Articles by
Barbara Drury
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Super pension funds put to the test
A new consumer-friendly review of pension funds reveals which funds are ticking all the right boxes.
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3 very different types of ‘retirement’
Today’s 60- and 70-somethings are reinventing retirement, easing into it with a focus on finding meaning and purpose in flexible part-time work, volunteering and new activities.
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The taper trap: Super and the Age Pension assets test
A quirk of our retirement income system can leave retirees with middling a super balance worse off than a full Age Pensioner. But there are ways to increase Pension entitlements
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Super fund performance reckoner: Monthly returns for 5 investment categories
In our reckoner below you can view the median monthly investment returns for 5 superannuation investment options going back to January 2016.
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Super fund performance: Monthly returns to October 2025
Super funds continued their run of strong monthly returns in October, setting the scene for a happy ending to the 2025 calendar year.
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Retiring overseas: Implications for your super and tax
Escaping to a dream location where the living is easy can be tempting for cash-strapped retirees, but there are some practical issues to be aware of before you make the leap.
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How a transition-to-retirement (TTR) pension works
If you’re over 60 and not ready to retire but would like some extra cash to top up your super or wind back your working hours, then a TTR pension could help.
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Super and pension fund performance: Where does your fund rank?
Have you ever looked at your super fund’s investment returns and wondered how your fund compares with similar funds? Is it a consistently high performer or an inveterate underachiever?
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SMSF investment rules: Collectables and personal use assets
An ATO crackdown on asset valuations is putting pressure on SMSFs with collectables to take stock.
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SMSF statistics: 1.2 million members with $1 trillion in super
The size of the self-managed super fund sector continues to grow in terms of members and assets, at the expense of all but industry super funds.
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Pension fund performance: Monthly returns to October 2025
Pension funds continued their positive run in October as they close in on another strong calendar year.
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What type of people have SMSFs?
If you think SMSFs are just for old wealthy Australians, think again. Increasingly, younger people and women are also embracing the self-managed ethos.
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How do ETFs compare to LICs/LITs and managed funds?
Managed investments offer instant diversification, but there are important differences between the types of funds on offer – from cost to legal structure.
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What are lifecycle super funds, and how do they perform?
Lifecycle funds are designed to reduce risk as you near retirement without sacrificing returns; recent research shows many do just that but you need to know what to look for.
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The big picture: Focus on super’s long-term returns
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so we’ve created a visual representation of super’s value in the long run.
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SMSF investing: 20 most popular LICs/LITs
Listed investment companies and trusts are facing stiff competition from cheaper ETFs and passive index funds, but have a place in many SMSF portfolios.
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SMSF investing: 20 most popular managed funds
Traditional managed funds have been partially eclipsed by the rise of ETFs, but they remain core holdings for many SMSF investors looking to diversify.
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SMSF investing: 20 most popular international shares
Direct holdings in international shares fell in 2024–25 due to volatile market conditions but perhaps also to the growing appeal of ETFs to access global markets.
