uncertainty can wreak havoc with retirement plans, so it’s important to develop strategies to ensure your savings last the distance.
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SMSFs: Investment property tax deduction mistakes to avoid
Property investment is popular with SMSFs, so it’s important to know what your fund can and can’t claim as investment property tax deductions if you want to stay on the right side of the ATO.
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Re-thinking the role of your home in retirement
The family home is much more than a roof over your head in retirement. It’s also a potential source of income and aged care funding.
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SMSF investment rules: Collectables and personal use assets
An ATO crackdown on asset valuations, and the proposed tax increase on unrealised capital gains in $3 million-plus super accounts, is putting pressure on SMSFs with collectables to take stock.
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How do ETFs compare to LICs/LITs and managed funds?
Exchanged-traded funds have taken off in Australia, but there is still a role for LICs and managed funds. Learn about the pros and cons of each.
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What concession cards are available for seniors and pensioners?
Even if you aren’t eligible for the Age Pension, there are a variety of valuable concession and healthcare cards available, depending on your age, income and location.
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Choosing an SMSF service provider
They may be referred to as DIY funds, but in practice most SMSF trustees will need at least some professional advice, from setting up their fund to the annual audit and tax returns.
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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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Retirement Income Review finds 9.5% super is enough
The wisdom of increasing compulsory super next July is not the only reason the Retirement Income Review was eagerly anticipated, but it certainly added fuel to the fire.
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SMSF compliance: What are trustees’ responsibilities?
SMSFs provide members with a high degree of control and flexibility, but there are strict rules attached.
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What is the Age Pension age?
The age at which eligible retirees can start receiving the Age Pension has risen to 67. Bad news if you were born from 1957 on, but the good news is there are no plans to lift the age further.
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ETFs: How do I use them and what do they cost?
Exchange-traded funds have exploded in popularity in recent years as an efficient, cost-effective way to build a portfolio, with new funds launched almost monthly.
