Super & Funds
DIY SUPER
Borrowing to buy property in your SMSF?
Richard Livingston Self-managed super fund borrowing may not be a problem for the government, however it's likely to cause financial distress for some investors in coming years.
SUPER & FUNDS
More to a super fund's returns than its size
John Collett 12:15 AM The great divide in the performances of super funds is between not-for-profit and retail funds and not so much their size, figures from SuperRatings show.
Super funds look at options amid market turmoil
Sally Rose Most superannuation members are on track for a gain in March after five months of consecutive losses, but many funds are diversifying ahead of further expected turmoil.
SUPER & FUNDS
Rock-star fund managers mostly yesterday's heroes
John Collett It doesn't seem all that long ago that some fund managers had almost rock-star status, at least among investors.
REST wants contributions at 15pc
Sally Rose REST Industry Super chief executive Damian Hill wants compulsory superannuation contributions raised to 15 per cent.
SUPER & FUNDS
Some accountants to give up on DIY super fund trustees
John Collett DIY fund trustees who use the services of accountants need to ask them what licensing arrangements they will have in place from July 1.
QSuper offers cash bonus to take pension over lump sum
Sally Rose QSuper has become the first major superannuation fund to offer its retiring members a cash bonus for moving their accumulated savings into a pension account rather than taking a lump sum.
Aberdeen's Gilbert says China won't repeat market mistakes
James Eyers Martin Gilbert, founder of Aberdeen Asset Management, met Chinese market regulators and central bankers in the past week - he shares their insights.
Super funds push for more ESG disclosure
Ruth Liew One out of three ASX 200 companies have poor disclosure when it comes to reporting their environmental, social and governance practices, research has found.
SUPER & FUNDS
Early retirement? You're dreamin'
John Collett More Australians want to retire early than just about any other nationality, but we are also less likely to afford it.
BOURIS ON MONEY
A super exemption for low earners
Mark Bouris The economic idea that most intrigues me is the exempting of low-income workers from the superannuation guarantee.
Fixing the super gender gap will need equal pay
Sally Rose The chairman of a Senate inquiry into the economic security of women in retirement, NSW Labor Senator Jenny McAllister, has hinted the group will push for changes.
QSuper sidesteps recent sharemarket turmoil
Sally Rose Having a limited exposure to the global sharemarket rout, that has erased 3 per cent of the average Australians' retirement savings in 2016, positioned QSuper to be the top-performing super fund in January.
SUPER & FUNDS
Fear drives surge in gold price
John Collett The gold price has risen about 20 per cent since the start of this year.
Super funds down 3pc so far this year
Sally Rose A horror start to 2016 in global sharemarkets has pushed the average superannuation account balance down roughly 3 per cent for the year already.
Challenger interim profit jumps 80pc to $234m
Ruth Liew Challenger said its interim profit jumped 80 per cent to $234 million as improved sales and investment gains boosted the bottom line of Australia's biggest annuities provider.
SUPERANNUATION
Take the super selfie challenge on Facebook
Annika Bradley Australians spend an average of 1.7 hours a day on Facebook but almost no time thinking about their superannuation.
SUPER & FUNDS
Super tax breaks in firing line
John Collett Superannuation tax breaks for the better-off should be tackled.
ASSET CHECK
Save in super or pay off the house?
Even given the tax benefits of super, the returns from reducing the mortgage are higher.
SUPERANNUATION
Smart super moves before May budget
John Collett The May budget is expected to include changes to superannuation aimed at making savings on the budget's bottom line.
NOEL WHITTAKER
Make plans for transition to retirement before May
Noel Whittaker Politicians from all sides of politics are gazing wistfully at our superannuation.
Report finds retail funds charge more for less
Sally Rose The non-profit superannuation lobby has accused its bank-owned rivals of opposing new product disclosure "dashboard' rules in a bid to conceal "price-gouging", as new research shows retail funds charge higher fees.
ASSET CHECK
'Transition to retirement' is not a tax dodge
Daryl Dixon Far from being a tax dodge, the ability to start a superannuation pension while still working encourages people to stay in the workforce for some time.
ASSET CHECK
Diminishing super attractions
Daryl Dixon Unless you are close to retirement, diverting money into super can and often does result in financial problems before you can access it.
SUPER & FUNDS
Super strategy a boon for the well-off
John Collett The transition to retirement strategy has become a way for the well-off to avoid tax.
The selfie revolution in super
David Potts Move over baby boomers, young women are the ones into selfie super funds.
YOUR QUESTIONS
How to optimise super in your 60s
George Cochrane Buying property for a SMSF is questionable when people are close to retirement age.
HER MONEY
Super and the self-employed
Sally Patten Small business owners too often fall into the trap of assuming their business is going to fund their retirement. It may not.
SUPER & FUNDS
Check on where your super is going
John Collett It's almost a year since the banks were exposed for offering their business clients inducements to make the banks' super funds the default fund for their employees.
Volatile markets no reason to ditch super strategy
John Collett The summer break is when we refresh and get into a positive frame of mind for the year ahead. But even the most “glass half full” type of person must be feeling at least a little nervous about their personal finances this year But even the most “glass half full” type of person must be feeling at least a little nervous about their personal finances this year.
