While there has not officially been any death duties in Australia for decades, they definitely still exist, albeit under another name – superannuation death benefit taxes. As superannuation assets and individual balances continue to grow, more and more Australian families will receive a rude shock after the death of a family member in the form…
Getting more money into superannuation is a proven way of building wealth to spend in retirement. Ongoing contributions from your employer over the course of your working life, and potentially extra contributions made by you, can make a huge difference to your super balance over the long term as your account balance continues to grow….
Retirement is a phase of life most of us look forward to. It’s a chance to pursue other interests, travel and maybe do some part-time work or volunteering. Thanks to more than 30 years of compulsory superannuation, we are retiring with more savings than previous generations but that also brings its challenges. According to the…
Volatility is part and parcel of investing so it’s important to put it into perspective and look at the full picture when thinking about your wealth, rather than focus on day-to-day market swings. If there was to be a single investing lesson that emerged from the events of the last two years, it is that…
The lure of greater control over your retirement savings with a self-managed super fund may be enticing but the freedom to chart your own destiny also comes with the responsibility to comply with the rules. Where super is concerned, these rules can be complex and subject to change. An SMSF is a private super fund…
With interest rates on the rise and investment returns increasingly volatile, Australians with cash to spare may be wondering how to make the most of it. If you have a mortgage, should you make extra repayments or would you be better off in the long run boosting your super? The answer is, it depends. Your…
Will I have enough money to enjoy the retirement lifestyle I envision when I retire? It’s a question many of us will need to ponder at one point. It’s a question most of us will need to ponder at some stage in our lives. When I retire, will I have enough money built up in…
An interesting finding in the federal government’s Retirement Income Review report is that many Australians are dying with the majority of the wealth they had when they retired. Having enough superannuation to enjoy a financially comfortable retirement lifestyle is most Australians’ aspiration. As the super system continues to mature, and with the benefit of compounding…
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, women are retiring with 37% less than men in their super accounts, which is a frightening thought considering women, on average, live up to five years longer. So, what’s behind the super gap? The super gap is partly due to the lower average earnings of women. Data from…
For many people, the idea of managing and investing in your own retirement savings is very appealing. But there is debate over whether running your own self-managed super fund (SMSF) is cost-effective. So, what are the arguments for and against having your own fund? Taking control of your super People choose to run their own…