Super – so what? For some people, super may be the most valuable asset they’ll ever have. So it makes sense to know how much they have and how it’s invested. But it’s very often the case that young people, in particular, see super as being something that’s of low concern. So how can the super industry get young people interested in something they won’t benefit from for years to come? With home ownership rates …
How Australians will use their tax return With nearly one in three people planning to save their tax return, have you considered what you might do with yours? This year more than 75% of Australians expect to receive a tax return, with a large portion of the population planning to use the money they receive to take the edge off their financial commitments.i We look at the most common ways people intend on using their …
Home sweet home: Your guide to the FHSSS The First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS) came into effect on 1 July, and the property market has started cooling, so could the time have come for first-home buyers to make their move? CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional Jeremy Chiel from Stonehouse Group shares some insights into the challenges and solutions facing younger people when it comes to home ownership. Housing affordability has been in and out of the headlines, …
Should you be sharing your super with the kids? According to the latest research from REST Industry Super, working Australians aged over 50 are very much in the habit of making financial contributions to their kids. So far they’ve shelled out $31.6 billion for home deposits, $55.9 billion for education and nearly $10 billion for wedding expenses1. So is funding major life events for the next generation affordable? And what happens when you want to …
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 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 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? 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? 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 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 …
