Age Pension rates, Seniors Health Card, Independent financial advice, SMSF investment
Welcome to the September 2018 edition of the SuperGuide Premium newsletter. Highlights include:
- AGE PENSION RATES: New rates apply from 20 September 2018. Find out how much you could be eligible for with our Age Pension calculator.
- COMMONWEALTH SENIORS HEALTH CARD: The income thresholds for the CSHC have also been raised. Learn more about the benefits of the card, and how to apply
- INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVICE: SuperGuide has been tracking Australia’s truly independent financial advisers since 2010. Sadly there are far fewer than there should be. Find out who is on the list from your state.
- SMSF INVESTMENT: We look at the assets that are most popular with SMSF trustees, and how in specie transfers work.
- LIFECYCLE SUPER FUNDS: These present a different approach for super fund members to set and forget. They are designed to match your risk profile to your age, but how do they perform compared to standard super funds?
THE SOAPBOX
Retirement planning tips and strategies if you are in your 50s
In your 50s you’re in the final stretch before retirement, so it’s important to pay attention to your super to ensure you’re set to reach your retirement goals.
Writing your SMSF investment strategy (including templates)
As an SMSF trustee, your fund’s investment strategy is one of the most important documents you will ever create so it’s important to get it right.
FEATURES
Commonwealth Seniors Health Card: Eligibility and how to apply
A government concession card to get cheaper healthcare can make a big difference to your retirement budget – and you don’t need to be on the Age Pension to qualify.
Which asset classes are popular with SMSFs?
Listed Australian shares continue to be the most popular asset class for SMSF trustees but other assets are gaining ground.
How the Division 293 tax works: Super surcharge for high earners
High-income earners pay extra tax on their concessional super contributions, so it’s important to understand the rules.
In your 50s? The super rules that apply to you
When you reach your 50s, it’s time to get serious about your super, so here’s the key super rules for your age group.
MAKING SUPER CONTRIBUTIONS
Non-concessional super contributions guide (2023–24)
Making a personal contribution into your super can be a great way to boost your retirement nest egg and enjoy the tax-effective benefits of the super system.
How to make super contributions after you’ve retired
Once you’re retired, making super contributions gets trickier. But it’s not impossible, so it’s worth learning which contributions remain available to you.
Managing capital gains in your SMSF portfolio
Capital gains are an investment goal, but they leave you with a tax liability, so it’s worth checking some of the strategies for cutting your CGT bill.
What on earth is an in specie transfer?
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.
AGE PENSION CHANGES
Age Pension rates (March 2024 to September 2024)
Age Pension rates increase on 20 March 2024. This article also explains how the Age Pension works, and includes the latest Age Pension rates for residents, non-residents, and the transitional Age Pension.
Age Pension calculator (March 2024 update)
Our Age Pension calculator gives you an estimate of your potential Age Pension entitlements for the period 20 September 2023 to 19 March 2024.
What is the Age Pension age?
The age at which eligible retirees can start receiving the Age Pension has risen to 67. Bad news if you were born from 1957 on, but the good news is there are no plans to lift the age further.
Age Pension assets test rules (from March 2024)
This article details the rules and limits of the Age Pension assets test (how much your savings and other assets are worth), which is one half of the means test (along with the income test) that determines how much Age Pension you could be eligible for.
Age Pension income test rules (from March 2024)
A common question for those nearing or in retirement is “How much can a pensioner earn before it affects the pension?”.