Federal Election and Federal Budget, Super contributions case studies, Cheapest super and pension funds, Top sustainable funds, DIY SMSF
Highlights of the April 2019 edition of the SuperGuide Premium newsletter include:
- FEDERAL ELECTION AND FEDERAL BUDGET: The election campaigning is now in full swing and superannuation has already been making headlines. We have prepared overviews of the Coalition’s and the ALP’s super and retirement-related policies, as well as a summary of the government’s Federal Budget announcements and the opposition’s Budget Reply speech.
- SUPER CONTRIBUTIONS CASE STUDIES: It can be difficult to know what super contributions might work best for you, so Janine Mace provides a handy overview of how they work, plus 5 case studies to illustrate how they can help boost your super savings.
- CHEAPEST SUPER AND PENSION FUNDS: Low fees can boost returns – check if your fund is one of the cheapest.
- TOP SUSTAINABLE FUNDS: The jury is out on whether investing responsibly can provide better returns, but ESG funds are important for many investors who want to plan for their future in more ways than one. Discover what the top performing sustainable funds are over the last 10 years.
- ACCESSING YOUR SUPER: Find out all the possible ways you can access your super, whether you are transitioning to retirement, reaching age 60, or wanting to access your super early.
- DIY SMSF: We often get questions about how to manage your SMSF without an accountant. This month we show you how to prepare your financial statements for an auditor, and how to fill in your tax return.
- FRANKED DIVIDENDS: Franked dividends and franking credits are likely to be a significant issue in the forthcoming election. Ali Cain gives a refresher on how the franked dividends rules currently operate.
- ESSENTIAL INVESTING CONCEPTS: In three short articles we review some of the basic concepts on investing, covering the magic of compounding, the rule of 72 and what is meant by “today’s dollars”.
2019 FEDERAL ELECTION AND FEDERAL BUDGET
2019 Federal Election: Coalition policies on super, tax and retirement
Most of the Coalition’s super, tax and retirement policies were announced in the 2019 Federal Budget. Read more
2019 Federal Election: ALP policies on super, tax and retirement
Many of the ALP’s election policies have been known for some time, but this overview also includes measures recently announced in Bill Shorten’s Budget reply. Read more
2019 Federal Budget overview: Super, tax and related announcements
On 2nd April Josh Frydenberg announced his first Federal Budget as Treasurer. There were only a handful of policies that directly relate to superannuation, but also tax cuts and a one-off energy payment for older Australians. Read more
2019 ALP Federal Budget reply: Super, tax and related announcements
On 4th April opposition leader Bill Shorten delivered his reply to the Federal Budget. In this article we look at Labor’s announcements in relation to tax and superannuation measures, as well as policies that affect older Australians. Read more
What just happened to our tax? Here’s an explanation you’ll understand
With all the announcements on tax recently it’s hard to keep track. So here goes. A year ago the then treasurer Scott Morrison unveiled a “seven year personal tax”. Read more
FEATURES
What super contributions are best for me?
Working out how best to grow your super nest egg can be confusing and selecting the right mix of concessional (before-tax) and non-concessional (after-tax) contributions makes it even tougher. Read more
Super and pension funds with the lowest fees
SuperRatings have kindly provided us with the following list of the 10 cheapest super and pension funds as at 1 March 2019. Read more
Top performing sustainable investment funds
Investors are enjoying an explosion in the range of sustainable investment options in the market. Between 2016 and 2017 there was a 340% rise in funds that screen assets for their sustainability features, or lack thereof. Read more
Guide to tax-deductible superannuation contributions
Tax-deductible super contributions are an option that more Australians can now consider due to recent legislative changes. However, it can be a complex area, so with tax-time looming, it’s a topic worth reviewing. Read more
What are the different types of super funds?
Whatever your circumstances, it’s important to canvass all your options before you choose a super fund. It’s also worth remembering that your choice is not a life sentence. If you are unhappy with your fund for whatever reason, you are free to switch funds provided you have choice. Read more
When can I access my super? All conditions of release explained
To legally access your super in Australia you must satisfy a condition of release. Different conditions of release have different payment conditions and tax implications. Read more
Retirement cost of living: How much does a comfortable lifestyle cost?
We all have expectations about what our retirement will look like in terms of lifestyle, but how does retirement actually pan out for those living in retirement? Read more
Don’t wait for a crisis – start planning your aged care now
The earlier you start planning for your aged care, the better. To start off, think about the possible scenarios you may encounter in later life. Read more
SMSFs
How to prepare financial statements for an SMSF Auditor and fill in your SMSF tax return
If you’re an SMSF trustee and you’re not using the services of an accountant, you must provide your fund auditor with all relevant documentation for your fund’s accounts and financial transactions for the financial year being audited. Read more
The definitive SMSF guide to franked dividends
You can receive a tax credit by buying shares in Australian companies that pay franked dividends. Dividends paid to shareholders by Australian resident companies are taxed under a system known as imputation. Read more
SMSFs and property: A Super Guide
One of the unique characteristics of self-managed super funds, which make them attractive to some investors, is their ability to invest in direct property. Read more
SMSF compliance: A guide to trustee responsibilities
SMSF trustees are legally obliged to ensure their fund’s compliance with superannuation legislation in Australia. The ATO imposes a range of penalties for non-compliance, depending on the seriousness of the breach. Read more
Which asset classes are popular with SMSFs?
Of the many benefits of running your own SMSF, one of the major drawcards is the wider choice of investment strategies that can be established compared to a traditional super fund. Read more
STARTING A PENSION
Starting a pension from your super
After working for decades to build your superannuation, the day finally arrives when you can say goodbye to the nine-to-five and turn your super into a reliable source of retirement income. Read more
SMSFs: How to start a pension
One of the benefits of having an SMSF is its ability to pay members an income stream, or account-based pension. Of course any superannuation fund can do this, but paying a pension from an SMSF offers members more control and flexibility. Read more
ESSENTIAL INVESTING CONCEPTS
The magic of compounding interest
Compound interest is the interest calculated from an initial sum of money which is then added to the total which increases each time that interest payment is paid out. Read more
The Rule of 72, and how it can help you choose an investment
How long does it take to double your investment? By applying The Rule of 72, you’ll be able to answer that question since it is an easy mathematical formula. Read more
‘Today’s Dollars’: The impact of inflation on retirement income
Planning for your retirement and working out how much you’ll need to enjoy a good standard of living after your working years can be a complex task, and one factor that needs to be considered is inflation. Read more
LATEST SUPER PERFORMANCE
Super fund performance: Monthly returns to September 2019
In this article you can learn the monthly performance for super funds over 5 investment options going back to July 2015. Read more
What are lifecycle super funds, and how do they perform?
Lifecycle funds, also called lifestage or target date funds, have been around since the early 1990s but didn’t really catch on until after the global financial crisis of 2007-09. Read more