12 July 2025

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Raising the GST to 15%7 examples of how the new super tax will be calculated The revolt against Baby Boomer wealth Meg on SMSFs: Withdrawing assets ahead of the $3m super tax Are franking credits hurting Australia’s economy?

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Home / Retirement Income Streams

Retirement Income Streams

1-12 out of 22 results.

The big questions facing retirees

Aaron Minney
10 January 2024
16

Retirees are facing financial challenges including dealing with inflation, handling volatile markets, and getting appropriate advice. Building a retirement plan that can withstand these challenges is key for 2024 and beyond.

Robert Merton on retirement incomes and Jane Austen

Graham Hand
20 November 2019
19

1997 Nobel Laureate Robert Merton wants greater focus on the income that will sustain a retirement, and even Jane Austen understood this. And he has a surprising proposal to help with longevity risk.

Lifetime income tackles retirement timebomb

David Orford
1 May 2019
4

The traditional asset based pension is not usually sufficient to provide a total income that keeps pace with inflation, even with the help of the age pension. A real lifetime pension is one way to preserve old age dignity.

Accessing super before retirement

Monica Rule
20 July 2017
4

Transition to Retirement Income Streams are no longer tax-free, but you can still access your super before retirement if you meet certain conditions, and there are strategies to reduce the tax paid.

Defined benefit pensions and the transfer balance cap

Melanie Dunn
30 March 2017
17

Defined benefit pensions once meant sitting back and enjoying the guaranteed income flow for life, but their treatment under the new pension rules is a potential minefield.

Robert Merton on retirement incomes and Jane Austen

Graham Hand
7 November 2014
9

Nobel laureate Robert Merton wants us to focus on the income that will sustain us in retirement, even Jane Austen understood this. And he has a surprising proposal to help with longevity risk.

Keeping track of 'superannuation interest' is critical

Graeme Colley
7 November 2014

A unique feature of SMSFs is the concept of 'superannuation interests' which must be monitored to keep track of the taxable components in a super fund. Good records can avoid problems later.

Investor behaviour and lump sum bias

Aaron Minney, Phil Sainsbury
12 September 2014
3

Many factors contribute to a lump sum bias among investors, and it might be one reason why they significantly overestimate how much a lump sum is worth in annual income for life.

Changes to Centrelink treatment of account-based pensions

Melanie Dunn
24 July 2014
7

Get ready for more pension-related changes: from 1 January 2015 the way account-based income streams (including account-based pensions) are assessed under the income test for Centrelink purposes will be changing.

Post-retirement income: the drums are beating

Less than 15% of Australians will enjoy a 'comfortable' standard of retirement with just their super. The age pension doubles the numbers, but there’s an even larger increase if other savings are included.

Caveat Emptor: Lifetime annuities versus indexed bonds

Caveat Emptor
2 May 2014
6

A reader sent in an excellent question on the merits of lifetime annuities versus long term indexed bonds for post-retirement income. Jeremy Cooper and Elizabeth Moran make the case for each.

The 4% Rule for retirement withdrawals may be too high

Harry Chemay
21 March 2014
2

Australian research on retirement withdrawal rates challenges the long-accepted ‘4% Rule’ used by many planning professionals when advising self-funded retirees. The optimal rate? Well, let's start a conversation.

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Most viewed in recent weeks

Raising the GST to 15%

Treasurer Jim Chalmers aims to tackle tax reform but faces challenges. Previous reviews struggled due to political sensitivities, highlighting the need for comprehensive and politically feasible change.

Noel Whittaker
9 July 2025

7 examples of how the new super tax will be calculated

You've no doubt heard about Division 296. These case studies show what people at various levels above the $3 million threshold might need to pay the ATO, with examples ranging from under $500 to more than $35,000.

ASFA
18 June 2025

The revolt against Baby Boomer wealth

The $3m super tax could be put down to the Government needing money and the wealthy being easy targets. It’s deeper than that though and this looks at the factors behind the policy and why more taxes on the wealthy are coming.

James Gruber
11 June 2025

Meg on SMSFs: Withdrawing assets ahead of the $3m super tax

The super tax has caused an almighty scuffle, but for SMSFs impacted by the proposed tax, a big question remains: what should they do now? Here are ideas for those wanting to withdraw money from their SMSF.

Meg Heffron
4 June 2025

Are franking credits hurting Australia’s economy?

Business investment and per capita GDP have languished over the past decade and the Labor Government is conducting inquiries to find out why. Franking credits should be part of the debate about our stalling economy.

James Gruber
18 June 2025

Here's what should replace the $3 million super tax

With Div. 296 looming, is there a smarter way to tax superannuation? This proposes a fairer, income-linked alternative that respects compounding, ensures predictability, and avoids taxing unrealised capital gains.

Tony Dillon
2 July 2025

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