SMSF

The 2026 superannuation shake-up is significant not because any single change is catastrophic — for most people, the changes are either neutral or mildly positive — but because together they signal a clear direction of travel. Super is evolving toward a more tightly regulated …

ASFA defines a comfortable retirement as one that provides for a broad range of leisure activities, a reasonable standard of health care, private health insurance, occasional international travel, and the ability to run a car and maintain your home. Not luxurious — but genuinely …

The most expensive superannuation mistake is one of inaction: staying in a fund that is not performing well. Super operates invisibly — statements arrive once or twice a year and fees are deducted silently — so the cumulative cost of poor performance can be …

The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) publishes a widely used Retirement Standard. For a comfortable retirement — covering a decent car, private health insurance, regular dining out, and occasional travel — the 2025–26 figures are:

Concessional contributions attract a 15% tax rate inside super, compared to marginal rates of up to 47%. For most workers, that gap represents a meaningful saving on every dollar directed through salary sacrifice or personal deductible contributions.

The Division 296 tax passed Parliament on 10 March 2026. The detail matters — several misconceptions have circulated.

Administration feescover record-keeping, communications, and compliance. Some funds charge a flat monthly amount; others charge a percentage of your balance; many charge both. A percentage-based fee grows in dollar terms as your balance grows.