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24 May 2013
Every so often, investors are given a telling lesson about why setting and sticking to an appropriate long-term asset allocation for their portfolios is so important for investment success over the long haul.
23 May 2013
The Federal Government, in conjunction with the Australian Human Rights Commission, has announced further plans to help bridge the gap between men and women's retirement savings.
22 May 2013
Parents baffled by their teenage offspring is nothing new - it's been happening since Adam had acne. But social researcher and author Michael McQueen says it's possible to improve understanding between the generations.
17 May 2013
The Coalition's delay to the delay Superannuation Guarantee (SG) would see millions of Australians move into retirement with inadequate savings according to the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees (AIST).
16 May 2013
Super and seniors groups have welcomed a budget initiative allowing seniors who downsize their family home to have up to $200,000 of the sale proceeds quarantined from the Centrelink means test for the age pension.
The years following the GFC have transformed Australia into a nation of savers not spenders but the big question is, what is everybody saving for? The BT Australian Financial Health Index, a survey of almost 5000 Australians for financial services specialist BT, reveals that 38 per cent of people rate travel and holidays as a priority savings goals.
Demographic forces that are already inflating the government's education, health and aged-care costs will become increasingly acute over the coming decade.
15 May 2013
The Government’s delivery of its 2013/14 Federal Budget contained no real further surprises in relation to personal superannuation. The significant super measures in the Budget had already been announced by Superannuation Minister Bill Shorten and Treasurer Wayne Swan in early April this year, and these were confirmed with just a few technical amendments. The key announcements as well as the super measures that may affect you or your employees as members of Australian Catholic Superannuation are outlined here for you.
Beyond the big picture of education and disability reforms this is generally a low-key budget. Women’s Minister Julie Collins will host a women’s budget briefing at Parliament House on Thursday as there is no women’s budget paper in the material available for the media.
The government has resisted any temptation it might have had to use the budget to put some backbone into its timid superannuation 'reforms' announced early last month. After a concerted campaign by sections of the industry, superannuation has been left alone with no further initiatives beyond those already announced to make inroads into the growing mountain of superannuation tax deductions.
The build-up to last night’s budget may have been more exciting than the budget itself for some. After much speculation following Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s statement that ‘everything was back on the table’, no further changes to personal superannuation were announced.
Tuesday's budget, as would only be expected in an election year, contained no nasty surprises to upset ordinary taxpayers. Thanks to the intervention of former minister Simon Crean, who warned against retrospective changes to the superannuation rules, all the adverse changes to the super rules had already been announced.
Hailed by Kevin Rudd as the digital toolbox of the 21st century, computers are no longer a centrepiece of the government's education strategy, with funding for them in the schools program ending this year.
Superannuation savers over the age of 60 should be early beneficiaries of the government's move to raise the concessionary contribution cap from $25,000 to $35,000, with Superannuation Minister Bill Shorten planning to table the new measure in parliament today.
13 May 2013
How will the Federal Budget affect you? SBS spoke to a single mum, the mother of child with a disability, a retiree and a small-business owner about their hopes for the Budget.
As a mother of two beautiful boys, my focus is to teach my sons the value of setting themselves up for the future early. The more time we have to build our investments, the more money we should have when we are ready for retirement. We also need to educate ourselves financially and not just handover our money and trust others to invest it for us. We are responsible for building our own wealth.
12 May 2013
Learning how to choose the right mobile phone plan will be taught with numeracy and literacy in schools.
10 May 2013
There was no need for more bureaucracy to protect Australian's superannuation savings, shadow minister for Financial Services Mathias Cormann has said in response to the government's announcement of a superannuation charter.
For many SMEs, paying their employees' compulsory 9% superannuation under the superannuation guarantee scheme can be an administrative nightmare. And paying the extra 0.
In April, the Government announced that it would establish a Charter of Superannuation Adequacy and Sustainability, as well as a Council of Superannuation Custodians to serve as guardians of the Charter.
The federal government has released the terms of reference for its proposed superannuation charter, with the group’s duties to focus on the development and recommendation of adequacy and sustainability principals for Australia’s super system.
9 May 2013
A couple seeking a comfortable life in retirement need more than $56,000 a year, new figures show. Latest figures from the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) show living costs for a retired couple who want to enjoy regular leisure activities, own a good car, buy good clothes and take the occasional overseas holiday are $56,317 a year.
The federal government says it will tone down penalties for breaching complex superannuation rules, after collecting $290 million in penalties over two years.
Despite the focus on financial literacy by regulators, Australian school curriculum designers and financial services firms, there is still no agreed definition of what it is and how to measure it, reveals the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) in its Review of the National Financial Literacy Strategy.
When a relationship breaks down, women should not only get a lawyer but a financial planner too. Slater & Gordon family lawyer Heather McKinnon says that in the breakdown of a marriage or de facto relationship, too often women walk out of a property settlement with a lot less super than they should have. This, she says, is often the result of the woman's emotional attachment to real estate and a failure to get financial advice.
7 May 2013
Health problems and the cost of healthcare are the biggest concerns for those entering retirement, according to a study released on Monday from Bank of America's Merrill Lynch. The findings, part of a larger study focused on how people are feeling about and preparing for retirement, were based on a survey of more than 6,300 individuals aged 45 and older across the United States.
6 May 2013
Thanks to compulsory superannuation, it's easy to accumulate a number of superannuation accounts. This is particularly the case with people who move jobs regularly, and who don't take the time to chase their unclaimed super because the amounts may be fairly small.
4 May 2013
Asking the boss to fork out for a mentor, career coach or training course rather than a pay rise may actually get workers more money in the long run and leave more in their own pocket.
1 May 2013
Early retirement neatly coincides with the years that grandchildren need care - and guess who gets the call for help?
30 April 2013
Stakeholders from the business, community, education and government sectors met today at the 2013 National Financial Literacy Forum to have their say on the strategic priorities for the National 2014–16 Financial Literacy Strategy.
Understanding that superannuation is only a vehicle for accumulating funds for retirement is the first step to working out what type of fund is best for you.
29 April 2013
Patients fighting serious diseases and illnesses are being forced to take funds from their superannuation to pay medical expenses, with some even putting off seeing doctors altogether.
28 April 2013
Superannuation is still an attractive way to save for retirement.
27 April 2013
Forget about the traditional view of 65 as Australia's standard retirement age - experts say forcing people out of the workforce before they are ready is bad for both workers and the nation.
26 April 2013
Australian women are front-runners when it comes to financial literacy, Visa's international barometer of women's financial literacy has found. Visa surveyed 25,000 people in 27 countries to assess the strength and weaknesses of financial education around the world.
Wayne Swan and Bill Shorten have decided to end the speculation about what the upcoming Federal Budget brings for the superannuation industry. Money Management spotlights the announced changes and the industry’s response.
24 April 2013
Thousands of people with intellectual disabilities who want to work and put money away for their retirement are unable to because they do not receive superannuation.
23 April 2013
Stephen Keim A controversial request to pay a higher superannuation contribution for female employees than for their male counterparts is perfectly legal, the former head of Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) has said.
21 April 2013
An economic dinosaur lives on in Australia: the male breadwinner. Despite decades of sweeping social and economic change he's survived surprisingly unscathed.
19 April 2013
Retirement savings rebuilt to a desirable level may be a big incentive to finally stop work, but there is more to think about beyond just the capital – including your plans for retirement, what you’re really likely to spend each year, the best investment mix and how long your money needs to last.
18 April 2013
I can almost see your eyes glazing over through your computer screen. Superannuation is such a beige topic! We women are too busy even to think twice about it and, anyway, it will all sort itself out in the end.
An ASIC report examining the quality of financial advice received by self managed super fund (SMSF) trustees and potential trustees has found that while most advice quality is adequate, there is a trend towards recommending SMSFs as the default solution.
The late media mogul Kerry Packer turned tax minimisation into a national sport with his 1991 appearance before a parliamentary inquiry, when he said anyone who didn’t do everything legal to reduce their tax bill “wanted their head read because I don’t think you’re spending it that well that I should be donating extra”.
13 April 2013
Adult children are demanding a greater share of their parents' estates and are eating into assets to fight for more money.
11 April 2013
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? Are they stashing their own retirement savings apace – or are non-compulsory super contributions low down the priority list for many?
10 April 2013
The financial advice industry is facing its most significant upheaval since the Financial Services Reform in 2004. The sweeping Future of Financial Advice (FoFA) reforms will come into effect from July 1 but already the impact is profound.
The short answer is yes. Under the Super Guarantee (SG) rules, employers are generally required to provide a prescribed minimum level of superannuation support for their employees, on a quarterly basis, to avoid a liability for the SG Charge (SGC).
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. Some people switched to their fund's cash or other low-risk investment options during the worst of the global financial crisis.
9 April 2013
A National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF) survey has found that younger UK workers born in the 1980s are more ‘switched on' to pensions and plan to save more.
8 April 2013
Teenagers are more likely to suffer from depression if they see their parents arguing often. In a Cambridge University research paper published late last year, it was claimed that those who witness frequent arguments and possess a gene making them more sensitive are significantly more likely to become depressed. The findings are important but hardly surprising, and it is with the same concern for the public’s feelings of anxiety that over the last few weeks superannuation funds have exercised common sense in side-stepping the political row over taxing the rich. For ‘not in front of the kids’, read ‘no scaremongering about the safety of retirement savings’.
The former senator and minister for superannuation, Nick Sherry, talks to investmentmagazine.com.au about future trends in super tax policy as well as the ins and outs of self-managed superannuation funds.
While the financial services industry has welcomed the newly announced changes to superannuation in this year’s Federal Budget, many have raised concerns about complexity, calling for industry consultation and a bipartisan approach.
7 April 2013
The number of Australians dumping their life insurance is at a decade high. About one in five are failing to renew life insurance, taken out either as an extension on their default cover in their super fund or through individual policies, insurers say. Financial Services Council chief executive John Brogden says the lapse rate is a worry for the nation, which has a chronic underinsurance problem.
From July 1, compulsory superannuation contributions will start to increase. The increase will be gradual, moving from 9 per cent in 2013 to 12 per cent in 2019.
6 April 2013
The Gillard Government moved to cauterise the superannuation issue by announcing the changes they had hoped to keep under wraps until the May Budget.
5 April 2013
Hitting the wealthy with superannuation changes will help pay for Australia's retirement savings system over the long term, says former prime minister Paul Keating who helped design the system.
A tax exemption on superannuation earnings supporting pensions and annuities will be capped at $100,000, and anything above that level taxed at a rate of 15 per cent, the federal government has announced.
The Federal Government announces much-anticipated changes to the superannuation tax system that it says will affect about 16,000 of Australia's highest earners.
Australians with superannuation balances over $2 million dollars face losing key tax concessions, Treasurer Wayne Swan and Financial Services and Superannuation Minister Bill Shorten announced this morning.
4 April 2013
The public debate about Australia's superannuation system has put fear into women regarding the security of their retirement savings but has offered no solutions, chair and national spokesperson for Women in Super (WIS) Cate Wood said.
There's an intense media focus on Australian superannuation at the moment. Both major political parties say they are 'looking at it' and the mere thought of that can tend to make people nervous about their retirement security. What is the state of play surrounding Australian superannuation at the moment and is your 'nest egg' vulnerable?
New legislation will allow Federal Judges and Governors-General to split superannuation benefits with former spouses in the event of a marriage breakdown.
Superannuation is a crucial part of an employee’s benefits package and is heavily regulated, so when changes are proposed to superannuation legislation, employers need to be fully educated and prepared.
Your son or daughter has started their first job and the last thing on their mind is superannuation and life insurance arrangements. Life insurance can be well worth it, but if they are not careful, those working only a few hours a week may find what little they receive in super can be eaten up by life insurance costs.
1 April 2013
The big four banks have joined a push to stop the Gillard government raising taxes on superannuation. A delegation will go to Canberra next week to lobby Treasurer Wayne Swan to leave the super system alone.
27 March 2013
As superannuation account balances grow, who gets the death benefit after you are gone is becoming more fraught, especially among those with complex family arrangements.
Research into the types of insurance people hold has turned up the perhaps-surprising result that members of Generation Y may be more likely than their parents to have some form of life or income-protection cover.
26 March 2013
A group of superannuation and investment experts predict that by 2030, local super funds will dominate the global landscape while the self-managed super funds (SMSFs) sector will suffer a slowdown.
Most retirees don't think it's important to leave an inheritance, and even the family home is losing its attraction as an asset to pass on to the children.
You know what they say: You can’t choose your family, but you can choose your financial planner. Or something like that. One of the great things of being in charge of your money is choosing who (if anyone) will help you manage it.
25 March 2013
A fine of $10,000 or more, may not be the only cost to a small business for not following key Human Resources (HR) processes. Should you get into a problem with an employee or if your attention is diverted from the operations of the business itself, this can be very costly in both time and money.
22 March 2013
Minister for Consumer Affairs Heidi Victoria has urged retirees considering moving into a retirement village to seek free information from Consumer Affairs Victoria, get independent advice and to consult with their families before making the big decision to move.
Please tell me you could find $1000 cash should you need it for an emergency. Because apparently one in five Aussies could not. And one in three lives pay packet to pay packet.
Last week five aged-care reform bills were introduced into Federal Parliament. One feature of the reforms is an increased focus on home care rather than aged-care facilities.
21 March 2013
Toowoomba resident Rae Densley is claiming a win for the "little man" after being reimbursed $1800 from the Australian Tax Department. Since 1983, the Commonwealth Bank had been taking a withholding tax from Mrs Densley's 92-year-old mother's bank account.
Understanding how the tests applied by Centrelink work can result in the age pension received being maximised. Like most things to do with investing, the younger a person is when they plan for retirement the better off they will be financially.
Australian superannuation funds are on track to record their best performance since the financial crisis, hitting a median growth of about 13 per cent for the financial year to date.
20 March 2013
A survey by the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees has found that most Australians don't really care about their retirement savings. The finding comes just weeks after the government indicated that it might move to increase tax rates on superannuation, and the consequent uproar among many key voters.
North Queensland pensioners will receive a welcome boost to their budgets today. Single pensioners on the maximum rate will receive an additional $35.
19 March 2013
Super funds build their systems around investment choices yet even in response to the GFC, only a small proportion of fund members changed their investments.
As many as two thirds of Australians are failing to make extra superannuation contributions to meet the expected shortfall in retirement funding, a new report commissioned by Club Plus Super shows.
This week is our very own Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Wills Week. It's a week designed to encourage adults to make or update a will while drawing attention to our rescue helicopter service.
18 March 2013
More than 60 per cent of Australia’s 2.1 million actively trading businesses are sole traders - not surprising considering it's the cheapest and simplest form of business structure and the easiest to administer.
More than half of all Australian employees are now being offered access to mental health assistance through their superannuation schemes. SuperFriend, the charitable organisation established to reduce the rate of suicide in the Australian population, has been front and centre in providing resources to super funds addressing mental health.
One of the biggest but most underrated changes to super begins on July 1, 2013. It has already pulled fees down, paved the way for a less collective, one-size-fits-all approach to investing, and laid down the gauntlet to popular, low-cost industry funds.
17 March 2013
In today's digital age of emails, SMS and twitter, it is an unexpected joy to receive an old fashioned letter in the mail once in a while.
14 March 2013
The majority of small businesses in Australia kick off as solo efforts, as one person takes their great inspiration or idea, adds a bucketload of courage, sprinkled with a dose of luck and plenty of advice from trusted sources and sets sail into the business world.
The federal government announced in February that it was reducing the deeming rates that Centrelink uses to assess eligibility for the age pension. As with many government policies, there are winners and losers.
Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 76 has been elected the 266th pope and taken the name Francis, reports the Catholic News Service. The election last night in Rome - at 5.
13 March 2013
What happens when someone wants to leave an SMSF | Smart Investor Most do-it-yourself super funds are run by couples who generally get along pretty well. It’s good they do – given how complicated life can become in the event of a dispute ... Read full article
10 March 2013
As baby boomers retire, they are going to be accessing equity in the biggest asset they own, their home, to help fund their retirement. With compulsory super starting in 1992, they have not benefited from a full working life of superannuation contributions and have been hit by poor returns from the global financial crisis.
8 March 2013
It is meant to be the time when you relax and reflect, but it seems many Australians are unprepared for their retirement. Nearly 90 per cent of Australian women do not have enough superannuation, according to The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA).
Your needs can change quite significantly as you enter your retirement years so it is essential to review your life insurance policy and take the right steps to avoid being over and under-insured.
6 March 2013
Baby boomers, it is said often, are redefining what it is to retire in the same way they have revolutionised every other stage of life they have passed through.
5 March 2013
The Australian Taxation Office is reminding superannuation funds they have less than three months before the 31 May deadline to transfer certain lost super accounts to the Australian Taxation Office.
Seddon mother Kelly Lear sums up perfectly how so many of us feel when we have children; the financial sacrifice of lost wages, super and other workplace entitlements—done without while you spend time with young children at home—pales into insignificance compared with fulfilment of being there with your kids.
The Diversity Council Australia (DCA) says more work is urgently needed to address the critical underutilisation of female mature-age talent in the workplace.
The millions of hours that women put into unpaid household, voluntary and community work will go uncounted this year as the government axes the Bureau of Statistics Work, Life and Family Survey to save money.
Christine St Anne is Morningstar's online editor. The ABC's Four Corners program this week reported on the on the tens of thousands of Australians who have lost their money in mortgage funds and debentures in failed schemes managed by Prime Trust, Banksia Securities and LM Investment.
4 March 2013
Did you know: About 45% of people over age 70 will use aged-care services; Accommodation bonds in regional areas and capital cities are now about $300,000; Planning before you need aged care can improve your financial situation.
The age pension for singles is about to increase by $35.80 fortnight - couples will see an increase of $27 a fortnight per person. This means it is timely for anybody nearing retirement to understand the way the pension is assessed.
2 March 2013
Hundreds of thousands of older Australians say they want to work and are actively looking for a job but are not being given a fair go by employers.
The fact that a very few people make billions of dollars does not render an income of $150,000 mediocre.
1 March 2013
For our six million Aussie baby boomers, retirement should be just around the corner. But new research reveals that for many, that's not going to be possible.
Here are the essential areas to focus on to ensure your financial future will be one of health, wealth and happiness.
If you want to be financially secure, you need advice that’s tailored to your own situation. With that premise in mind, we’re looking at what people approaching retirement can do to shore up their finances and make the most of the resources they have while they’re still working.
Although it’s somewhat counter-intuitive, employees’ personal finances can in fact be your business: an alarming statistic paints a dire picture of lost productivity in the face of financial stress, and the experts say it’s up to employers to arrange financial literacy training for staff.
Many Australian employers have not yet fully assessed the impact that the looming Stronger Super reforms will have on their businesses. According to a new survey, more than half do not yet have a plan to ensure compliance.
27 February 2013
The recent government decision to back down from introducing higher taxes for the 'well-off' on superannuation has highlighted concern that using the figure of $1 million in retirement savings as an aspirational wealth benchmark is unhelpful.
Have you ever stood in an ice-cream shop trying to decide which of the 100 flavours to have? You ask yourself, "do you play it safe or go for something new and exciting?" When it comes to choosing your superannuation it's a bit like being at the ice-cream parlour, only you don't get to enjoy your superannuation in the same way once you have made your decision. Perhaps you are like most people in selecting your ice-cream and superannuation: you stick with what you know.
Consumers have a lot of rights when it comes to dealing with banks, but they don't know much about them. At the end of January, the Australian Bankers' Association (ABA) released a revised version of its standards for good banking, the Code of Banking Practice.
14 May 2013
The Newman Siena Centre in Doubleview received a blessing by Most Rev Donald Sproxton, Auxiliary Bishop of Perth on Tuesday, 23 April 2013 to mark the recent completion of its extensive renovations.
Due to its location within the Centre, Australian Catholic Superannuation’s Perth office was a privileged recipient of the Bishop’s blessing along with several other Catholic agencies, including the Associated & Catholic Colleges of WA, Catholic Arts, Caritas and the Maranatha Centre for Adult Faith Formation.
Catholic Schools Week (CSW) is primarily about celebration. Forming an important part of the Catholic Schools Week celebrations in 2013 was a cool competition where students were encouraged to submit short videos based on this year's theme—Every child counts—chosen to remind the community that every student in Australia deserves a good education. More than 100 entries were received from students and schools across the NSW/ACT Dioceses. Watch the fantastic entries from the 13 finalists.
The Federal Government has today announced a number of significant changes to the superannuation system. If you are you asking yourself, “How will the super changes affect me?”, it’s important to note that they have not yet been legislated. However, should the reforms proceed, here’s a summary of the current super and pension arrangements and how they are proposed to change.
The 1 July launch date of MySuper is just three months away and only 10 MySuper products have so far been authorised. The MySuper product offered by Australian Catholic Superannuation and Retirement Fund is one of the 10 which has received licence approval from APRA.
We are proud to announce that Australian Catholic Superannuation is one of the first 10 super funds to have received approval from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) to offer a MySuper product. APRA informed the Fund on 8 March 2013 that the Trustee’s application for the MySuper licence had been approved.
Australian Catholic Superannuation recently visited St Pius X Catholic Primary School in Manning, WA to hold an all-day superannuation clinic for staff. Ray Smith, our Senior Relationship Officer in Western Australia, met one-on-one with staff members throughout the day to assist with their individual superannuation needs. The School's Principal, Daine Burnett, was kind enough to pass on this great testimonial following our visit.
12 February 2013
Australian Catholic Superannuation is delighted to once again be supporting Catholic Schools Week (CSW) throughout all NSW and ACT dioceses. We’re joining in the celebrations of 615 Catholic primary and secondary schools between 10–16 March 2013. This year’s theme is ‘Every child counts!’ and reminds the community that every student in Australia deserves a good education.
5 November 2012
Australian Catholic Superannuation is making connecting with super easier for you. We’ve recently launched a new mobile site – designed and optimised specifically for mobile devices such as smartphones. With Australians increasingly embracing mobile technologies we wanted to provide our members with more online accessibility and convenience in terms of engaging with their superannuation.
9 May 2012
Only 30% measure sustainability. Super funds recognise the importance of sustainability, but do little to achieve it, according to SuperRatings
18 March 2012
An initiative to ensure that there are “opportunities for all” families seeking a Catholic education for their child was launched recently at Southern Cross Catholic Vocational College (SCCVC).
Men and women alike want to be prepared to make wise financial decisions; these will result in greater security and quality of life, both now and in the future.
One of my workmates recently said that life was a game of chance. Good fortune favours some and less luck shines on others, but ultimately it is your free-will and choice of action which can influence both your happiness and financial future. Here are some tips which could benefit you in the game of life.
Even though many self-funded retirees are considered too ‘wealthy’ to receive a pension card, many are pleased to learn they are eligible to receive the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC). We can help you discover if you can benefit from this and any other relevant entitlements for your retirement.
1 February 2013
Obtaining income protection insurance (often called temporary salary continuance) through your superannuation fund is often cheaper and more convenient than finding comparable insurance outside of superannuation. See the value of real insurance claims examples for Fund members who have received replacement income from their insurance when they were unable to work for a period of time due to illness or injury.
5 December 2012
Some members have exited the Fund to establish a self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF) only to find that it does not live up to expectations, as the following case study illustrates. We believe there are some tell-tale signs of pending problems for members to consider before establishing a SMSF.
An anti-detriment death benefit payment is the term for an increased lump sum amount, in addition to your super account balance, that is paid to your eligible beneficiaries in the event of your death. The payment is meant to represent a refund of superannuation contributions tax you have paid during your lifetime. Australian Catholic Superannuation is one of the few funds that makes these payment automatically on both superannuation and pension accounts.
Increased awareness of superannuation is leading many of us to plan for retirement, in the financial sense. What is often overlooked though is the financial impact of ill health and the cost of aged care – either for aged parents, or increasingly, for ourselves.
Making the decision that you would like to fulfil the great Australian dream of owning your own home is very daunting. Where to start could begin with that awful word that sounds restrictive, controlling and generally not much fun, BUDGET.
If you are saving through superannuation and have time on your side, then compounding is a simple yet powerful way to create long-term wealth.
Ever considered how your finances would hold up if you were unable to work for a period of time due to illness or injury? Making sure you have income protection (temporary salary continuance) insurance cover in place can make a real difference to your financial wellbeing in case the unforeseen does happen. Here are some real insurance claims examples for Fund members, aged around 30 years, who have benefited from receiving income replacement payments through their superannuation insurance cover.
Making sure you have income protection (temporary salary continuance) insurance cover in place can make a real difference to your financial wellbeing in case the unforeseen does happen. And it's often cheaper and more convenient to arrange this protection through your superannuation fund than finding comparable insurance outside of superannuation. See some real insurance claims examples for Fund members, aged 30-44 years, who have received income replacement benefits when they were unable to work for a period of time due to illness or injury.
Members with Australian Shares in their investment option shared in significant dividend income and franking credits for the year to 30 June 2012. Our top 10 shares holdings generated dividends of approximately $26 million and franking credits, or a tax refund of over $6 million. Every member who had exposure to Australian Shares within their investment choices benefited from the refund of imputation credits.
If you are aged 50 years or older and have been contributing to your super on a pre-tax (concessional) basis, you may need to re-assess your contribution strategy as the previous financial year's pre-tax contribution limit of $50,000 has been reduced to $25,000 for 2012/13. Contributions in excess of this amount can still be made, but will attract a higher tax rate. Making reduced pre-tax contributions and increasing your after-tax (non-concessional) contributions to super could be the answer for you.
It's not uncommon for us to hear of allocated pension users from other funds who feel dissatisfied with the service provided by their non-Australian Catholic Superannuation financial adviser or fund. This may be even more evident for retirees who become aware that they are paying their external adviser trail fees, often in addition to the entry fees paid when the pension was originally started. Read the full article for a possible solution.
This investment update outlines market returns as at 31 October 2012 and provides a brief snapshot of the European and Australian economies. Also outlined are some of the investment strategies adopted by our Trustee Board over the past year.
Super fund members are often surprised to find that they cannot bequeath their super under their will. This is because superannuation is a trust structure and as such it lies outside the superannuant’s will, if indeed a will has been made. When people are asked by their super fund to make a nomination of dependants (non-binding), they are asked to specify to whom they would like the Trustee of the superannuation fund to pay their super and any associated insurance benefits, in the event of their death. Although the estate planning issues with super may seem complex at first, it is well worth taking a little time to understand how one of the most important stores of wealth for everyday Australians is distributed when a member dies.
23 September 2012
In the next month, members of most super funds will be receiving their annual super statements for the financial year to June 2012. Depending on their chosen investment portfolio, some members may be in for disappointing news. Share markets in Australia and overseas have once more disappointed.
26 August 2012
Over the past 10 years Australian Catholic Superannuation has seen a noticeable change in members' attitudes to the so called ‘desirable’ age at which to retire. It was once very common to find many Fund members saying that they wanted to retire at age 55 or 56. It is now fairly rare to find members saying that they want to retire prior to reaching age 60. Most are saying that they would like to remain working until at least age 65, prior to accepting some social security support to help fund their retirement. Have you thought about when you want to retire?
29 July 2012
Every year or so the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) produces estimates to declare the amount of money required for people to live ‘comfortably’ in retirement. The science is not exact as there are variations amongst people as to what exactly constitutes ‘comfort’ and the needs and expectations of retirees are not uniform. Nevertheless, survey results allow us to view a picture of what an average single retiree or average retired couple need to live comfortably in their home they own outright.
27 May 2012
Changes in the Budget relating to superannuation are definitely going to have implications for many people using transition to retirement pensions to boost super savings for retirement. Before talking about the Budget changes it may also be beneficial to explain again how transition to retirement strategies work.
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