Superannuation
Illegal early SMSF access on the radar
Since the Albanese Government announced its intention to double the tax on investment earnings for super account balances over $3 million, there has been lots of talk about taking money out of self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs) to avoid the tax hikes. As SMSF...
Making the most of your super limits
Getting more money into superannuation is a proven way of building wealth to spend in retirement. Ongoing contributions from your employer over the course of your working life, and potentially extra contributions made by you, can make a huge difference to your super...
Mortgage vs Super
With interest rates on the rise and investment returns increasingly volatile, Australians with cash to spare may be wondering how to make the most of it. If you have a mortgage, should you make extra repayments or would you be better off in the long run boosting your...
How much super do I need to retire?
Working out how much you need to save for retirement is a question that keeps many pre-retirees awake at night. Recent market volatility and fluctuating superannuation balances have only added to the uncertainty. For most people, the amount you need to save will...
Changes to super from 1 July
New rules came into force on July 1 that will create opportunities for older Australians to boost their retirement savings and younger Australians to build a home deposit, all within the tax-efficient superannuation system. Using the existing First Home Super Saver...
A super end to the financial year
As the end of the financial year approaches, now is a good time to check your super and see what you could do to boost your retirement nest egg. What’s more, you could potentially reduce your tax bill at the same time. There are a handful of positive changes to super...
Sharing super a win-win for couples
Australia’s superannuation system is based on individual accounts, with men and women treated equally. But that’s where equality ends. It’s a simple fact that women generally retire with much less super than men. The latest figures show women aged 60-64 have an...
SMSFs and property: What are the rules?
With the property market hitting all-time highs in 2021, interest in investing in direct property through your SMSF has never been higher. In the September 2021 quarter, Australia’s SMSFs had almost $88 billion invested in non-residential real property, with another...
What super stapling means for employers
If there’s one certainty in business these days, it’s constant change. Now there’s an extra step you need to take with new employees to comply with the superannuation choice of fund rules. From 1 November 2021, whenever a new employee starts with your business and...
Your SMSF: Wind it up or pass it on?
Now that new legislation allows a maximum of six members in an SMSF, some fund trustees may be wondering if this could be an easy way to ensure a smooth transfer of their super to the next generation. The simple answer is yes, but before you start adding your children...
What if I exceed my super contribution caps?
Making additional personal contributions to superannuation is a great way to boost your retirement savings in a tax-effective way. But there are strict caps or limits on the amount you can contribute each year and stiff tax penalties for exceeding the limits. Even...
New Financial Year rings in some super changes
As the new financial year gets underway, there are some big changes to superannuation that could add up to a welcome lift in your retirement savings. Some, like the rise in the Superannuation Guarantee (SG), will happen automatically so you won’t need to lift a...