Federal Election, Super tips and strategies, Super funds of the year, DIY SMSFs, How much super do I need?
Highlights of the May 2019 edition of the SuperGuide Premium newsletter include:
- FEDERAL ELECTION: The Coalition election win should mean much less disruption to the super and tax rules in the short-term. As we near the end of the financial year though it pays to be across what the government has pledged in the Federal Budget and during the election. In a separate article we provide a refresher on the current super rules and the changes that are legislated for 1 July 2019. Daniel Brammall also reminds us that we need to see the promised recommendations from the Royal Commission come into effect.
- EOFY TIPS AND SUPER STRATEGIES: Janine Mace provides 10 useful super housekeeping tips for the end of the financial year. Don’t leave your contributions until it’s too late! In a separate article Janine has also developed a bumper pack of super tips and strategies whatever stage of life you’re at.
- SUPER FUNDS OF THE YEAR: Last night Chant West announced their super fund of the year. Find out who won, as well as the winners picked from the other major super research houses back to 2013.
- REAL DIY SMSF: While SMSFs are intrinsically self-managed, many trustees choose to outsource much of the administration and investing. Penny Pryor explores how it’s possible to go the other way and operate a truly DIY super fund, and how much it can impact your fund’s bottom line.
- BOARD DIVERSITY = BETTER RETURNS: Recent research has found that companies that have more female representation at board level produce higher returns. Alexandra Cain investigates what this means for super investors.
- HOW MUCH SUPER DO I NEED TO RETIRE? Barbara Drury looks at what you need to consider when considering when you might retire and how much super you may need. We have also updated our series of articles (and reckoners) with the latest figures, including how much super you need to retire on $60,000, $80,000 or $100,000 a year, and what retirement income $500,000, $750,000, $1 million, $1.6 million and $2 million in super can give you.
FEDERAL ELECTION AND THE 2019 SUPER RULES
2019 Federal Election: Coalition policies on super, tax and retirement
Following the surprise Coalition victory, refresh yourself on what the Liberals and Nationals pledged on super, tax and other retirement measures. Read more
Will the Coalition keep their Royal Commission promises to you?
Now that it has done the impossible by winning the election, will the Coalition do the improbable by keeping its pre-election promises to improve the quality of financial advice? Read more
The rules of superannuation: Your guide for 2019/2020
When you mention super, most people shake their head and mutter about the constant rule changes. This article is a quick guide to the key recent changes and when they commenced. Read more
Super’s rulebook: What rules apply to you at different ages?
Australia’s super system has lots of rules – many of which have significant penalties if you breach them – but not every rule applies to everybody at every age. Read more
What are the super and Age Pension rules for same-sex couples?
It was not that long ago that same-sex couples and families were treated differently to other couples and families for income tax and super law purposes. Read more
SUPER TIPS AND STRATEGIES
Super housekeeping: 10 tips for the end of financial year
With only a few weeks remaining before the end of the 2018/2019 financial year, it’s time to ensure you have your super affairs in order and all your paperwork is ready for the big day when you lodge your income tax return. Read more
Super tips and strategies for all ages
SuperGuide has assembled a list of useful tips and strategies to consider implementing in each decade of your life. And don’t wait until just before retirement. If you do, you will miss out on the valuable benefits of compound interest. Read more
FEATURES
Super funds of the year awards: Best super funds for 2018/2019
In this article we report the Funds of the Year as chosen by Chant West, Rainmaker and SuperRatings going back to 2013. For the latest year we’ll also list all the winners from other categories. Read more
Women come out on top in the battle of the sexes for super
New research shows investing in a super fund with more women at the upper echelons could increase balances by as much as $55,000 at retirement. Read more
Risk profiling and your investment choice
Investments exist on a risk spectrum. The higher the return, the higher the risk. So, your comfort with different levels of risk is crucial in determining what kind of assets you can, and should, invest in. Read more
Understanding the dynamics on which your super fund invests
The way the super industry tends to invest your money can be compared to a team sport, which more often than not involves third parties to execute investment strategies on their behalf. Read more
Selecting your super fund: Can I make the choice?
Not everybody is eligible to select the super fund into which their employer directs the Superannuation Guarantee (SG) contributions they make on their behalf. Read more
What are defined benefit super funds?
There’s lots of jargon in the super system and even when it comes to something as simple as the different types of super funds, it can be hard to know what they are and how they work. Read more
SMSFs
Real DIY SMSF: The ways that SMSFs can be ultra low-cost
Self-managed superannuation funds are often referred to as do it yourself funds or DIY Super. But how DIY can they really get? It it even possible to do everything yourself and if you were, how significant would the savings be? Read more
SMSF guide to hedging
SMSFs are increasing their allocation to international shares, with the Australian Taxation Office’s figures showing funds’ allocation to this asset class jumped to $6.18 billion last year, up from $1.8 billion in 2013. Read more
SMSFs: Investment property tax deduction mistakes
SMSFs can reduce their tax payable by claiming investment property expense deductions against the rental income they generate, but it’s important to understand what your fund can and can’t claim as investment property tax deductions. Read more
HOW MUCH SUPER DO I NEED TO RETIRE?
When should I retire?
The decision about when to retire is rarely made overnight. It’s a major life event and deserves careful thought and planning. Finances play a big part, but so do your health, your partner’s circumstances and whether you still enjoy your work or are itching to leave. Read more
How much super do I need to retire?
The amount of super YOU need to retire will depend on your personal circumstances, financial resources both inside and outside super and your lifestyle. So before you set an arbitrary super target, block out the fearmongers and think about the big picture. Read more
See also the following articles on how much retirement income particular super balances can generate…
- Is $2 million in super enough to retire on?
- Is $1.6 million in super enough to retire on?
- Is $1 million in super enough to retire on?
- Is $750,000 in super enough to retire on?
- Is $500,000 in super enough to retire on
- Super to income Reckoner
… and how much super you need to generate a particular income in retirement.
LATEST SUPER FUND RETURNS
Super fund performance: Monthly returns to July 2019
In this article you can learn the monthly performance for super funds over 5 investment options going back to July 2015. We’re grateful to Chant West for providing the statistics in this article. 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