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November 2025 Retiree newsletter

Pension fund of the year 2025-26: What makes a winner?
As the Baby Boomer bubble enters retirement, attention is shifting to the retirement phase of super and which funds offer the best pension products and member services. Read more.
Pension fund of the year 2025-26: What makes a winner?
As the Baby Boomer bubble enters retirement, attention is shifting to the retirement phase of super and which funds offer the best pension products and member services. Read more.

UPDATED PENSION FUND RANKINGS

See where your fund ranks over 8 timeframes. Now updated to 30 September 2025.

Pension fund performance: Monthly returns to November 2025
Choppy markets weighed on pension fund returns in November, but the median Growth fund is still up a stellar 9.6% in 2025 to date. Read more.
Pension fund performance: Monthly returns to November 2025
Choppy markets weighed on pension fund returns in November, but the median Growth fund is still up a stellar 9.6% in 2025 to date. Read more.
Aged care: Guide to self-managing home care
A shake-up in the way aged care in the home is provided and paid for is designed to streamline the system, but the jury is still out. Read more.
Aged care: Guide to self-managing home care
A shake-up in the way aged care in the home is provided and paid for is designed to streamline the system, but the jury is still out. Read more.
How new ‘best practice principles’ could improve your retirement income 
Super funds are being urged to provide their members with retirement products that offer income for life, along with better retirement tools and communication. Read more.
How new ‘best practice principles’ could improve your retirement income 
Super funds are being urged to provide their members with retirement products that offer income for life, along with better retirement tools and communication. Read more.

SuperGuide members Q&A: December 2025

Wednesday 17 December 2025 at 11:00 am AEST

In this webinar super expert Garth McNally answers recent questions from SuperGuide members.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Watch our previous webinar, The Epic Retirement Tick: Why it matters and which funds earned it.

Q: In the notes on your Age Pension calculator you say…

“Where only one member of a couple has reached Age Pension age, Centrelink will treat the application based on the assets and income of the couple combined, and pay the eligible Age Pensioner half of the couple’s rate. If only one partner is eligible to apply for the Age Pension, all jointly owned assets, financial investments and income and assets should be included, although special rules apply to superannuation”

By default, if only one member of a couple has reached Age Pension age, they are not eligible to apply. So is it all assets combined or only jointly held assets?

A: Centrelink assess members of couples based on their combined assets (not only jointly held assets). Superannuation in an accumulation phase account held by a spouse under age 67 is not counted in the assets and income test, although it should still be disclosed.

If one partner is 67+ and the other is not, the older partner is able to apply for and recieve Age Pension. The younger partner can’t receive Age Pension until they reach age 67. The older partner’s application is still assessed based on the total combined assets of the couple.

If you were not eligible for any Age Pension when you first retired, don’t make the mistake of assuming you never will be. Most retirees become eligible for a part-pension as they draw down on the value of their investments and the means test limits increase. 

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.

SMSF calendar

2026 SMSF calendar

Our free calendar includes due dates for important documents plus suggested dates for trustee meetings and other strategic issues for your SMSF.

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