By Wade Matterson, on behalf of Firstlinks May 2020 The financial services industry may have underestimated the dramatic fall-off in retiree spending as retirees age, according to our analysis of real-world expenditure data. This is potentially a positive message for retirees and their advisers dealing with the Covid-19 crisis. How retirement spending falls The median…
By Colin Lewis, Head of Technical Services, Fitzpatricks Private Wealth May 2020 How much can I contribute before June 30? Leading up to June 30, many people wish to know how much they can contribute to superannuation to reduce tax and/or to bolster their retirement nest egg. Should be simple … right? Concessional (pre-tax) contributions…
By Colin Lewis, Head of Technical Services, Fitzpatricks Private Wealth April 2020 Non-preserved superannuation benefits may be impacted by the downturn in markets. With the outbreak of the Coronavirus, the amount I have in superannuation has dropped significantly with the dramatic downturn in share markets around the world. Obviously, I’m not alone. Apart from…
By Colin Lewis, Head of Technical Services, Fitzpatricks Private Wealth March 2020 It’s been a wild ride on global share markets in the last few weeks after some significant falls. We’re living in turbulent times again, and when investment markets are volatile, logic can go out the window. For many Australians, superannuation is their…
By Colin Lewis, Head of Technical Services, Fitzpatricks Private Wealth February 2020 People with a reasonable sum of money to invest in super who are turning age 65 from now to 30 June 2020 may find themselves in a predicament. Take Dilhan who turns 65 on April 1 this year. He is retired and has not…
By Colin Lewis, Head of Technical Services, Fitzpatricks Private Wealth February 2020 Have you got what is known as a ‘grandfathered’ account-based pension (ABP) for social security/Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) purposes and feel trapped because you’re locked-in and cannot change it? Maybe you’re wanting to switch super funds – even start or wind-up a…
By Olivia Long, on behalf of Firstlinks January 2020 The impact of Australia’s ongoing bushfire crisis is devastating. Not only are Australians losing their homes and entire belongings, but many are also hit by the loss of their business or means to generate an income. They may be in urgent need of cash as a…
By Colin Lewis December 2019 If you’re aged 65 or more and sell your home, you may be able to contribute some, or all, of the sale proceeds into superannuation. Making what is known as a ‘downsizer contribution’ is an opportunity to top-up your super even if you’re normally ineligible to contribute due to your age,…
By Colin Lewis December 2019 The festive break is a good time to kick back with family and friends. It’s also a good time to take stock of where you’re at financially and to plan for the new year. When it comes to the constantly changing superannuation environment, the last thing you want is to miss…
By Colin Lewis November 2019 There are many reasons for setting up a self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF). It could be the desire to take control of your super, or wanting to invest in something that can only be held in an SMSF, such as direct property – with the spotlight on investment diversification, more attention must…
