Getting your super: Find out when you can access your super
You can get your super when you retire and reach your 'preservation age' — between 55 and 60, depending on when you were born. There are special circumstances where you can access your super early. Scam alert! Watch out for cold-call offers to help you get early...
Estate planning and superannuation
Many of us spend a great deal of time planning for our retirement but understandably, often do not put the same degree of effort into planning for our deaths. It is not always a pleasant topic to think about, nor is it a commonly understood process. It is however a...
Review of 2020 and outlook for 2021
With thanks from Shane Oliver from AMP Capital. 2020 – not what it was supposed to be 2020 didn’t exactly turn out the way we expected. For Australia, the year started badly as severe drought had given way to the worst bushfires on record. But just as the bushfires...
6 essential tips for safe travel during bushfire season
As most of us would be aware, Australia is prone to experiencing bushfires. Whether you’re travelling to, from, or within your holiday destination, we want you to have fun and enjoy your travels but to be safe at the same time. And while safety is paramount at any...
HomeBuilder Extension and Changes
HomeBuilder provides eligible owner-occupiers (including first home buyers) with a grant to build a new home or substantially renovate an existing home. HomeBuilder assists the residential construction sector by encouraging the commencement of new home builds and...
Investing or gambling?
In the absence of retail, hospitality, cultural centres and sporting outlets, many of us have gravitated towards new activities to occupy our time during lockdown. For some, this has meant a foray into the world of sourdough and slow cooking, or a deeper dive into the...
Retirement Income and Tax
How much tax you pay on retirement income depends on your age and the type of income stream. For most people, an income stream from superannuation will be tax-free from age 60. How super income streams are taxed Types of super income streams Income from super can be...
The ins and outs of private health cover
With premiums often running to thousands of dollars per year, whether or not to take out private health insurance is a major financial decision. Here are some of the key issues you need to consider in making that decision. Why go private? There are two main types of...
Power of Attorney – Empowering yourself to go above and beyond
“I’m thrilled to announce I’ve been appointed Mum’s Power of Attorney,” said no-one ever in the history of sibling rivalry. While many of us end up saying that – well, perhaps not the thrilled part – how many of us know what to expect and why. Addressing the what, a...
The balancing act of blended family finances
When Jack and Sarah met through mutual friends, they hit it off immediately. Both had previously been married and, besides having a child each, found they had quite a lot in common. Dinner dates quickly morphed into family-style outings with their children, to the zoo...