This Month
See which super funds rate the worst for retirement
Regulators have criticised the super industry for largely ignoring a new obligation to help members prepare for retirement.
- Hannah Wootton and Joanna Mather
- Opinion
- SMSFs
How to stop your super fund running out of money when you retire
‘De-risking’ your investment strategy is critical as you get older to retain your cash flow requirements and preserve the capital in your SMSF.
- Ben Smythe
- Opinion
- Opinion
Reached midlife? Time to write the retirement rules
In the second half of life, some things that may have seemed unattainable move within reach, so be curious about what might give your life a greater sense of meaning.
- Bec Wilson
‘Nothing but a retiree’: why Boomers are turning to lifestyle coaches
Dramatic increases in life expectancy mean more years in retirement, but some people find themselves struggling to find worth and meaning.
- Duncan Hughes
What a $3m retirement looks like in Australia
Whether it’s lavish overseas holidays with the family, or more modest travel destinations closer to home, there are retirement plans to suit every budget.
- Duncan Hughes
SMSFs forced to sell to cover $3m super tax: study
Farmers and small business owners were particularly likely to be forced to sell assets to finance the tax, the study shows, with 13.5 per cent of affected SMSFs too illiquid to pay the tax without sales.
- Hannah Wootton
What super funds spend on ads, donations, exec pay to be made public
APRA warned funds it wants to publish the data. It comes as, in the battle for members, funds launch bigger advertising campaigns and elite sport sponsorship.
- Hannah Wootton
- Opinion
- Opinion
Why the first five years are the most important in retirement
Stopping work is not the finishing line, but the start of an exciting life chapter. There’s important psychological and financial prep work to do first.
- Tim Mackay
Crackdown for employers dodging super stapling laws
The government is also moving ahead with its plan to introduce payday super amid a flurry of law reform for the retirement income sector.
- Hannah Wootton
How ‘nation building’ can deliver competitive super returns
AustralianSuper’s Don Russell cites infrastructure as an area where the $3.5 trillion sector has helped modernise Australia without compromising on returns.
- Hannah Wootton
Big super rejects government call to solve aged care funding crisis
While Labor flags nation-building aged care, super funds resist using Australians’ savings as a “fix-all” source of needed revenue.
- Updated
- Hannah Wootton
How to turn your super portfolio green
Forty years after Australian Ethical opened its doors, the $3.5 trillion superannuation sector is scrambling to launch and grow similar ethically invested products. What is on the market and best for investors?
- Hannah Wootton
- Opinion
- Aged care
The government subsidy you can get no matter how wealthy you are
If you want to stay in your own home as you get older, understanding how the finances work – and what support is available – can help you make the right decisions.
- Louise Biti
Labor pushes ahead with $3m superannuation tax
The government will release draft legislation today on its plan to crack down on tax concessions for big balance accounts.
- Hannah Wootton
September
What to do if your super fund fails the performance test
Around 60,000 investors’ options flunked the annual test this year, and that is set to grow in 2024 as more products are reviewed. If you are one of them, APRA wants you to “think about moving your money”.
- Hannah Wootton
‘Small home’ bonanza as granny flats get green light
Victoria is the latest state to overhaul restrictions on backyard homes that can generate income. But experts warn there are legal, tax and funding challenges.
- Duncan Hughes
Can I withdraw $500,000 from my super fund as a lump sum?
The answer is yes, but how you do it could make all the difference to potential inheritance top-ups later.
- John Wasiliev
- Opinion
- SMSFs
This is the smart way to ensure regular cash flow in retirement
Portfolio rebalancing is the secret sauce that makes moving away from a reliance on income possible.
- Ben Smythe
- Exclusive
- Property downsizing
Retirees pour $14.5b into downsizer super contributions
Over-55s who sell the family home can top up their superannuation by $300,000 for individuals and $600,000 for couples.
- Duncan Hughes
Watchdog tightens screws on super funds’ spending
The watchdog has proposed reforms requiring that they better explain how every dollar spent is in members’ best financial interests and how they set fees.
- Hannah Wootton
