Articles by
Barbara Drury
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SMSF audits: Fees and guidelines
An annual audit is one of the necessary tasks associated with running an SMSF, but it can save trustees from inadvertent and costly breaches of the rules.
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What is the DVA (Department of Veterans’ Affairs) Service Pension?
The Service Pension provided similar benefits to the Age Pension for veterans, their partners and widow(er)s, but the eligibility requirements are different, as you would expect.
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The taper trap: Super and the Age Pension means test
The way super intersects with the Age Pension has a big impact on retirees with ‘middling’ super balances, but it’s important not to fixate on short-term pension entitlements at the expense of long-term financial security.
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Asset valuation guidelines for SMSFs
There’s no getting around regular asset valuations for your SMSF, and it needs to be done by the book.
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Franked dividends and franking credits for SMSFs
While interest rates have lifted off their historic lows, franked dividends from shares are still a happy hunting ground for income-seeking investors.
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SMSFs and financial advice: A matter of cost and trust
The number of SMSF trustees who have unmet advice needs is growing, but upcoming reforms and new technology offer the prospect of improved affordability and access.
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Have you got an exit plan? The importance of estate planning
Older Australians are wealthier than ever before, so careful estate planning is crucial if you want your super and other assets to be distributed in line with your wishes.
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How to get ready for retirement if you own a business
It can be easy to put off retirement planning when you are caught up in the demands of running your own business, but it pays to plan ahead if you want to make the most of all your hard work.
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Retiring soon? Here are 5 questions you need to answer first
There’s a lot to think about in the run-up to retirement, from where your income will come from to where you’ll live, but answering these questions should help you prepare.
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Passive versus active: Which investment style is best?
As the debate over passive vs active investing continues, both have their place in SMSF portfolios, depending on your financial goals and risk tolerance.
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2023 year in review, 2024 year in preview
Last year investment markets surprised on the upside, with a late surge in shares and bonds and a resilient residential property market. So what’s in store for 2024?
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ATO SMSF supervisory levy: Cost and guidelines
In a world of ever-increasing prices, the ATO’s annual SMSF supervisory levy has been remarkably stable for almost a decade.
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Retiring overseas: Implications for your super and tax
If you dream of retiring to an exotic overseas location where the living is easy, be sure to look at the financial, health and other considerations before you make the leap.
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What are MySuper products, and which super funds have MySuper products?
Default MySuper funds have been undergoing a makeover in recent years, with performance under the microscope and fees falling.
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Super funds with the lowest income protection insurance premiums
Income protection premiums continued to increase at a significantly higher rate than death and TPD premiums in 2023, but the cost of cover varies widely.
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Super funds with the lowest life and TPD insurance premiums
As the cost of living rises, life and TPD insurance premiums inside super have bucked the trend with little or no movement in 2023.
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Consider these two risks before you start a super pension
Market volatility and economic uncertainty can wreak havoc with retirement plans, so it’s important to develop strategies to ensure your savings last the distance.
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SMSFs: Investment property tax deduction mistakes to avoid
Property investment is popular with SMSFs, so it’s important to know what your fund can and can’t claim as investment property tax deductions if you want to stay on the right side of the ATO.
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