When can I access my super? Generally, you can access your super when you reach your preservation age and retire, but there could be special circumstances under which you might access your super early. Super is there to help you fund the years after you finish working, so normally to withdraw your super savings, you need to have reached a certain age and retired permanently. However, there are certain situations where you might be eligible …
What happens to my super when I move overseas? If you’re a permanent Aussie resident, your super will remain subject to the same rules. If you’re a temporary resident, you can apply to have your super paid to you after you leave. You might be leaving the country for a variety of reasons – career, love, new opportunities – or returning home. You’ve probably got a checklist of things to do before you go, so …
Is my employer paying me the right super? Billions of dollars in super contributions go unpaid every year. Here’s how you can find out if you’re getting paid what you’re owed and what you can do if you’re not. A while back, a mate of mine posted on social media that she was owed over $10,000 in super from a former employer, who had since shut up shop (money she may never see when she …
Should I invest my home deposit? In the past year, national housing values have risen a whopping 22.2 per cent, adding around $126,700 to the median cost of a home. The rapid rate of growth has left many would-be homebuyers out in the cold. So if you’re saving for your first home, or looking to upgrade, what can you do? After another year of double digit growth, many first-time buyers have been left shaking their …
What info is on my credit report and why does it matter? Your credit report reveals whether you’ve been paying your bills on time and it matters because it could affect your ability to borrow money. If you’ve got a credit card, personal loan, mobile phone plan or utility account, there’s probably a credit reporting agency out there that has a file with your name on it. Credit providers give this information to the credit …
How can I safeguard my ability to pay off my home loan? It’s not unusual that life can be smooth sailing one minute and throw you a curveball the next. You might be hit with an injury or illness, a reduction in income or redundancy, a separation from your partner, or even a death in the family—all of which can be difficult, emotionally as well as financially. If you happen to owe money on your …
Not without my smartphone The nation’s fixation with logging on has people glancing at their devices more than 440 million times a day. Digital devices in Australia have not only changed the way we communicate, but how we socialise, plan, work, transact, access information and entertain ourselves—not to mention, multi-task! The advancement of digital technology has also given rise to improvements in education, personal development and, in some ways, reduced our impact on the environment, …
How can I make my dream home a reality? Only you can choose the best home for you. But finding a smart way to buy it will probably take some help. Just like engaging an architect to draw a blueprint of your dream home, you may like to consider speaking to a financial expert to help plan the best way to finance your new home. How expert advice can really help There are plenty …
Should I take my super as a lump sum or not? When it comes to accessing your super, it’s important you make the right choice. You’ve spent your working life accumulating super. So when the time comes, are you better off taking a lump sum, regular income or both? Let’s weigh up the alternatives so you can start to consider what may be best for you. So should I take my super as a lump …
How can I own my home sooner? It doesn’t have to be the stuff of dreams. There are several strategies that could help you pay off your home loan sooner. And it doesn’t necessarily mean sacrificing the things you love doing today. The first step towards paying off your home sooner is to understand your loan—how much you owe, how much you are paying and what other financial commitments you have. Once you know …
