Paul Benson
Paul Benson is a Certified Financial Planner, and host of the Financial Autonomy podcast.
Opinion
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I’m successful and well-off. Can I access my super early?
There’s no way to exclude yourself from the age pension to access super early. But there are ways to plan, so your finances don’t rely on your super.
- by Paul Benson
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We can barely afford the mortgage, should we sell our investment property?
Knowing when to sell up from an investment property that’s costing you too much can be a difficult decision.
- by Paul Benson
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When my kids inherit my shares, how much tax will they have to pay?
If your kids are likely to be paying a meaningful amount of tax, it may be advantageous for you to rebalance your portfolio.
- by Paul Benson
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Can we downsize into a more expensive home and still add to super?
There are a raft of conditions to consider when making a downsizer contribution that you need to keep in mind.
- by Paul Benson
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I’m terrified of running out of super. How do I prevent this?
Running out of money is a common worry when people first retire, but there are many options that can guarantee you income for life.
- by Paul Benson
Opinion
Financial planning
This is what good financial planning really looks like
You might ask what a two-month sojourn in New York has to do with personal finance, but good planning goes well beyond just the numbers.
- by Paul Benson
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We’re running low on super, can we use our house equity as backup?
Downsizing and contributing the proceeds into your super has minimal limitations, but it might affect your age pension.
- by Paul Benson
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What should my daughter do with her $20,000 inheritance?
Coming into money early on in life can be a wonderful opportunity to learn about investing and financial markets.
- by Paul Benson
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Should I move from a small super fund to a major one?
While a small fund can seem like it lags bigger ones, it can still be a winner when it comes to returns.
- by Paul Benson
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I’ve paid taxes all my life. Am I entitled to a full pension?
Your entitlement to an age pension is determined based on need, not the amount of tax you’ve paid.
- by Paul Benson
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Should we upgrade from an apartment to a house?
If life was purely about accumulating wealth before you die, then trading your apartment for a home would probably make sense. But there’s more to consider.
- by Paul Benson