What are the first steps that need to be taken to ensure that our loved ones, or in this example, my widowed mum, can effectively enter a residential aged care facility without too many dramas. 1. Complete an ACAT assessment You can’t drive mum to the closest nursing home and ask if they have a […]
Being financially prepared is only one part of retirement. Being emotionally prepared for retirement and understanding what you may experience from an emotional point of view is just as important as your financial position. If you Google, “preparing emotionally for retirement” you will find numerous websites all providing advice. These websites are not only located […]
It’s time to review the Pension Loans Scheme (PLS), how it operates, how it can assist either long term or short term and tell you about some new features. Why did I think it is worthwhile revisiting the Pensions Loans Scheme (PLS)? A couple of reasons. 1. The Government announced a couple of changes to […]
It is a question that is often asked. Unfortunately, it is not always fully explained by the correspondence from Centrelink or Veterans Affairs. On 20 March 2021 the Age and Service Pensions were increased, the first increase in 12 months. Pensions are normally adjusted or increased twice a year in March and September, but because […]
The current debate is whether compulsory employer superannuation contributions (generally referred to as “super guarantee” or “SG”) should be increased from 1 July 2021 or be deferred or possibly even suspended. Back in the mid-1980s compulsory super was first introduced as trade-off for a national wage increase. It was referred to as award super, and […]