Are pension withdrawal rates safe?
Retirees often withdraw the minimum amount from their super pension for fear they will outlive their savings. But recent studies show many could safely spend more. So what is a ‘’safe” withdrawal rate?
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Converting your superannuation to a pension is an option if you have reached your preservation age and met a condition of release. Your preservation age is between 55 and 60, depending on your date of birth. Standard conditions of release for super pension withdrawals are:
Your dependants can also be entitled to access your super as a pension when you die if you have arranged for this to happen, though there are likely to be tax implications.
There are six main types of super pension:
If you start a super pension income stream, you need to transfer funds from your accumulation account to your retirement account to fund your pension. The earnings on these funds are tax-free. You can transfer up to the transfer balance cap (up to $1.7 million) into your retirement account. You need to withdraw a minimum percentage of your retirement account balance each year, ranging from 4 to 14% depending on your age.
Super pensions are tax-free after the age of 60 but may affect your eligibility for the Age Pension.
The alternative to withdrawing super as a pension is to take your super benefits as a lump sum.
Retirees often withdraw the minimum amount from their super pension for fear they will outlive their savings. But recent studies show many could safely spend more. So what is a ‘’safe” withdrawal rate?
While super funds have been slow to innovate in the retirement space, recent improvements to their pension products have gone under the radar. Here’s what’s on offer.
When and how you withdraw income from your super in retirement can have significant tax benefits.
Once you start a retirement income stream, minimum annual payments are calculated on your account balance at 1 July each year, multiplied by a percentage factor that increases as you age.
Aakash Mehta answers readers questions about account-based super pensions and when it’s appropriate to start one.
Selecting the right investment option for your super pension can have a big impact on how much money you have to spend during your retirement years.
Market volatility and economic uncertainty can wreak havoc with retirement plans, so it’s important to develop strategies to manage the risks.
When you retire there’s more than one way to withdraw income from your super; we explain your options.
Annuities are an easy way to convert your super into a regular income stream in retirement. We explain how they can help manage your income without the worry of investing.
An investment-linked annuity is a lifetime income stream where the retiree’s income varies to reflect changes in the value of a selected investment option.
In this video interview Ian Fryer, Head of Research at Chant West, shares some insights into choosing a pension fund, including how choosing a pension fund is different to choosing a super fund, what the process is to starting a pension, and what investment option to consider in retirement.
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