May 2020 newsletter

In this article you can discover the top 10 performing All Growth super funds over 1 year and 10 years to 30 June 2020. All Growth funds have 96-100% invested in growth assets.

In this article you can discover the top 10 performing Balanced pension funds over 1 year and 10 years to 30 June 2020. Balanced funds have 41-60% invested in growth assets.

It was fitting that sustainability and a focus on the long term were the focus of this year’s Chant West Super Fund of the Year Awards.

Super funds rose for the third straight month in June, making a 6.5% comeback from the COVID cliff the previous quarter. By the end of the financial year, most funds ended up near where they started with some funds managing a modest positive return. All in all, that’s a good outcome from one of the most turbulent financial years in the past century.

Despite a partial rebound in April, all lifecycle fund age cohorts have had negative returns for the financial year to date. Younger members with higher exposure to risk assets have borne the brunt of the downturn, while older members with a more defensive asset allocation have been cushioned from the worst of the falls.

In the early to mid stages of your working life you need to pay attention to your super to ensure it’s growing steadily. But you also need to know the rules about making contributions and withdrawals.

When you get to your 50s, you should be paying a lot more attention to your super savings. So you need to know all the rules about making contributions and withdrawing money from your account.

Once you reach age 60, the rules of the super system change, so it’s important to know all the rules governing when you can make contributions and withdraw money from your account.

Once you reach age 70, your ability to make contributions into your super account is limited, so it’s important to ensure you know all the rules governing when you can make contributions and withdraw money.

Access to early super resumes, ASIC defers mortgage broker reforms, Royal Commission calls for submissions on COVID-19, ASIC warns against day trading, SMSF annual returns deferred, Older Australians see silver lining.

If you want to exercise your right to choose a super fund, you must complete the Standard Choice Form that your employer gives you, and return it to your employer.

If you have worked in New Zealand and have a KiwiSaver account, it’s possible to transfer those savings across the ditch if you have since moved to Australia. Just don’t expect it to be easy.

If you’re thinking of transferring a UK pension into an Australian super fund, the process has become much more difficult in recent years, but not impossible.

Market volatility should prompt a look at asset allocations and the potential need to rebalance investments.

When markets fall by as much, and as quickly, as they have recently, it’s easy to conclude that it’s time to move all your assets into the safe haven of cash or something tangible like property. For those nearing retirement, these kinds of concerns are even more heightened, as many trustees watch money they thought they would have to live on in retirement, dwindle overnight.

A core and satellite asset allocation strategy is one of the most popular ways to invest. But does it still make sense when markets are falling?

Self-managed super fund (SMSF) investors were left reeling after three of the big four banks slashed dividends across the board, with ANZ and Westpac suspending theirs altogether and NAB cutting its by 64%. CBA has said it won’t make a final decision on its dividend until August when it reports its full year results.

In bad news for retirees and others who depend on dividend cheques (and dividend imputation rebate cheques from the Tax Office) bank dividends have largely evaporated. But it’s not as bad as many commentators suggest, and actually good for some investors.

In a low interest rate environment, debate has been sparked about whether ‘safe’ pension withdrawal rates are still safe. With the economic impact of the coronavirus also putting pressure on share prices and dividend payments, the issue is more topical than ever.

In this video interview David Williams from My Longevity talks about the 3 stages of ageing, and how long each stage generally lasts.

Whether by choice or necessity, more Australians are embracing working for longer. Yet there are obstacles to overcome when you’re looking for work in your 50s and older.

As people live longer, mature age is being redefined. Far from viewing retirement as the final curtain call, a growing number of retirees see the milestone as the start of something new. It’s a chance to explore the world, pursue an adventure, learn new skills, graduate from university and celebrate the best of a whole new life stage.