March
How this expat turned $6300 into a UK pension worth $370,000
Experts say 2 million Australians could qualify for a UK pension when they retire, but the opportunity is about to become less lucrative.
How super funds treat your money when you die is shameful
What we have is a returns-focused industry that makes it very easy to put money in, but much harder for your next of kin to get it out.
How this typical family will be affected (including housing worries)
Tori and Ryan Spettigue hoped for help with childcare, and they got it. Sort of. They still worry their kids won’t be able to afford to live anywhere near them when they grow up.
Deeming rates on hold in budget to woo pensioners ahead of poll
When the rates are increased, it is equivalent to saying the pensioner is earning more on their private assets and therefore needs less welfare support.
A $480,000 opportunity for Australians who did a stint in London
Thanks to an unusual provision in UK law, Australians who worked in the UK for at least three years may be eligible to claim a state pension.
Future Fund set to buy into Transgrid amid hefty energy transition bill
Future Fund is preparing to invest in TransGrid at a time when it has faced pressure from the Labor government to consider three national priorities – housing, renewable energy and infrastructure.
February
Doing this could increase your retirement income by thousands
Retirees may not know that using their superannuation to buy an annuity can boost their Centrelink age pension payments.
Retirees need advice, not force-fed standard products: Insignia boss
“One size does not fit all in retirement,” Scott Hartley says in response to The Australian Financial Review reports about government’s best practice consultation.
1 million retirees are missing out on this $60,000 perk
Changes in eligibility rules mean that more than 1 million people are entitled to the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card but do not claim it.
Future Fund grows by $26b riding US stock surge
The sovereign wealth fund has delivered a chunky return after upping its exposure to global equities.
January
Retirees warned not to switch off legacy pensions just yet
Wait for the government to enact a formal debt waiver so you don’t get asked to hand back age pension payments.
December 2024
Japanese giant shows courage with life insurance slam dunk deal
It takes Japanese-type conviction to double down on a challenged market, and pay a big price to do so.
November 2024
Hands off, the Future Fund is not a political slush pool
Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ plan means that a cornerstone of Australia’s financial security is suddenly viewed as a mere piggy bank for the latest government whim.
October 2024
Super system potshot a chance to double down on Keating’s vision
While we should not let the International Monetary Fund dictate how ordinary Australians’ savings are invested, it does have a point worth talking about.
September 2024
The best and worst retirement calculators revealed
Wildly different answers emerged when the same scenario was plugged into dozens of super funds’ retirement calculators. Now a consumer group is demanding higher standards.
How to fix the dearth of retirement options
It is clear that Australians need better retirement-income products. Annuities make some sense, yet their uptake is low. But change looks to be on the horizon.
August 2024
How to work less, help the kids and do the job you always wanted
A transition to retirement pension offers opportunities to revamp your lifestyle, pay down debt or gift a home deposit. Here’s how to take advantage.
The tools showing retirees they have more to spend than they thought
Retirement income modelling is advancing rapidly, giving people an unprecedented ability to plan their own financial futures.
This $300b super fund is making a monster move to stocks
Australian Retirement Trust has decided that a big chunk of its members will do a lot better with their pension nest egg invested in riskier assets.
July 2024
Biden should go one step further and resign as president now
Letters from readers on the US election; Michael Stutchbury stepping down; climate analysis; pension reform; and protecting healthcare from cyber threats.