Superannuation in Australia has a history that’s over 150 years long, but it’s really only in the last three decades that it’s become accessible to all working Australians. In that time, it’s undergone constant change, but does that mean we’re worse off than before – or better? ... Read more
Women and super
Women retire with less super on average than men because they earn less, so receive lower compulsory employer contributions, and are more likely to take time out of the paid workforce to care for family.
Women also live longer than men, so their retirement savings need to stretch further, and their super can particularly suffer in the event of a divorce.
Learn more about the key issues for women and super in the following SuperGuide articles:
Set out below are all SuperGuide articles that relate to Women and super.
Single women and super: How 3 women beat the statistics
I’ve known about salary sacrificing – its benefits, how to do it, when to do it – for almost the entire 20 years I’ve been writing about superannuation. But it took me a good 10 years (possibly closer to 12) before I actually filled in the forms with my then employer and started having a small percentage – 3 to 5% - ... Read more
Learn to love LISTO: Low income earners get their super tax refunded
It’s getting harder to pocket a tax refund these days, so when the Government is offering one for your super contributions, it’s worthwhile knowing just how you much you are likely to get. And best of all with the Low Income Superannuation Tax Offset – or LISTO for short – the tax man and your super fund do all the ... Read more
What is the Pension Loans Scheme, and how does it work?
From 1 July 2019, retirees looking for new ways to boost their retirement income or pay for expenses like home care have another option open to them following some big changes to the federal government’s Pension Loans Scheme (PLS). Although the PLS has been around for about 30 years, few retirees know about it and even ... Read more
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. Sometimes, the choice is made for you. Redundancy, ... Read more
What are the super and Age Pension rules for same-sex couples?
Australia has seen some momentous changes when it comes to the recognition of same-sex relationships in recent years, with the passage of the same-sex marriage legislation in December 2017 marking one of the most significant milestones. The new legislation has had less impact when it comes to super than in many other ... Read more
How much super do I need to retire?
No doubt you have heard people say you need a million dollars (or some other nice round figure) in superannuation before you can afford to retire. Often they are the same people trying to sell you investment products or advice. Don’t pay attention to them, because there is no magic number. The amount of super YOU need ... Read more
Super funds with the lowest fees for life and TPD insurance
According to the recent Productivity Commission (PC) report on superannuation, approximately 12 million Australians have some type of insurance through their super, and insurance within super accounts for just under half of the total market for life, TPD (total and permanent disability) and Income Protection ... Read more
Super funds with the lowest fees for income protection insurance
Income protection (IP) insurance (sometimes called salary continuance insurance) is available through about a third of super funds as default cover. It is one of three kinds of insurance available inside super, the others being life and TPD. Of the three, IP insurance is the least common. Income protection insures ... 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. The research, conducted by Rainmaker Information, has found super funds with more female representation at board level produce an average return of 9.6% over one year and 8.0% ... Read more
2019 Federal Election: ALP policies on super, tax and retirement
The 2019 Federal Election has been announced for 18 May, and both parties are now presenting their campaign policies to the nation. It’s important to be aware of these policies and any potential positive or negative impacts they may have on your super and retirement planning if the ALP wins the election. This article ... Read more
What are typical fees and costs for running an SMSF?
Many SMSF investors are in the dark about what are typical SMSF fees, and whether they are paying a fair price for SMSF advice and services. In an ASIC report from June 2018, 32% of SMSF members found setting up and running their SMSF to be more costly than expected, compared with just 9% of SMSF members who found it ... Read more
How is superannuation split in a divorce?
Superannuation can be divided between you and your partner if your marriage or de facto relationship breaks down and you permanently separate (including couples in same-sex relationships). However, there are specific rules that need to be followed in all situations to ensure compliance with both Australian super ... Read more
Contribution splitting: How to boost your spouse’s super
Topping up your spouse’s retirement savings account with some of your own super contributions can be a great way to help them save for life after work – and possibly save yourself some tax in the process. Splitting your super contributions with your spouse can be sensible if your spouse is only working part-time or ... Read more
Women and super: How to beat the odds
It’s no secret that women retire with less super on average than men, due to three strikes that hit women for six. Women earn less on average than men so receive lower compulsory employer contributions and they are more likely to take time out of the paid workforce to care for family. They also live longer than men, ... Read more