Deciding when to retire is a big decision and even more difficult if you are concerned about your retirement income. The average age of Australia’s 4.2 million retirees is 56.9 years but many people leave it a little later to finish work with most intending to retire at just over 65 years.i If you’re not…
Most people intend to retire between ages 65 and 66, according to the latest data and, surprisingly, despite growing superannuation balances, the Age Pension is the main source of income for many retirees.i The intended retirement age has increased significantly in the last two decades, from just over 62 years on average in 2004. Australian…
Retirement is filled with opportunities and choices. There’s the time to travel more, work on long-delayed personal projects or volunteer your help to worthwhile causes. You also have a host of choices to make when it comes to funding your new life away from paid work. Here are four different options to consider.i Account-Based Pension…
This year’s Federal Budget focused on the rising costs of living and how to help Australians manage. Before the Budget there was speculation that we would see changes for aged care funding and fees, but what made it into the Budget? This article takes a look at the measures in the Budget and how you…
Many people think they can’t afford to get aged care advice, but the reality is you probably can’t afford not to get advice. RADs, DAPs, MPIRs, MTAs and ACATs !! These are just a few of the acronyms you will face when navigating aged care decisions. It might even feel like you’ve landed in…
The money you pay as a lump sum for your residential aged care room will be refunded to your estate – so what do you need to know about when and how your money is refunded? Accommodation payments (called Refundable Accommodation Deposits – RADs for short) are one of the most misunderstood areas of residential…
If you’re nearing retirement age, you may be wondering if you will have enough saved to give up work and take it easy, particularly as cost-of-living increases hit some basic expenses such as energy, insurance, food, and health costs. Fortunately, someone has already worked out what you might need. The Association of Superannuation Funds in…
The much-debated tax on superannuation balances over $3 million is inching closer and those who may be affected should ensure they have considered the implications. Although it is not yet law, the Division 296 tax should be taken into account when it comes to investment strategy and planning, particularly in relation to any end-of-financial-year contributions…
Overview If your relationship with your spouse ends, you should be aware of what can happen to the super entitlements of you both. The Family Court and super-splitting laws generally enable super interests (accounts in super funds) or super payments (pensions or annuities) to be split by agreement or court order if a relationship breaks…
The rules around making some types of super contributions have been relaxed in recent years, so it’s worth exploring the different opportunities available to you before making a large contribution.i What are contribution caps? Given the tax-effective environment of Australia’s super system, there are annual limits on how much you can contribute each financial year….
