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SuperGuide

Superannuation and retirement planning information

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  • How super works
    • Super for beginners
    • Super rules
    • Employers guide to super
    • Super contributions
    • Super and tax
    • Accessing super
    • Super news
    • Women and super
    • Super tips and strategies
    • How-to guides
    • Super quizzes
    • Superannuation Q&As
    • Superannuation glossary
  • Super funds
    • Best performing super funds
    • Super fund rankings
    • Best performing pension funds
    • Pension fund rankings
    • Super fund average returns
    • Super investing strategies
    • Comparing super funds
    • Choosing a super fund
    • Choosing an investment option
    • Super fund fees
    • Insurance and super
    • Super fund profiles
  • SMSFs
    • SMSFs for beginners
    • SMSF administration
    • SMSF checklists
    • SMSF compliance
    • SMSF investing
    • SMSF pensions
    • SMSF strategies
    • SMSF Q&As
  • Plan your retirement
    • Retirement planning for beginners
    • When should I retire?
    • How long will I live?
    • How much super do I need?
    • Will I get the Age Pension?
    • How much will I spend in retirement?
    • Financial advice
    • Retiring overseas
    • Preparing for retirement
    • Retirement planning strategies
    • Retirement calculators and reckoners
  • In retirement
    • Income in retirement
    • Super lump sums
    • Super pensions
    • Age Pension
    • Working in retirement
    • Life in retirement
    • Senior concessions and services
    • Aged care
    • Estate planning
    • Super death benefits

Home / How super works / Page 2

How super works

Compulsory superannuation has been around since 1992, but there is still a lot of confusion about its purpose and how it works.

Our Beginners guide to superannuation is designed to answer all the basic questions you have about superannuation.

We also cover super’s rules for contributions, detail how they are taxed and when and how you can withdraw your retirement savings.

Visit the sections below to learn the fundamentals about superannuation:

  • Super for beginners
  • Super rules
  • Employers guide to super
  • Super contributions
  • Super and tax
  • Accessing super
  • Super tips and strategies
  • Super news
  • Women and super
  • How-to Super Guides
  • Super quizzes
  • Superannuation Q&As
  • Superannuation glossary

As a first step, the following are key articles that describe how super works.

Set out below are all SuperGuide articles that relate to How super works.

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Super news for December 2020

December 14, 2020 by Joanna Webber Leave a Comment

Rise in costs for retirees, APRA releases latest super statistics, Returns not the main driver for SMSF trustees, Financing ageing in place for older Australians, Financial advice boosts wealth and health

What are the accumulation and retirement phases of super?

December 3, 2020 by SuperGuide Leave a Comment

Superannuation has two broad phases – the accumulation and retirement phases, but it’s important to note that they aren’t distinct. Someone can have some of their super in accumulation and some in retirement.

Super for beginners: How superannuation is taxed

December 3, 2020 by Barbara Drury Leave a Comment

This article broadly explains how superannuation is taxed, including when you make contributions, as your super grows, and when you access your super.

Quiz: Employer super responsibilities

December 1, 2020 by Janine Mace Leave a Comment

Take this 10-question quiz to test your knowledge on the superannuation responsibilities for employers.

Key observations from the Retirement Income Review

November 24, 2020 by SuperGuide Leave a Comment

It’s quite a challenge to succinctly summarise the 233,117 words of the Retirement Income Review, and the report itself will be dwarfed by the coverage it receives in the coming weeks, months and years.

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Video: Industry experts respond to the Retirement Income Review

November 24, 2020 by Tracey Spicer Leave a Comment

Tracey Spicer talks to industry experts, including Stephen Koukoulas, Andrew Boal and Brendan Coates about their takes on the Retirement Income Review.

Retirement Income Review finds 9.5% super is enough

November 23, 2020 by Barbara Drury Leave a Comment

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.

What matters is the home: Review finds most retirees well off, some very badly off

November 23, 2020 by The Conversation 2 Comments

Most retired Australians are at least as well off in retirement as they were while working, but not all. The huge exception is retirees who do not own their own homes.

Retirement Income Review finds problems more super won’t solve

November 23, 2020 by Peter Martin 1 Comment

It would be a waste if the Friday’s mammoth Retirement Income Review was remembered only for its finding that increases in employers compulsory superannuation contributions come at the expense of wages.

Workers bear 71% to 100% of the cost of increases in compulsory super

November 23, 2020 by The Conversation Leave a Comment

The government’s much-anticipated Retirement Income Review has found that increases in employer’s compulsory superannuation contributions are financed by reductions in workers’ wage growth.

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Super news for November 2020

November 17, 2020 by Joanna Webber Leave a Comment

Interest rate cuts will hurt retirees, Ground-breaking research on future advice, Missed or unpaid super, More workers support ESG factors, 2020 Shonky Awards results.

How redundancy and retirement impact your employees’ super

November 13, 2020 by Janine Mace Leave a Comment

Determining termination and super payments when employee’s leave can be confusing, learn how you can successfully navigate this process.

Employee or contractor for super purposes? How to tell the difference

November 13, 2020 by Janine Mace Leave a Comment

Employers generally don’t pay super for contractors, but it’s tricky to work out how they differ from employees. Here’s some rules to help you understand the difference.

How to create an effective salary sacrifice arrangement with your employees

November 13, 2020 by Janine Mace Leave a Comment

Salary sacrifice arrangements need to meet the rules if you want them to be deemed effective, which is essential if to avoid problems with the ATO.

Employee super contributions for the self-employed and micro businesses

November 13, 2020 by Janine Mace Leave a Comment

Many self-employed people forget about super but making contributions can have lots of benefits. It’s also important to ensure you make contributions if you employ any staff during the year.

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How super works
Super for beginners
Super rules
Employers guide to super
Super contributions
Super and tax
Accessing super
Super news
Women and super
Super tips and strategies
How-to guides
Super quizzes
Superannuation Q&As
Superannuation glossary
Super funds
Best performing super funds
Super fund rankings
Best performing pension funds
Pension fund rankings
Super fund average returns
Super investing strategies
Comparing super funds
Choosing a super fund
Choosing an investment option
Super fund fees
Insurance and super
Super fund profiles
SMSFs
SMSFs for beginners
SMSF administration
SMSF checklists
SMSF compliance
SMSF investing
SMSF pensions
SMSF strategies
SMSF Q&As
Plan your retirement
Retirement planning for beginners
When should I retire?
How long will I live?
How much super do I need?
Will I get the Age Pension?
How much will I spend in retirement?
Financial advice
Retiring overseas
Preparing for retirement
Retirement planning strategies
Retirement calculators and reckoners
In retirement
Income in retirement
Super lump sums
Super pensions
Age Pension
Working in retirement
Life in retirement
Senior concessions and services
Aged care
Estate planning
Super death benefits
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Compare super funds

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All information on SuperGuide is general in nature only and does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs.

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