The process of superannuation - choosing a fund, contributions, accessing and withdrawing funds.
Making the choice of a super fund - how to choose, comparing funds, and considerations to make.
Ways of boosting your super - contribution methods, caps, and tax implications you need to know about.
The types of fees on your superannuation and how they can impact your retirement balance.
The benefits and key considerations for combining multiple superannuation accounts.
What you need to know about managing your own superannuation fund.
Superannuation is generally the foundation of your retirement nest egg, so getting it ‘right’ is critical.
But what looks ‘right’ for a professional couple in their early 30s might look very different from what suits a busy, time-poor family, or a semi-retired couple in their 60s.
And your super options are broad: Do you want to manage your own super fund, or are you comfortable entrusting a large provider to do this for you? Should you top up your super contributions with your own cash, or let it look after itself? Are you planning to access a portion of your super early, or hold on to it as long as you can?
Our Ultimate Super Guide will help you navigate the path towards a superannuation solution that’s right for you.
Compiled with the combined knowledge and experience of eight financial planners from the MBA Financial Strategists team – and coupled with the latest industry standards – our Ultimate Super Guide will get you on the road to a financially healthy retirement.
Superannuation is a tax-effective way to save for your retirement. It works in a similar way to a managed fund, where your money is grouped with other members’ money and invested on your behalf by professional investment managers. They do this based on your objectives, risk profile, and age. Generally, you can’t access your super until you reach your ‘preservation age’ (see the table below). Some exceptions do apply to this rule, such as life-threatening illness.
Your date of birth | Age you can access your super (Preservation age) |
---|---|
Before 1 July 1960 | 55 |
1 July 1960 – 30 June 1961 | 56 |
1 July 1961 – 30 June 1962 | 57 |
1 July 1962 – 30 June 1963 | 58 |
1 July 1963 – 30 June 1964 | 59 |
From 1 July 1964 | 60 |
Source: MoneySmart
Your employer makes compulsory super contributions to your super fund. These contributions are termed the ‘superannuation guarantee’ and currently sit at a minimum of 9.5% of your salary. On top of this contribution, you can make your own contributions – either via salary sacrifice (which is a concessional pre-tax contribution), or non-concessional (after-tax) contributions. The Federal Government’s co-contribution is an example of a non-concessional contribution. Be aware, however, that there are limits, or ‘caps,’ on the additional contributions you can make to your super fund in a financial year – and going over these caps can have significant financial consequences. These limits vary depending on your age.
Every person and every situation is different, so you’ll need to consider your own circumstances before making any decisions. And remember, the concessional caps include your 9.5% superannuation guarantee and any salary sacrifice payments.
This is a question our financial planners at MBA Financial Strategists hear all the time.
The answer is not simple and depends very much on your own personal circumstances.
We recommend you take into account the following considerations when determining what ‘your’ super will look like:
If you’re unsure which super fund to choose, or want to consider your wider retirement options, we recommend you seek independent financial advice.
Again, this a very common question received by the financial planners in our practice. And again, the answer is dependent on your own personal situation.
Superannuation funds charge fees and charges, and those fees can vary significantly across funds. Whilst, it is generally better to lower the fees and costs, it is important to weigh that up with what the fund offers in terms of risk, returns and services.
Find Out More About Superannuation Fees
There are key benefits to combining multiple super accounts into one consolidated account. To decide whether this is the right thing for you, understand these benefits and weigh these up with some key things to consider.
The team at MBA Financial Strategists can help you through this process.
Find Out More About Super Consolidation
Most super funds have an insurance component attached. An important consideration with your super fund is how to structure your insurance.
Generally, the insurance component will include Life insurance and/or Temporary and Permanent Disablement (TPD). Make sure you are informed about how much insurance is attached to your super, the sums insured and the fees involved.
A very important feature of super is that it does not automatically form part of your estate if you pass away. Instead, your super benefits are paid out under the rules of the super fund.
This is why it is very important to ensure that you have nominated a beneficiary to your super via a Death Benefit Nomination form. You can access this form from your super provider.
You then need to consider do you want this nomination to be either:
There are a number of key questions to consider in the lead-up to retirement. As there are a number of rules regarding how you can access your super savings, it is important to start thinking about how you’d like to draw on your super a few years before you retire. You may seek financial advice at this stage from a financial professional or do your own research.
A popular approach to buying property is to set up a Self Managed Super Fund (SMSF). An SMSF gives you control over your own fund along with added responsibilities and administration tasks. There are a number of very important considerations when assessing if an SMSF is right for your needs. Outlined below are just some of the considerations:
Find Out More About Self-Managed Super Funds
Are you interested in chatting with one of our financial planners? This is what you can expect:
At your first meeting, we will chat with you about your current situation and your goals and aspirations. It’s a chance for us to get to know each other, gather initial information and determine whether we can meet your needs.
The purpose of the second meeting is to go a bit deeper and identify your objectives, needs, and priorities. It’s also an opportunity to establish what specific advice you are seeking – and what it will cost. We are committed to being fully transparent about any costs, and will always discuss them with you upfront.
Your MBA FS financial planner will analyse your needs, based on the information you have shared with us. This is an important part of the advice formulation process. Tailored financial planning strategies will also be evaluated and identified at this stage.
At this stage, your MBA FS financial planner will have developed comprehensive financial planning recommendations – along with products and services to implement the advice. The findings and recommendations will be presented to you at this meeting. We will clearly outline how the strategies and products work – and how they meet your individual needs.
Your own individual plan is then implemented. At this stage, you will work closely with a Client Service Specialist to ensure your plan is activated efficiently and in line with your personal financial goals.
It is important to regularly review your financial plan to ensure it is continuing to meet your needs. Together, we will determine a suitable review regime to review and re-evaluate your plan.
MBA Financial Strategists place very high importance on ethics and professional behaviour. This code of practice is reflected in all our client contacts – from advisers to administration staff.
We hope you have found this information helpful. If we can assist in any way please don’t hesitate to call the practice or make an appointment with one of our friendly and professional team.