Super & Funds

SUPER

Downsizing may not be the right answer

John Collett Baby boomers looking to fund their retirement by downsizing the family home could be clutching at straws.

A million in the super fund won't be enough for retirement

John Collett While the growth in the projected pool of superannuation savings is impressive, it belies the harsh reality facing those not far off retirement. Increasing life spans, the effect of the GFC on superannuation accounts and the fact that the superannuation guarantee started only in 1992 is leaving older workers underfunded.

SELF-EMPLOYED SUPER TRAPS

Don't let those contributions take you down

Max Newnham There are very strict tests when it comes to deciding whether a person is a true contractor or an employee.

SUPER

Regulation called for to oversee SMSFs

John Collett ASIC and the new government need to consider bringing property spruikers who recommend self-managed super funds inside the licensing net.

Superannuation

Most Australians don't expect a super retirement

Madeleine Heffernan Most Australians don't believe they will have enough retirement savings and say superannuation funds are not transparent enough on fees and charges, a survey has found.

SUPER

Big country makes size count

Penny Pryor The 15 largest Australian superannuation funds have recently moved up the league tables.

INTELLIGANT INVESTOR

Time for Coalition to walk the pro-super talk

Richard Livingston Tony Abbott said the Coalition wouldn't make any "negative unexpected changes" to superannuation. Now they're in government we'll get the chance to see what he meant.

INSIGHT

Asset allocation can be the decider in super funds

Clancy Yeates There's a lot to consider when picking a super fund. Perhaps the most important factor is how your money is spread out.

SAGGING SUPER

Bleak future for funds

Katherine Jimenez Former Future Fund chairman David Murray says super funds will be in the doldrums for the next few years.

SUPER

CSIRO, unis look to create a golden age

John Collett Serious intellectual firepower is being brought to bear on the problem of Australia's ageing population.

Money's weekly Morningstar tables

See how your investments have done with Money's weekly Morningstar tables

SUPER

Kiwis face hurdles in pursuit of lost funds

John Collett New Zealanders are believed to be the owners of perhaps up to a quarter of the Australia's $18 billion in ''lost'' super. And it's very hard for them to get it back.

SUPER

First home enticer is simple and super

David Potts Why can't first home buyers use some of their superannuation as a deposit to buy a home?

SUPER

Insurance is a risk when doing it yourself

John Collett The SMSF industry is pushing the virtues of managing your own super fund. And the message appears to be hitting home.

Superannuation

Assets ride rally to records

CLANCY YEATES Australia's pool of retirement savings has overtaken the total value of Australian bank deposits.

SELF-MANAGED FUNDS

Make super borrowing safe as houses

John Kavanagh The SMSF borrowing market is small but starting to grow fast as trustees seek the security of property

SUPER

Playing catch-up is hard - but worth it

John Collett Salary sacrificing to super is still the best way to help make up for lost time.

Money's weekly Morningstar tables

Click here to check your funds.

SUPER

Playing politics with retirement savings

John Collett The Coalition says Labor is attacking the retirement savings of the better off. But what are the two sides proposing?

SUPER

Super fires up with equities

John Collett Twenty-one years after the start of compulsory superannuation, the system is going strong, with returns hitting pre-GFC levels.

SUPER

In-house funds yield happiest returns

John Collett Superannuation funds run by companies for their employees, both private and public sector, are among the best performers over the long term.

Uncertainty looms over uni's staff pensions

UniSuper members have much to consider before finalising their retirement plans, Daryl Dixon says.

Populism ignores the need for real super reform

Opinion Labor and the Coalition's plan to bolster military pensions is short-sighted and deeply flawed, Andrew Podger argues.

SUPER SAFETY

Managing things right makes a super difference

Penny Pryor As the GFC showed, when you retire makes a big difference to what you retire with - and it's something that not enough people pay attention to.