SUMMARY: SMSFs who were pushing the boundaries on 0% related-party loans face big tax penalties from the ATO. When the Tax Office wants to close a door, they’ve been known to slam it with a noise that can be heard for miles. This sometimes happens even where they themselves opened the door and then left […]
SUMMARY: SMSF borrowing arrangements and super tax for higher earners at biggest threat for change for Murray’s FSI final report. High-income earners and super property buyers could be about to cop a super bullet in the neck, if conjecture is to be believed. The industry chatter suggests that another series of “big bang” changes for […]
SUMMARY: Wondering what to do with your super at retirement? Look harder at the pension option. Sometimes you need an outsider to come in to critique. Rip what you’re doing to shreds. And tell you how to reconstruct it properly. American Professor Robert C Merton has done just that to Australia’s super system. On a […]
SUMMARY: Age pension and health care card changes start on 1 January. It’s not too late to shore yours up. Here’s what to do. There’s a deadline silently sneaking up on super pensioners – one which could cost thousands annually to those who don’t take action. From next year, account-based pensions (ABPs) will be deemed […]
SUMMARY: Couples working together financially can make one plus one equal more than two. It’s an unusual statistic, though it shouldn’t be overly surprising: Surveys show the widowed are generally the least worried about their retirement. The reason is understandable. Most of two lifetimes spent saving to fund a joint retirement is now going to […]
SUMMARY: Six steps to making sure your run up to retirement is as profitable as possible. There is a fuzzy point in your life when the retirement you have been working towards suddenly starts charging at you. It’s fuzzy because it’s going to be a different age for everyone. For most, it will happen somewhere […]
SUMMARY: Australia picks up “silver” in global pensions survey – but has probably already lost its chance to defend its position next year. Australia has jumped to second in the global retirement incomes rankings – but could already have tumbled off the podium due to government policy changes. Denmark was the only country to have […]
SUMMARY: Paying off your home, or contributing more to super? Lower rates can make this an even more super idea. Sustained low interest rates has certainly made paying off the mortgage easier in recent years. But it’s also given a boost to a combined super/mortgage strategy. A question often asked by those in their 50s […]
SUMMARY: Retiring too early? Don’t, there are plenty of reasons to stay working until you’re really ready to ride off into the sunset. The idea of turning in your badge, at the end of a long career, is becoming increasingly unpopular. For some, it’s actually dreaded. More and more, Australians want to continue working beyond […]
SUMMARY: SMSFs continue to do what they know best – make sure that their own best interests are being looked after. UNDERDOG status is something with which DIY super funds have long been comfortable. Being underestimated has never worried them. Authorities and outsiders often misread them, misunderstand what drives them and mis-judge how they’re going […]
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