Does a part-time job in retirement work for you?

Does a part-time job in retirement work for you? Maybe you can’t wait to give up work forever. But having a part-time job in retirement offers health and income benefits that could make it worth considering for your future lifestyle. Boosting your super For many people in their retirement years, one of the most compelling reasons for continuing with paid work is to make ends meet. According to a recent research report from the Association …

Keeping tabs on your super investments

Keeping tabs on your super investments It’s important to get your investment strategy right with super. Keeping tabs on your super investments. Reviewing your portfolio regularly and getting advice can make all the difference to your savings and income for retirement. We talked to CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®professional Matt Torney from Muirfield Financial Services about how to make sure you’re taking the right approach with your super investments. What sort of questions can help you determine your …

So you’re… starting a family

So you’re… starting a family Starting a family will bring you plenty of joy, but it will also create many challenges. In addition to possible sleepless nights and changes in your lifestyle, it could also affect you financially. First, there are the costs of raising a child. Research published by the Australian Institute of Family studies in April found the minimum weekly cost of one child in unemployed and low-income families ranges from $140 to $170 a …

EOFY super returns: how have markets fared?

EOFY super returns: how have markets fared? The last financial year has been a strong period for super fund portfolios. Equity markets posted solid gains both in Australia and offshore, up 13.7% and 15.4% respectively. Returns were also positive across other asset classes such as direct property and infrastructure, and bond returns, although modest, were much stronger than the previous year. Overall, global growth conditions helped to drive earnings and although the US Fed continued …

Super Investment Options – What’s Right For You?

Super Investment Options – What’s Right For You? Choosing the right super investment options at the right time could make a difference to how much money you have when you retire. When it comes to your superannuation, the investment options you choose today and in future may impact how much money you retire with. If you haven’t selected an investment option within your super, you’re probably invested in your fund’s default option, which will generally …

New rules to benefit those downsizing for retirement

New rules to benefit those downsizing for retirement Downsizers can now make an after-tax contribution to their super of up to $300,000, using the proceeds from the sale of their main residence. Australians aged 65 and over who are downsizing for retirement can now contribute the proceeds from the sale of their main residence (up to $300,000) into super1. We take a look at what this could mean for you, bearing in mind that like with …

Salary sacrifice: A lot less painful than it sounds

Salary sacrifice: A lot less painful than it sounds Maybe you’ve heard about salary sacrifice as a way to increase your retirement savings. But did you know it can be a very tax-effective way to make voluntary super contributions? Find out how you could boost your retirement savings and pay less tax all in one go. What is salary sacrificing to super? In very simple terms, salary sacrificing into super means paying an amount from …

Getting ahead with your superannuation when you’re self-employed

Getting ahead with your superannuation when you’re self-employed If you’re self-employed in Australia, there’s a good chance your retirement savings aren’t all they could be. In fact, research from the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (AFSA) found in the run up to retirement, the self-employed have around half the superannuation of employees. We talked to CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional Dacian Moses, financial planner at Waterfall Way Associates, about strategies for the self-employed to get on …

What happens to my super when I move overseas?

What happens to my super when I move overseas? If you’re a permanent resident, your super will remain subject to the same rules. If you’re a temporary resident, you may be able to claim a departing Australia superannuation payment. You might be leaving the country for a variety of reasons – career prospects, love, adventure, new opportunities – or you may be returning home. While you’ve probably got a checklist of things to cover off …