SuperGuide

Superannuation and retirement planning information

March 2025 Retirement planner newsletter

How to plan for your retirement
It can be difficult knowing where to start when you are ready to think seriously about retirement, but working through these easy steps will help. Read more.
How to plan for your retirement
It can be difficult knowing where to start when you are ready to think seriously about retirement, but working through these easy steps will help. Read more.
How much super do I need if I don’t own a home?
As most retirement income estimates assume retirees own their home, you will need to make substantial adjustments to these estimates if you expect to be renting. Read more.
How much super do I need if I don’t own a home?
As most retirement income estimates assume retirees own their home, you will need to make substantial adjustments to these estimates if you expect to be renting. Read more.
Boost your Age Pension by topping up a younger spouse’s super
A quirk in Centrelink’s means testing makes investing in your younger partner’s super a compelling strategy to maximise your Age Pension. Read more.
Boost your Age Pension by topping up a younger spouse’s super
A quirk in Centrelink’s means testing makes investing in your younger partner’s super a compelling strategy to maximise your Age Pension. Read more.
Am I eligible for the Age Pension?
A common question for Australians planning their retirement is if, and when, they will be eligible for the Age Pension. Read more.
Am I eligible for the Age Pension?
A common question for Australians planning their retirement is if, and when, they will be eligible for the Age Pension. Read more.
What to do if the market tanks and you’re retired, or close to it
Volatile financial markets make it difficult to plan ahead, but in uncertain times having a plan and sticking to it can make a big difference to your retirement outcome. Read more.
What to do if the market tanks and you’re retired, or close to it
Volatile financial markets make it difficult to plan ahead, but in uncertain times having a plan and sticking to it can make a big difference to your retirement outcome. Read more.

SuperGuide members Q&A: March 2025

Wednesday 19 March 2025 at 11:00 am AEDT

In this webinar super expert Garth McNally answers recent questions from SuperGuide members.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Watch our previous webinar, Estate planning and superannuation.

Q: There is a lot discussion at the moment on getting financial advice from your superannuation, but I am not sure how this will help. In my experience my super fund will only talk about my fund. It won’t consider a solution including my wife’s super so it’s all a bit one sided. I need a plan as a family but if my super fund only acknowledges my fund how can this help? We plan to move our separate funds into pension phase as we move into retirement over the next 2-3 years, the biggest question for us I think is which funds are best for us in retirement. I am with Australian Super and my wife is with Aware Super. Another issue I have is we are allowed to merge into one pension account to minimise costs.

A: Super funds currently offer two types of personal financial advice.

The first is what is known as ‘intra-fund’ advice. This is usually free to you since costs are covered via fees charged collectively to all members. Intra-fund advice is restricted to only your interest in the fund.

The second is comprehensive advice that will consider your entire circumstances, as well as your partner’s. The law doesn’t allow comprehensive advice to be covered by fees that are charged collectively, so you need to pay for this service directly.

Both AustralianSuper and Aware Super offer comprehensive advice services. AustralianSuper has a network that includes advisers employed by the fund and an approved list of external financial planners. Aware Super uses only advisers employed by a financial planning firm that is wholly owned by the fund.

You can contact either fund to arrange an appointment with an adviser.

Learn more about the advice offered by super funds.

Your super is one of your most important assets, so make use of our guides to top performing super and pension funds to ensure your return is competitive.

Important: All information on SuperGuide is general in nature only and does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider whether any information on SuperGuide is appropriate to you before acting on it. If SuperGuide refers to a financial product you should obtain the relevant product disclosure statement (PDS) or seek personal financial advice before making any investment decisions.

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.