9 money mistakes to avoid in retirement

9 money mistakes to avoid in retirement How to keep your finances on track once you leave the workforce When you’ve worked hard all your life to build up your nest egg, the last thing you want to do is fritter it away too quickly. In this article, we look at the common money mistakes people in retirement make, and how you can do your best to avoid them. 1. Not taking control of your …

Take control of your finances now for the new financial year.

Take control of your finances now for the new financial year. If you set yourself money goals at the start of 2019, the upcoming new financial year is a great time to check if you’re on track. And if you didn’t set any goals – or if you have strayed off track – this is the perfect time to get organised, write a checklist and stick with it! Don’t wait until 1 July to start. …

How Australians will use their tax return

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 …

Does a part-time job in retirement work for you?

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 …

EOFY super returns: how have markets fared?

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 …

Superannuation stumbling blocks

Superannuation stumbling blocks What’s stopping you from saving for a retirement you can really look forward to? Take a look at these four common barriers to saving more super and make a plan for having all your goals and financial priorities in order. 1. Enjoying life to the full Living for the moment is something that may come very naturally to you. Perhaps you’ve always been comfortable living month to month on your salary, seizing …

New rules to benefit those downsizing for retirement

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 …

Getting ahead with your superannuation when you’re self-employed

Getting ahead with your superannuation when you’re self-employed If you’re self-employed in Australia, there’s a good chance your retirement savings aren’t all they could be. In fact, research from the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (AFSA) found in the run up to retirement, the self-employed have around half the superannuation of employees. We talked to CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional Dacian Moses, financial planner at Waterfall Way Associates, about strategies for the self-employed to get on …

What happens to my super when I move overseas?

What happens to my super when I move overseas? If you’re a permanent resident, your super will remain subject to the same rules. If you’re a temporary resident, you may be able to claim a departing Australia superannuation payment. You might be leaving the country for a variety of reasons – career prospects, love, adventure, new opportunities – or you may be returning home. While you’ve probably got a checklist of things to cover off …

Laterpreneurs: Taking on encore careers

Laterpreneurs: Taking on encore careers Once upon a time, people went out, got a job and stayed there for the rest of their working lives. But “a job for life” is no longer an option for most working Australians. Changing careers, going out on your own and pursuing a dream to become self-employed has become the reality for many. The amount of co-working spaces that have opened up in major cities is evidence that more …