Introduction

When you're at the helm of your own business, it's easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of the present – chasing sales, generating leads, and growing your business. Often, self-employed people prefer reinvesting back into their businesses, hesitant to stash money away in superannuation. Yet, there's a compelling case for setting aside a slice of your earnings.

The facts don’t lie

At present, self-employed Australians are not required to contribute to superannuation.

Introduction

Found yourself separated and suddenly single later in life? Life often has different plans for us than we may have imagined.

Life after divorce (or separation) might bring with it a whole range of new things, including the need to rediscover yourself, dipping your toe back in the dating pool (hellooo Tinder) and revisiting your plans for the future, in particular, your financial plans.

An essential financial aspect to consider here is your superannuation and retirement plans to make sure you are on track and not at risk of struggling in your later years.

Introduction

The super guarantee (SG) is the minimum percentage of ordinary earnings that employers must contribute to superannuation for their eligible employees.

After years being stuck at 9.5% the SG rate is on the move again. It increased from 9.5% to 10% on 1 July 2021, and will increase by a further 0.5% each year until it reaches 12% from July 2025.

Introduction

If the ins and outs of superannuation leave you confused, the answers to these frequently asked questions will help you understand the basics.

Introduction

Superannuation statements. Boring, right? But if, like many people, you toss your annual super statement in a drawer or hit delete, you could be depriving yourself of many thousands of dollars just when you need it. So it’s worth the small effort to take a closer look at your superannuation statement. If everything is in order, you’ll get a warm glow from watching your nest egg grow. Conversely, a quick check of your statement may reveal some of the common problems that occur with super; and the sooner these are fixed the quicker your savings can increase.

What to look for

Introduction

Despite frequent changes to its governing rules, superannuation remains, for most people, a tax-effective environment in which to save for retirement. Here’s a quick Q&A on the what, why and how of contributing to superannuation from this point on.

A successful super contribution strategy can mean the difference between looking forward to retirement and dreading it. This article is provided as an overview. Super is a complex area and further rules apply in some situations. Getting things wrong can be costly so talk to your qualified financial planner, and get the right advice on the best ways to boost your super.

Introduction

If you pay close attention to the value of your superannuation fund, and if, like most people, your money is spread across the main investment classes, you would have noticed that your retirement savings can both rise – and fall - in value. This can lead to some nervous times, particularly if you are close to or already in retirement.

What causes these ups and downs and can you do anything about them?

Introduction