Account Based Pensions

Account Based Pensions

How does this retirement income stream work? An Account-based Pension is often also referred to as an Allocated Pension. It is a regular income stream which is drawn down from the savings you have accumulated in your superannuation fund. This drawdown (or...
Buy, sell or renovate?

Buy, sell or renovate?

The great retirement trade-off The start of a new year is often the time when we plan to make changes to our homes – to buy, sell or renovate. Renovating was almost a national pastime this past year when Covid forced more of us to spend more time at home, up close to...
So you think you are Australian

So you think you are Australian

Are you a citizen or resident? Does it really matter? Residency and citizenship are very personal matters. They are your own business, right? Well yes, but where your status can become someone else’s business is if you wish to receive a Federal Government entitlement,...
How does the income test work?

How does the income test work?

Last week we defined the Assets Test and rules which are applied to your assets for Age Pension entitlement. This week we look more closely at the Income Test, one of the three aspects by which an Age Pension entitlement will be assessed. Put simply, Centrelink...
Are we the lucky country?

Are we the lucky country?

Sometimes, we need to remind ourselves just how lucky we are.  A friend’s note did that for me the other day.  Brian Jones runs a business based in the Philippines from Australia and he shared how grateful he is to be living here, particularly during the Covid...
How does the assets test work?

How does the assets test work?

In addition to your age there are three major considerations upon which your eligibility for the Age Pension is assessed; the income test, the assets test, and your residency status. Today we share the first of a three-part explanation of how these critical tests work...
What are taper rates?

What are taper rates?

Taper Rates: Understanding the Age Pension sliding scale This often misunderstood term applies to a sliding scale which sits between entitlement for a full Age Pension, a part Age Pension and no pension at all. When applied to your assets, it means that the value of...
Free RATs for concession card holders

Free RATs for concession card holders

Can you get free RATs test kits? It’s hard enough to keep up with frequent changes to health rules, let alone changes to your entitlements. So you may have missed the recent announcement of free rapid antigen tests (RATs) for all Australian concession card holders....
How to pay yourself in retirement

How to pay yourself in retirement

Three ways to fund yourself Many people assume retirement income comes down to being on a pension or not. But it’s not quite as clear cut as this. The recent Treasury Intergenerational Report (IGR) shows that about 65% of retirees will be on full or part Age Pensions,...