![The non-concessional contribution cap will drop from $180,000 to $100,000 a year, but the three-year bring-forward rule ...](/web/20170604164536im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/2/4/x/8/image.related.wideLandscape.460x259.gwhwgg.png/1496288136914.jpg)
Super & Funds
![The non-concessional contribution cap will drop from $180,000 to $100,000 a year, but the three-year bring-forward rule ...](/web/20170604164536im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/2/4/x/8/image.related.wideLandscape.460x259.gwhwgg.png/1496288136914.jpg)
Australians paying $31 billion in super fees every year
![Will we have enough to get through to the end?](/web/20170604164536im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/o/k/s/b/image.related.landscape.120x80.gwexb2.png/1496000252728.jpg)
Australians are paying $31 billion in superannuation fees every year, with half that money going to funds that manage just 30 per cent of all accounts.
Why it's important to know what fees you are paying on super
![High fees can hobble the returns of super funds.](/web/20170604164536im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/z/5/c/x/image.related.landscape.120x80.gwe21n.png/1496151690867.jpg)
Fund managers and super funds with high fees claim that it's not fees that matter, but the returns after fees.
The one thing wealthy super fund members need to do before June 30
![Illustration: Simon Letch](/web/20170604164536im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/9/b/2/p/image.related.landscape.120x80.gwdav1.png/1496327717302.jpg)
June 30 is rapidly approaching and there is still much confusion among the wealthier members of our society regarding the $1.6 million limit for superannuation.
The big problem of super for small-business owners
![Small Business Ombudsman Kate Carnell says women business owners are particularly at risk of ending up without adequate ...](/web/20170604164536im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/e/a/9/e/image.related.landscape.120x80.gwd9qa.png/1496151714401.jpg)
How would you rate the chances of 2 million small-business owners having adequate superannuation?
Super funds for bank employees among the best performers
![Analysis of 10 years' worth of performance data confirms many industry funds outperform their 'retail' rivals.](/web/20170604164536im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/h/4/a/z/i/image.related.landscape.120x80.gwc4uu.png/1495677879591.jpg)
The banks have some of the best-performing super funds of all, at least for their employees.
A good financial year for super fund members is almost a certainty
![Super funds are on track to deliver a bumper return.](/web/20170604164536im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/1/6/k/0/image.related.landscape.120x80.gw8q50.png/1495634241838.jpg)
Double-digit returns for super funds remain on the cards this financial year despite global sharemarkets likely to be negative over May.
Public servants gain from Future Fund decision
![Peter Costello, chairman of the Australian Future Fund, speaking at the Australian Shareholders' Association National ...](/web/20170604164536im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/w/6/7/g/1/image.related.landscape.120x80.gw7mfy.png/1495076033957.jpg)
​The federal government's recent decision to postpone drawing from the Future Fund is welcome news for members of its defined benefit funds.
Budget incentives for downsizers only benefit the well-off, experts say
![SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MAY 15: Portrait of Tom and Irene Han at their North West Sydney home. The retired couple intend to ...](/web/20170604164536im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/w/5/l/b/1/image.related.landscape.120x80.gw4d2h.png/1495012727402.jpg)
Before selling, you need to consider how the age pension thresholds under the assets test work.
The nation's unpaid super bill is now $5.6b a year and rising
![The Tax Office needs to do more to help reduce the unpaid super problem](/web/20170604164536im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/2/u/v/x/image.related.landscape.120x80.gw3k5c.png/1494741940140.jpg)
Unpaid superannuation is a huge and growing problem. Industry Super Australia estimates employers are failing to pay billions in compulsory super contributions to 2.6 million employees.
Super saver scheme to help young Aussies on middle incomes
![Younger Ausralians will be able to boost their savings for a home using the tax advantages of superannuation.](/web/20170604164536im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/w/2/f/c/n/image.related.landscape.120x80.gw2f52.png/1495357893994.jpg)
The budget announced an initiative to allow first home buyers to build up accessible savings in their super: how popular will it be?
Super and home downsizing plans welcomed for older Australians
![The federal president of the Superannuated Commonwealth Officers' Association Dr Annette Barbetti.](/web/20170604164536im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/1/1/x/y/e/f/image.related.landscape.120x80.gw099g.png/1494388537346.jpg)
Older Australians downsizing from large family homes have received a generous push in the federal budget.
Telstra's a tough call for its one million shareholders
![Telstra's share price is under pressure as mobile competition increases.](/web/20170604164536im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/j/w/7/r/image.related.landscape.120x80.gvutqr.png/1493605520104.jpg)
Telstra's more than one million shareholders will not be pleased with the sustained slide in the share price since the start of this year to be trading in the low $4 range now.
Chasing returns in super usually a losing bet
![Chasing returns in super is almost always the wrong thing to do.](/web/20170604164536im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/u/3/u/9/image.related.landscape.120x80.gvr12s.png/1493002109574.jpg)
Most people don't realise their super fund is likely to have about half their money invested in shares.
Public servants face big super slug
!["Complex" rules put public servants in danger of getting burned:
Canberra financial advisor Dan Blackman.](/web/20170604164536im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/k/y/m/z/image.related.landscape.120x80.gvkicp.png/1493269007371.jpg)
Public servants could be hit for hundreds of thousands as government curbs tax breaks.
Super funds own $45b in bank shares, $13b in tech stocks
![Spaceship founders Paul Bennetts, Andrew Sellen, Dave Kuhn and Kaushik Sen.](/web/20170604164536im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/e/x/t/7/image.related.landscape.120x80.gvq2s2.png/1493611681495.jpg)
Industry super funds love to criticise the big banks, but they are also closely entwined.
More to a share investment than just juicy dividends
![Dividends play a huge role in the returns of shareholders.](/web/20170604164536im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/1/e/n/j/image.related.landscape.120x80.gvm01x.png/1494555617387.jpg)
It's difficult to overstate the importance of dividends for Australian investors.
Most super funds with less than $2b not viable
![Larger super funds tend to outperform smaller funds.](/web/20170604164536im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/1/1/9/4/k/0/image.related.landscape.120x80.gvhfpt.png/1491803831216.jpg)
Size does matter when it comes to super funds.
How to avoid retiring with insufficient super
![Caring professions such as nursing tend to be female-dominated and low paid.](/web/20170604164536im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/e/t/8/k/image.related.landscape.120x80.gvet1w.png/1491532433027.jpg)
Why "financial literacy" won't help women overcome the structural flaws in superannuation.
Better-off need to save more super
![Most people have little idea of how much money they will need in retirement.](/web/20170604164536im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/i/b/k/v/w/image.related.landscape.120x80.gvb2vc.png/1491184394544.jpg)
How much will you need to save for a comfortable retirement? If you're clueless you're not alone.
What women want from the budget
![Some ideas for Treasurer Scott Morrison, who is preparing for the federal budget in May.](/web/20170604164536im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/b/4/k/k/image.related.landscape.120x80.gvc7zf.png/1493160959668.jpg)
There's still much for the Treasurer to decide that will affect families and, disproportionately, women.
What you need to know about the war for super
![The industry funds say the $2 trillion superannuation system is under attack.](/web/20170604164536im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/b/c/t/h/image.related.landscape.120x80.gvaw8y.png/1490965345026.jpg)
There are vested interests misrepresenting the facts on both sides. Don't be fooled.
Banks' weapon against industry funds may be dud
![Banks have a new type of default super option, but it may not be any good.](/web/20170604164536im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/1/1/f/z/r/r/image.related.landscape.120x80.gv8wwc.png/1490840523960.jpg)
The Turnbull government wants to remove the monopoly that industry funds have as the default fund provider in industrial awards.
'Money for nothing': why transition to retirement pensions still work
![Many mature-age workers want to cut back but not leave the workforce entirely.](/web/20170604164536im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/1/p/v/x/image.related.landscape.120x80.gv9odn.png/1492391634462.jpg)
Despite the continuing tightening of superannuation concessions there are still some great strategies available for those who take good advice.
A fierce fight is brewing over your super
![Financial Services Minister Kelly O'Dwyer has a trust.](/web/20170604164536im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/a/g/3/h/image.related.landscape.120x80.gv8tu7.png/1491957788073.jpg)
Consumer groups and independent policy analysts have broadly backed the Productivity Commission proposals to change the default superannuation system.
Renters need $1 million for comfortable retirement
![Retiree renters are unlikely to be able to afford a comfortable retirement.](/web/20170604164536im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/s/w/z/q/image.related.landscape.120x80.gv5r5u.png/1490662004926.jpg)
Housing affordability has wider implications than just for those trying to get a foot on the property ladder.
Call to remove 'bad apple' planners
![Bad apple planners can too easily move between employers.](/web/20170604164536im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/c/t/k/o/image.related.landscape.120x80.gv0j0g.png/1490076327917.jpg)
Ten years on from when the regulator first called for the removal of bad apples from the financial planning industry, there has been not enough progress.
Australia's $2.2 trillion super pot drives record ETF demand
![The interest in exchange traded funds comes as record-low interest rates are prompting pensioners to consider ...](/web/20170604164536im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/k/l/i/u/n/image.related.landscape.120x80.guy81d.png/1489537315874.jpg)
The interest in exchange traded funds comes as record-low interest rates are prompting pensioners to consider alternative products.
Beware of dividend traps and capital killers
![Dividends yields can be high for bad reasons.](/web/20170604164536im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/m/9/q/h/image.related.landscape.120x80.guv9st.png/1489363093147.jpg)
Investors love the shares of big dividend-paying companies, but they could be leaving themselves exposed to what's sometimes known as the "dividend trap".
Home ownership is essential for a comfortable retirement
![The sooner home ownership is achieved, the greater the ability to build up super and other retirement savings.](/web/20170604164536im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/k/h/e/9/image.related.landscape.120x80.guvb7h.png/1489113738548.jpg)
The superannuation industry is trying to deter the government from even limited action to allow first home buyers to access their super.