January 2026 Retiree newsletter

Pension fund performance to December 2025

Retirees had much to smile about in 2025, when pension fund returns grew strongly even after withdrawing minimum pension payments. Read more.

Pension fund performance to December 2025

Retirees had much to smile about in 2025, when pension fund returns grew strongly even after withdrawing minimum pension payments. Read more.

Pension fund performance: Monthly returns to February 2026

Pension funds continued their positive run in February but look set for a fall in March as war in the Middle East intensifies, pushing up oil prices and inflation. Read more.

Pension fund performance: Monthly returns to February 2026

Pension funds continued their positive run in February but look set for a fall in March as war in the Middle East intensifies, pushing up oil prices and inflation. Read more.

How separation and divorce affect the Age Pension

Age Pension entitlements can increase or decrease markedly when couples split, depending on things like each person’s share of marriage assets and home ownership status. Read more.

How separation and divorce affect the Age Pension

Age Pension entitlements can increase or decrease markedly when couples split, depending on things like each person’s share of marriage assets and home ownership status. Read more.

Reverse mortgages: What are they and how do they work?

Retirees who own their home but would like to top up their income for whatever reason are increasingly tapping into their home equity with a reverse mortgage. Read more.

Reverse mortgages: What are they and how do they work?

Retirees who own their home but would like to top up their income for whatever reason are increasingly tapping into their home equity with a reverse mortgage. Read more.

Using the Home Equity Access Scheme to fund aged care

Rising aged care costs can place an unexpected burden on elderly retirees’ budgets. This government scheme can help bridge the gap. Read more.

Using the Home Equity Access Scheme to fund aged care

Rising aged care costs can place an unexpected burden on elderly retirees’ budgets. This government scheme can help bridge the gap. Read more.

Superannuation considerations for couples: How to get the best outcome for your family

Wednesday 25 February 2026 at 11:00 am AEST

This webinar will highlight some of the simple, yet effective ways that spouses can optimise their combined superannuation balances.

We will show you how you can legally access your combined retirement savings earlier, ways to obtain ongoing tax benefits in your retirement and what you can do to manage upcoming legislative changes to the superannuation rules.

During this 1 hour webinar, the SuperGuide team will not only identify these issues, but we will show you how to implement them effectively.

Find out more

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Watch our previous webinar, Super strategies for 2026.

Q: I have been asked to become an attorney for someone with a will who lives in Tasmania. The Power of attorney is currently being reviewed. I am concerned about the solicitor’s advice that there is no need for a “conflict” clause, as I am also one beneficiary. My specific concern is that I want the power to withdraw the person covered by the POA’s pension balance and put it in their bank account ahead of their expected imminent death. This would be done to avoid the taxation on the taxable component of the pension fund balance – i.e. benefit the beneficiaries, not the person with the pension. Is the superannuation fund likely to consider this a conflict of interest and/or block the transaction? Can you provide some examples where this has been an issue? I want to revert with some information to discuss with the solicitor.

A: We are not aware of any super funds preventing a power of attorney from withdrawing superannuation benefits prior to the member’s death. It is relatively common for attorneys to do so for the reason you have explained. It is also common for that attorney to be the member’s child or another person who would be liable for tax on the amount if it was instead paid to them from the fund after the member’s death.

Whether a ‘conflict’ clause is necessary is a matter for your solicitor.

However, no transaction can be guaranteed. Super funds do have a responsibility to protect their members from fraud and elder abuse. Controls designed to prevent fraud and abuse could potentially delay a transaction beyond the member’s death. If the member dies before payment, the amount generally becomes a death benefit that can no longer be paid to the member. It must instead be paid directly to dependants or to the member’s legal personal representative (the executor of their estate) and tax will be payable where applicable.

To reduce the risk of delays, you can consider

lodging the power of attorney with the fund to hold on file in advance, to prevent delays accepting the document at the time a payment is required.
having the member notify the fund in writing of their wish for benefits to be cashed in the event of their imminent death and that the attorney is authorised to make such a request on their behalf in future.
ensuring the document is an enduring power of attorney, to secure its effectiveness should the member lose decision making capacity in future.

Is your spouse younger than you? Adding to their super account before they turn 67 could boost your Age Pension.

Important: All information on SuperGuide is general in nature only and does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider whether any information on SuperGuide is appropriate to you before acting on it. If SuperGuide refers to a financial product you should obtain the relevant product disclosure statement (PDS) or seek personal financial advice before making any investment decisions.

Superguide Pty Ltd ATF Superguide Unit Trust as a Corporate Authorised Representative (CAR) is a Corporate Authorised Representative of Independent Financial Advisers Australia, AFSL 464629.