SUPERCentral News

As a transitional measure associated with the introduction of the $1.6m limit, individuals who had more than $1.6m but less than $1.7m in retirement phase immediately before 1 July 2017, were allowed 6 months in which to reduce their excess transfer balance to zero by cashing out or rolling back as necessary to reduce the balance to $1.6m or less. If the necessary reduction was achieved within the 6 months, no charge would be imposed. However, what would be the position if the necessary reduction was achieved in part by taking additional pension payments before the end of the 6 month grace period? Unfortunately, that would not be effective to achieve the necessary reduction, as the taxpayer has found out in a recent AAT.

A Power of Attorney is a document by which a person (called 'the principal') appoints another person ('the attorney') to act on the principal's behalf in relation to the principal's property and financial affairs. Sometimes it's necessary to change your power of attorney in which case you're going to need to revoke the existing appointment.

Superannuation Funds have a number of identifying monikers - what are they and what is their function? In August 2015, SUPERCentral News explained the various monikers. Now, more than five years later, we again unravel the monikers and also unravel some new ones.

Of recent times there has been much controversy in relation to whether one trumps the other or whether one is better than the other. Does a reversionary pension trump a binding death benefit nomination? Is a binding death benefit nomination better than a reversionary pension? This article will consider what they are and will also consider whether one does indeed trump the other.

The most common use of a power of attorney is the appointment of a principal's spouse or other close relative to deal with the principal's property if the principal becomes of unsound mind. This is the enduring power of attorney. But powers of attorney have wider uses than this.

If you have funds that are still in catch-up mode or are on different deeds, talk to us about our bulk SMSF conversion program. With all your SMSFs on the one set of Governing Rules, your firm gains major risk, time and opportunity cost savings.

The Federal Government has announced that the deeming rates used for the income means test will be reduced given the current very low official interest rate. This reduction in the deeming rates will generally result in an increase in the age pension for individuals currently receiving a part pension, and may allow others who were ineligible for a part pension to now be eligible for a part pension.

The process of probate may seem straightforward, but depending on the complexity of a client's estate plan, along with family dynamics, it is not always easy to navigate. Rely on us as experts to provide you (and your client) with the right guidance. Here we cover some of the frequently asked questions about probate.

A pension having Asset Test Exempt (ATE) status is a wonderful thing - whether the exemption is 100% (pension commenced before 20 September 2004) or 50% (pensions commenced 20 September 2004 and before 20 September 2007).