Superannuation
Will you have enough super?
SUPER fund balances need significant fattening to catch up to the amount required to deliver a comfortable lifestyle come retirement.
Why funeral bonds are suddenly popular
THERE’S been a huge spike in the number of people investing in funeral bonds, and the trend is set to increase in the next couple of months. Here’s why.
How to find the best super fund
AN alarmingly high number of people are apathetic about switching super funds — but an expert is urging Aussies to look a little closer at their investment goals.
The holy grail of property buying
PEOPLE who are struggling to buy a home now have some more hope, with the holy grail of property one step closer.
Super fund fees affect your future
HOW much is too much when it comes to paying superannuation fund fees? If you don’t know, you may not enjoy the retirement you imagine.
ScoMo-mentum achieved as super rich hit
A DEAL that goes after tax breaks for Australian millionaires is fuelling the ScoMo-mentum of the Turnbull Government’s recovery plan.
Super laws welcome but half-baked
CHANGES to superannuation rules that were announced in the May Budget have been introduced in federal Parliament.
The ‘obscene’ tax-free kick MPs get
FINANCIAL strategists want politicians and public servants getting a tax-free retirement to cut their own perks before touching Australians’ retirement savings.
Figures that will silence the rebels
THESE are the figures the government hopes will silence the rebels in its ranks standing in the way of Budget repair.
If super plans fail we’re in trouble
IF politicians can’t compromise over tougher new superannuation rules, the economy will suffer — a new report claims.
Is your lost super about to be taken?
SUPER fund members face losing life insurance cover amid a rule change that will automatically transfer more forgotten funds into Federal Government coffers.
Shorten’s super phone call
LABOR has proposed an escape route for the PM and his unpopular super scheme. Not that the government is likely to listen.
Be your own super hero
SUPER powers are available to all Australian savers who are prepared to use them to create a retirement they can enjoy.
House pain for one in four retirees
MANY Australian retirees are cash-strapped with a quarter renting their homes or paying off a mortgage once they stop work.
How to claim your lost $10,000
AUSSIES are sitting on a whopping $12 billion pot of “lost” cash averaging $10,000 each. Claiming your share is easy.
Seniors set to be super flexible
PLANNED changes to superannuation rules should make it easier for older Australians to put money away for a tax-free retirement.
The new pension rule affecting Aussies
PENSIONERS and people nearing retirement are being urged to check their assets before rule changes that will affect hundreds of thousands of Australians.
‘It’s your money, not the government’s’
MALCOLM Turnbull faces more backlash from within the Coalition on his superannuation changes, after a Liberal National MP vowed to cross the floor and vote against them.
How to become a super millionaire
ONE million dollars is a daunting number, but some long-term strategies and investing can help make it possible to build a nest egg that big.
How you could save $35,000
ONE less glass of wine at the pub each week could leave you $17,000 better off. One less beer could make that more than $35,000. Here’s how.
Super funds lose cash after Brexit
BREXIT-triggered falls on sharemarkets in Australia have cast a cloud over the potential for positive super fund returns.
A super way to insure yourself
MANY Australians are underinsured so attaching group life and other insurance to your super is a great way to cover yourself and your family.
Kochie: Ignore the super spin
CUT the spin from the government’s planned superannuation changes to see if they will hit your personal finance wheel of fortune.
Dire warning for Aussie dollar
IT GOES against everything we’ve been told about our “robust” economy, but the Australian dollar is about to take a massive hit.
Rich parents of Instagram outdo kids
IF YOU thought the rich kids of Instagram were ostentatious, you haven’t seen mum and dad.
Kochie’s weapons against low inflation
LOW inflation is here to stay and the ripple effect can wreck your investment expectations. Here’s what this means for you.
Scandals in world’s richest building
IT’S home to more billionaires than any building in the world — but after a series of scandals, it has become a public embarrassment.
Radical change that bosses are making
IT’S THE radical new way big companies are sweetening the deal for women, but not everyone is keen.
Clock is ticking for super savings
JUNE is one of the most important months for people wanting to boost their retirement savings with extra superannuation contributions.
How Julie Bishop could save the election
SHE’S campaigning as hard as Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten, but Julie Bishop has something both party leaders lack.
Senator’s trainwreck interview
FIRST it was Julie Bishop. Now Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has redefined the term trainwreck interview.
Australia’s unluckiest postcode
IF YOU want to get a home loan in this part of the country, good luck. The big banks have decided it’s not worth the bother.
Five minutes to save you thousands
NEARLY half of us are paying thousands of dollars a year that we don’t need to. Saving that money literally takes five minutes.
Ignore money advice from your mates
WHETHER you’re at a backyard barbecue or at work, it feels like there’s always someone ready to pounce and give you their take on your money.
Why working for yourself can be costly
SELF-employed people are struggling to retire comfortably with more than a quarter of them finishing work with no super.
Plan early for your second 50 years
A NEW guide explains how people’s second life begins at 50, and reinforces the need to think about financial factors earlier than previous generations.
Kochie’s advice to Aussie women
WOMEN are caught in a double whammy of lower average super balances financing generally longer lives - but David Koch has a few tips to help make you super-savvy.
Double hit on retirees’ income
ADVISERS often say it’s better to invest in bank shares rather than bank deposits — but both are pretty poor at the moment.
Why two eggs are better than one
COUPLES have much more flexibility when navigating the fresh round of superannuation changes unveiled in last week’s Budget.
Why being greedy about pensions doesn’t pay
RETIREES shouldn’t try to pull one over on Centrelink because system upgrades are making it easier to catch people out.
The $1.3 trillion broken promise
TONY Abbott once called it “one of the biggest con jobs ever foisted on the Australian people”. He was probably right.
Super changes ‘not retrospective’
THE government is dismissing claims its super changes are retrospective after an attack by former Abbott government chief of staff Peta Credlin.
Why you need to plan your retirement now
YOU’RE going to need to start planning your retirement earlier after the Government made a dozen changes to superannuation.
Stay on track with super
SUPERANNUATION is likely to take a hit in today’s budget. But there’s one simple way you can avoid getting stung.
How best to splash a cash windfall
IT’S a problem we’d love to have: what to do if you won or inherited $100,000. Most Aussies would use it to take a holiday — but there are much wiser ideas.
Why Gen Y scores best with money goals
WHILE a third of Generation Ys say they set financial goals, only 15 per cent of Generation X do the same, a study has found.
How to save thousands with a clean-up
YOU clean out your cupboards and drawers to de-clutter your life but taking the same approach to your personal finances can save you cash.
Something you may not know about super
IT’S never too soon to take charge of your superannuation so if you work for someone or are self-employed keep track of your super to make sure it is heading in the right direction.
How to make the right financial choices
WE are bombarded with financial choices every day and new investment products pop up regularly, so how do you pick the right place for your money?
Act quickly to grab a tax bonus
RULE changes in superannuation are expected to remove a tasty tax treat that some pre-retirees have been enjoying for several years.
Make the first super fund count
TIES with your superannuation fund can last longer than many marriages, so choosing that first account is an important decision.
Avoid a family fight over money
BATTLES over deceased estates are getting bigger and bloodier as blended families, longer lifespans, and rising property and superannuation values spark contested wills.
When two nest eggs are better than one
SUPER fund members are constantly told to consolidate their accounts to save on fees, but sometimes it can be a good idea to double up.
Why it’s best to ignore your falling super
AS super balances tumble along with world stockmarkets the experts are saying your best response it probably to hang on and do nothing.
The super big bang theory
PUMPING piles of extra cash into superannuation ahead of retirement can make good financial sense if you know the rules.
Why Gen Y savers are falling behind
WHILE older Aussies grow more financially stable, younger generations are struggling. A new report has revealed the reasons for the worsening gap.
Aussies can’t access their cash
MULTIPLE super funds are preventing Aussies from accessing their retirement savings, leaving them desperate to switch funds just so they can survive.
Do a quick super health check
TAKE just a few minutes out of your day to review your superannuation and you’ll put your retirement savings in much better shape.
How the ATO is taking your super
THE Australian Taxation Office could be pocketing your lost retirement savings without you even realising. Act now to claw back your lost savings.
Where your super savings are going
IT’S been a year of growth for retirement savers, but investment returns are at their lowest level since 2011. And experts believe 2016 will the same.
How technology is transforming super
AUSTRALIAN nest eggs are being altered by innovation. Here are six areas to watch.
Senior start-ups a growing trend
A WAVE of older Australians are becoming entrepreneurs for the first time and it can deliver emotional and financial benefits — but it definitely pays to plan.
The bad move you’re making with super
MORE superannuation is being withdrawn out of retirement accounts in lump sums instead of being taken out as a steady income. Here’s why that’s bad.
Why women are put off by super
BOOSTING your super can be as simple as salary sacrificing $20 a week but many women feel powerless to act.
The battle for super heats up
RIVALRY in the superannuation sector is intensifying, and it’s all about who gets to control your nest egg. This is one battle we should be watching.
Travel tips for senior savings
SENIORS love travel and have some special opportunities to enjoy bigger savings than younger generations.
Super is not for your kids
WHEN it comes to retirement many older Australians are planning to give their super to their kids.
Women need a super boost
CAREER breaks, lower pay and self-employment all conspire to threaten women from retiring in comfort — but here’s what you can do to change that.
Taking control of super pays off
TAKING advantage of choices connected to your superannuation will help you end up with fatter savings come retirement.
Golden years look bleak for women
MANY women could be living in poverty once they stop work as the gender retirement savings gap widens.
Act now or lose millions to ATO
HUNDREDS of thousands of Australians risk having $480 million in retirement savings handed over to the tax office if they don’t do something about it.
How to be super at any age
SAVING for retirement begins as soon as you start working but the strategies you employ will vary. Here is our simple guide to how to save through the ages.
Watch for moving money goalposts
FROM age pensions to property finance to a new Prime Minister, here’s a look at why the finances of many of us are having the goalposts moved.
Is your nest egg in good shape?
AS more people take a closer look as their superannuation balances, there are several things to check to make sure your life savings are in the best shape possible. .
Super suggestions ignite debate
A CAT was thrown among the pigeons in the superannuation world as suggestions for change got some people in a flap.
Super versus the mortgage: the winner is ...
DO you seek tax benefits from super or interest savings from mortgages? It’s a question worth asking yourself.
Singles don’t have enough to retire
AS if being single isn’t bad enough. Now new figures show single Australians are likely to have less than two thirds of the savings they will need to retire.
How to get free money advice
PAYING for financial advice can cost an arm and a leg but this week you can get expert advice on your money for nothing.
Be a super volunteer and get richer
MAKING voluntary superannuation contributions can go a long way. Just $10 a week can make a massive difference to the size of your final nest egg.
The best tax fix ever
THEY’RE not usually regarded as heroes, but the Australian Taxation Office has made a simple change that is saving Aussies a lot of time, and even more money.
How women can take control of their money
HERE’S why these days women should not think that having a man is a financial plan.
Financial fitness for seniors
WITH no employment income as a back-up, here are five ways for retirees to stay financially fit.
Smaller super balances are enough
CLAIMS Australians need at least $1 million in superannuation to live a comfortable retirement are misleading, experts say.
How to make as much super as you can
GOOD financial strategies can put more money in retirees’ pockets, and stop the government from grabbing your children’s inheritance once you’re gone.
Do you know what you need to retire?
SAVING for retirement is not as scary as it first appears so follow these guidelines and you’ll be on the right track.
How to be a super hero
CUT the amount of tax you pay in a single blow, power up your savings and fight for a richer retirement with these strategies.
Super proposal could save billions
THE Productivity Commission has revealed a revolutionary plan to raise up to $7 billion more tax revenue: just make people work longer. Simple.
Hidden fee that will cost you $40k
COMPANIES are using hidden price hikes to whittle away your hard-earned cash. You could be losing up to $40,000.
‘Unjustified’ changes upset unions
THE government is picking a fight with union-backed superannuation funds, proposing strict new laws to bring them into line with the rest of the industry.
Time to claim your free money
IF you are a low income earner you could be eligible for free money but you’ll need to top up your super before the end of the month
Aussies’ surprising reaction to tax
YOU’D think most Australians hate taxes. But new data reveals we have an unusual attitude to giving the government lots of our hard-earned cash.
Cash-strapped Aussies raid super
A RECORD number of Australians are being given approval to access their superannuation early — but experts say it could prove costly.
GFC was ‘the beginning of the end’
MORE economists are sounding alarm bells about the dire state of the global economy. Here’s how to protect your money when it comes.
Number that could derail Shorten
IT’S a key figure being used at the centre of Labor’s election strategy. There’s only one problem: it’s probably wrong.
50% of Aussies face Super shortfall
NEARLY half of the Australian population retiring within the next four decades will not have enough money to live comfortably.
Kochie: how to be a super star
DAVID Koch knows superannuation may not be the sexiest subject, but the idea of retiring rich should make it more attractive.
The government’s big mistake
THE Federal Government has stubbornly refused to consider changes to a system that its own experts are warning needs to be reformed.
Just how expensive is your skin?
YOUNG adults are spending up big on body art — but they might not be thinking very far down the track.
Tip extra cash into your super
THERE’S no better time than now to tip extra money into super as the end of the financial year nears.
Will the real Budget please stand up?
THE argy bargy over Budget numbers is happening. The Budget battle has already begun with both sides throwing shade at each other.
Who is Tony trying to schmooze now?
IF TONY Abbott is to stay in power he needs to win over one key group of Australians and he has a plan to do it.
A super election is coming
CHRIS Bowen has taken Tony Abbott’s bait and wants to fight head on about superannuation.
Cash is not king when it comes to your super
Falling cash returns have hit many superannuation funds hard but there are still safe ways to boost your retirement income.
