Financial advice: What are the risks and benefits?
There is mounting evidence that financial advice can be good for your hip pocket as well as your general wellbeing, but you need to be vigilant.
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Barbara is a financial journalist and author with over 30 years’ experience in Australia and the UK. She is a contributor to The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age Money section, and has worked for the Australian Financial Review and The Australian.
Barbara is the author of Alan Kohler’s Eureka Report Guide to Personal Investing, Sorting Out Your Finances for Dummies and Personal Finance for Dummies and co-author of Investing for Dummies with James Kirby.
There is mounting evidence that financial advice can be good for your hip pocket as well as your general wellbeing, but you need to be vigilant.
The vast majority of financial advisers want the best for their clients, but sadly, some abuse their position for personal gain. Here’s what to watch out for.
The wisdom of increasing compulsory super next July is not the only reason the Retirement Income Review was eagerly anticipated, but it certainly added fuel to the fire.
SMSFs provide members with a high degree of control and flexibility, but there are strict rules attached.
SMSFs have many attractions but keeping up with the admin is not one of them. Here’s what you need to know to stay on the right side of the law.
When you retire there’s more than one way to withdraw income from your super; we explain your options.
When and how you withdraw income from your super in retirement can have significant tax benefits.
The age at which eligible retirees can start receiving the Age Pension has risen to 67. Bad news if you were born from 1957 on, but the good news is there are no plans to lift the age further.
Exchange-traded funds have exploded in popularity in recent years as an efficient, cost-effective way to build a portfolio, with new funds launched almost monthly.
SMSFs in pension phase need to be extra careful when setting their pension payments for 2023-24, as minimum drawdown rates double from 1 July.
While compassion is a general term, the ATO applies strict rules when deciding whether you can withdraw some of your super early on compassionate grounds.
You may be able to withdraw a small lump sum from your retirement savings if you are in severe financial hardship and not otherwise eligible to access your super, but strict rules apply.
Once you turn 65 the last barriers to dipping into you super come down, even if you’re not ready to retire.
Are you and your super fund a perfect match? All will be revealed in your fund’s product disclosure statement.
Super funds that allow member choice improved their performance overall in the year to June 2022 but high fees persist, especially for Choice funds closed to new members.
Comparing super funds may not seem very exciting, but getting into a quality fund that meets your needs could be one of the best things you do for your retirement.
Low-income earners may be eligible to reduce their tax bill by as much as $700, without lifting a finger. Check our guide to who’s eligible and for how much.
If your kids are old enough to have scored their first fulltime or part-time job, now’s the time to pass on everything you wish you’d known about super at their age.
SuperGuide is Australia’s leading superannuation and retirement planning website.
Superguide Pty Ltd ATF Superguide Unit Trust as a Corporate Authorised Representative (CAR) is a Corporate Authorised Representative of Independent Financial Advisers Australia, AFSL 464629.