Superannuation

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...

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...

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...

If you’ve owned an individual income protection or salary continuance policy in recent years, you may have seen your premiums increase as insurers struggled to cover their large losses on these products.i Given the ongoing competition and generous features in some...

While it’s not yet in force, the limit on SMSF member numbers is set to increase from the current four to six members later this year. For some SMSFs, this will be a welcome change and will mean additional family members can join their existing fund. Implications of...

Separation and divorce can be a challenging time, often made all the more difficult when you have to divide your assets. So how do you go about decoupling your superannuation? In years gone by, superannuation was not treated as matrimonial property, so divorce...

For many people, the idea of managing and investing your own retirement savings is very appealing. But there is ongoing debate over whether running your own self-managed super fund (SMSF) is cost effective. So, what are the arguments for and against having your own...

At a time when many people have been focused on their family’s health and livelihood, having adequate life insurance has never been more important. Yet the gap between what we need and what we have, has been growing. Life insurance is all about ensuring your family...

Living through COVID-19 has brought many challenges and shifting priorities as we deal with the financial impacts of the pandemic, and that includes the issue of life insurance. On the one hand, the pandemic has highlighted the importance of life cover. On the other,...

Just when you thought you had a grip on the superannuation rules, they change again. This time though, the changes are mostly positive, especially for older super members keen to top up their savings. From 1 July 2020, changes came into effect with the potential to...

While Australia’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic was among the best in the world, the speed and spread of the illness underlined just how fragile life can be. It was also a solemn reminder of the importance of ensuring your affairs are in order, so your wishes are...

Family trusts have stood the test of time as a means of protecting family and business wealth, and managing the distribution of trust income in a tax-effective way. But the misuse of these tax benefits by a small minority periodically puts trusts in the firing line of...