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The Age Pension in the 21st Century

  • On 23/05/2018
In 1998, Michael Rice wrote a Paper for the Institute of Actuaries of Australia, The Age Pension, Our Unstable Pillar. At the time, the superannuation system was beginning to settle down after 15 dramatic years of frequent changes to the rules and taxation of occupational benefits.  However, the mandatory Superannuation Guarantee (SG) system was in […]
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Investment Platforms – Technology’s new Pandora’s Box?

  • On 03/05/2018
Since the turn of the century, improvements in technology have redefined the way people work, rest and play.  As a result, investors now expect a seamless and integrated experience when interacting with financial markets. Fortunately, providers have adapted to these expectations giving rise to increased accessibility of information, readily available financial advice and improved functionality […]
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The Future of Financial Advice

  • On 24/04/2018
Financial advice is advice provided to an individual or family to assist them to grow, manage and protect their wealth.  It includes strategic advice, recommendations about suitable investment classes, appropriate products (investments, superannuation and insurance) as well as explanation of the impact of legislation, taxation and other external factors on the individual’s financial position.  Advice […]
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Can Account Based Pensions provide more income in retirement?

  • On 12/04/2018
The goal of the Australian superannuation system is to provide income in retirement to substitute or supplement the Age Pension.  Some retirees, particularly those with smaller balances, take a lump sum when they retire.  However, many retirees (with around 85% of retirement benefits) stay in the system and receive their superannuation as retirement income streams. […]
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More instability for superannuation

  • On 27/03/2018
The superannuation industry is used to changes driven by short term political tactics, so Labor’s proposed changes to dividend imputation credits should not be a surprise.  We have now had 35 years of annual changes to superannuation, many of them structured around short-term fiscal issues, and few around building a cohesive national retirement incomes plan. […]
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