January 2020 newsletter

This month we look at what support is available to Australians affected by the bushfires, changes to legislation allow high earners to opt out of some SG payments, warnings from the ATO and ASIC on early release of super schemes, the price of medications for pensioners has come down, FASEA’s ethics rules are now in place and APRA launches a new sustainability standard.

We’ve done the digging to help you make the most of what your super fund has to offer.

We’ve done the digging to help you make the most of what your super fund has to offer.Australia’s biggest super funds are getting even bigger, thanks to a spate of mergers and organic growth.

By directing some of your pre-tax income to super, you not only boost your retirement savings but save tax at the same time.

In this article you can discover the top 10 performing Conservative super funds over 1 year and 10 years to 30 June 2025. Conservative funds have 21-40% invested in growth assets.

If you’re a member of a big super fund, chances are you’re a part-owner in an airport, a pipeline, or a major shipping port. Learn why super funds have embraced infrastructure and what’s in it for you.

Could you be overlooking some of the costs in your super? Find out how buy/sell spreads can take a bite of the pie.

Your current investment option plays a big role in determining the investment return your super receives each year. Maybe it’s time to take a closer look.

If you’re unhappy with how your super savings have grown, it’s worth considering whether you’re in the right investment option in your super fund. To help you work through the process of making an investment option switch, check out our simple explainer.

Forewarned is forearmed, as they say, so why not download our 2025 SMSF calendar to ensure you don’t miss any crucial dates, deadlines or opportunities in the year ahead.

SMSFs have many attractions but keeping up with the admin is not one of them. Here’s what you need to know to stay on the right side of the law.

They may be referred to as DIY funds, but in practice most SMSF trustees will need at least some professional advice, from setting up their fund to the annual audit and tax returns.

If you’ve ever wondered if you can transfer shares or a business property into your SMSF, the answer is yes but strict rules apply.

Self-managed super funds are generally a family affair, but “mates rates” for fund transactions or business dealings are strictly off limits.

SMSFs offer a high degree of flexibility and control over your retirement savings, but there are legal guardrails and hefty penalties for trustees who breach them.

Even if you aren’t eligible for the Age Pension, there are a variety of valuable concession and healthcare cards available, depending on your age, income and location.

After years of rapid change, we ask retirees and those thinking about retirement what they would do differently if they knew then what they know now.

While none of us knows exactly how long we will live, you can narrow the possibilities with these life expectancy projections based on Australian numbers.

While older people often eat less than when they were younger, they actually have increased dietary requirements for a range of nutrients. This mismatch between food intake and nutritional requirements can potentially result in deficiencies and accelerate ageing and disease risk. Discover what nutrients you need to increase once you hit 70.