Retirement

Super fund decimated? Strategies to get it back on track

Retirees, battered and bruised over shrinking nest eggs, should stay the superannuation course during volatile financial markets, but are advised to closely examine fund performance and investment strategy.  It’s not the time for disillusioned members to make rash and emotional decisions in light of weaker equity markets during the past 18 months, although shares have…

Investment clubs: is pooling resources good for your wealth?

When picking stocks, or choosing funds, do you make better investment decisions by going it alone – or in a group format, where investing ideas are put to the crowd? Investment clubs are big believers in the latter: a group of investors can be more successful than a single investor, but there is disagreement in…

Investing for your child’s future

Future generations are going to need all the financial assistance they can get as government financial support for education, home ownership and retirement looks set to become just a bitter sweet memory. We sought advice from financial planners concerning the Dos and Don’ts of when, how and why to invest for children. Why consider children’s…

Think you don’t need financial advice? Think again.

If you’re a DIY investor who researches thoroughly and has translated that into a well-managed and high performing portfolio, you may think you don’t need a financial advisor. If so it may pay you to think again… and read on. You might find that you don’t know as much as you thought you did. Dominic…

The perils of sudden wealth

Two lottery wins in two consecutive years and the combined total of $5.4 million gone in just over two decades. Evelyn Adams, who achieved the Great American Dream twice when she won the New Jersey lottery in 1985 and 1986, is now destitute and living in a trailer. The tragedy is that hers is not…

The ultimate starter strategy for building wealth

Instalment gearing is fast becoming the ultimate starter strategy for the capital-challenged, novice investor focused on building wealth. Buzz words such as ‘set and forget’ and ‘user-friendly’ sum up its marketability. “Instalment gearing can be done very cost effectively and has an amazing application for a wide range of people,” says Peter van der Westhuyzen,…

Your retirement: how much income do you need?

Australians might now be more aware of the real need to crank up their superannuation savings, but working out exactly how much is needed to fund a retirement that is free of monetary worries is still difficult. There are so many variables at play – with the most important being that it is very hard…

Do you pay tax when rolling shares into a self managed super fund?

I have $100,000 worth of shares in my portfolio and I would like to roll it over into my self managed super fund. Will I pay tax on the rollover, and if so how much? When I have it in my self managed fund and I want to trade on any of these stocks, will…

Should I add to super or pay off debt?

I am a 57 yr old part time female worker working 2 days a week as a nurse. My hubby is a process worker working 38hrs week and has a second job delivering Pizza. My 3 children stay as at home with the eldest working full time this year and the twins still in 3rd…

Transition to Retirement strategy – is it tax effective?

I will be turning 55 next financial year. All I have read or heard from the commentators are it is beneficial to start a transition to retirement pension (TRP). Is it a tax effective strategy for everyone over the age of 55? Would you please give some examples where TRP is not a good tax…