Savings & Investments

When starting a pension do I have to convert all of my super to a pension?

If I want to start a pension, am I obliged to do so with the percentage minimum of the whole of my super (far too much for my daily living requirements) or may I instead leave some in the accumulation phase and simply start a pension from, say, half the balance? It has always been…

Why you should split super with your spouse

Until recently, the ability to split superannuation pots was a popular strategy for couples looking to reduce the amount of tax payable on their end benefits. But from 1 July 2007, the government’s Better Super changes mean that for the majority of people aged 60 or over, super paid as a lump sum or income…

How to beat the super doom and gloom

The rapid decline in global equity markets has stripped wealth from superannuation nest eggs in an investment environment that looks challenging for at least the next 12 months. The popular default options of the nation’s super funds are likely to return an average loss of 4 per cent for the 2007/08 financial year, according to…