Self Managed Super Fund
Super
Budget Special: Tinkering undermines system
John Collett In last week's budget, the government missed what will probably be its last opportunity to make the superannuation system fairer and more sustainable.
BUDGET SPECIAL
The mother of all super shortfalls
Penny Pryor The lesson for anyone considering having children is to not forget superannuation. New parents need to remember that a dollar saved now could be more than 10 times that much at retirement.
SUPER
Cracking open the nest egg
Christine Long The government's recently announced changes to improve the ''fairness'' of superannuation have focused attention on the retirement savings of those who are better off, but financial counsellors are...
Super
How does your fund stack up?
John Collett Super-fund members could be forgiven for thinking that all superannuation funds are the same. It is this thinking that masks big differences in the returns of funds.
Superannuation
Super penalites relaxed
Madeleine Heffernan The federal government says it will tone down penalties for breaching complex superannuation rules, after collecting $290 million in penalties over two years.
PLANNING
Getting a super education for SMSF trustees
Alexandra Cain From July 1 SMSF trustees who break super laws will face mandatory education. So exactly what do you need to know to run a super fund?
SUPER
Clarity needed on deferred annuities
John Collett Deferred lifetime annuities are longevity insurance. Those who die early lose out.
PLANNING
ASIC to take on SMSF property spruikers
John Collett Watchdog warns on online ads touting the tax advantages of holding property inside superannuation's low tax environment.
SUPER
Drive your own fund and save
Max Newnham Blaming superannuation for your losses makes as much sense as blaming a car that cuts you off. The vehicle is not at fault, it's the driver.
SUPER
Property advice not all safe as houses
John Collett The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has been warning on the dangers of investors rushing headlong to join the stampede to set up their own superannuation funds.
Superannuation
Call for super safety net
Eric Johnston The government has left the door open for an industry-wide ''last resort'' compensation scheme.
Strategies to fix the super shortfall
Mark Bouris What can be done to fix a superannuation system that favours men over women?
Getting Started
Goalposts shift but super's still super
Potts Spot Just when it's finally come good, the rules for super just changed. Again.
Super
Exposure to shares has an upside
John Collett Those superannuation fund members who are in lower-risk investment options have missed the early part of what could be a longer rally in shares.
Better advice to help you through the super maze
Jo-Anne Bloch Sweeping financial advice reforms will help improve one of the most powerful tools for maximising retirement savings.
PLANNING
The sorry state of self-employed super
Sylvia Pennington Two decades of compulsory super contributions have seen a steady rise in the average wage earner's balance – but how are Australia's significant minority of self-employed workers making out?
Super
Life insurance can kill teens' contributions
John Collett Your son or daughter has started their first job and the last thing on their mind is superannuation. But they could easily end up paying for life insurance they may not need.
PLANNING
Cutting through the confusion about super
Max Newnham Keeping an eye on what fees you are paying will help you get the most out of your retirement money.
Government, funds body 'not far' from agreement
Peter Martin, Daniel Hurst The peak body representing super funds has offered the Treasurer an olive branch, saying it would be prepared to consider reduced or zero tax concessions on super accounts with very high balances.
Wealthy take a hit, rest of us unscathed
John Collett The truth is that new tax imposts announced today will not affect most people. They can go on saving for super in the knowledge that for them, nothing has changed.
