Retirement might be just around the corner, or maybe you’ve recently crossed that exciting threshold. You’ve worked hard for decades, and now ready to trade in the alarm clock for leisurely mornings and to-do lists that are actually fun. But as you move into the next phase of your life; a thought might cross your mind: What now?

As the federal government moves to introduce a new 15 per cent tax on superannuation earnings above $3 million (known as Division 296 tax), concerns and debates have emerged about the broader implications for investment strategies, retirement planning, and even the property market.

The end of the financial year is an opportunity to optimise your financial strategy, take advantage of tax deductions, and set yourself up for the new financial year.

Whether you're looking to maximise tax benefits, rebalance your investment portfolio, or to simply ensure you’re ticking all the right boxes, smart end of financial year (EOFY) planning can make a big difference.

The super changes coming into effect in the 2025-26 financial year

Australian superannuation laws are set to change once again in the 2025-26 financial year as the nation’s fast-growing retirement savings system continues to evolve

Balancing financial and work commitments with caring for children is possible with a little planning.

Before you return to work, talk to your employer. Discuss how you'll manage your new family responsibilities and work commitments

Here’s how you can help your children build financial literacy.

Australia is one of the wealthiest countries in the world, yet many Australians struggle with financial literacy.

Vanguard’s 2024 How Australia Retires report found that only one-third of Australians were very confident or extremely confident in making financial decisions.

Many of us associate trust funds with their depictions in popular culture – tools used by the mega-rich to distribute enormous family incomes among “trust-fund babies”.

Recently, they even went viral as the centrepiece of a TikTok audio by user @girl_on_couch, who was famously “looking for a man in finance. With a trust fund. 6'5. Blue eyes.”

Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) data shows more than three dozen companies have been delisted from the Australian share market so far this year.

The majority of those delistings have been voluntary, at a company’s request. But the remainder have been delisted by the ASX due to listing rule breaches including their non-lodgement of documents and failure to pay their annual listing fees.

For Australians approaching retirement, recent market volatility may feel like more than just a bump in the road.

Unlike younger investors, who have time on their side, retirees don’t have the luxury of waiting out downturns. A sharp dip just before, or as you begin drawing down your superannuation, can leave lasting damage.

With the end of the current financial year fast approaching, time is running out if you’re planning to boost your superannuation balance before 30 June.

Even depositing a small amount of extra money into your super account before 30 June this year could make a big difference to your overall retirement balance over the longer term, thanks to compounding investment returns.

If you do not meet your super guarantee (SG) obligations, you may have to pay additional penalties or charges on top of the super guarantee charge (SGC).

Scammers operate in an ever-evolving space and the scams of today are far more sophisticated than they have ever been, targeting even the most financially literate individuals.

In addition to the financial impact from a scam, it can affect your mental health as well as damage your reputation, so understanding how scammers operate is the best way protect yourself from falling victim.

If retirement is just around the corner, the current financial climate may make you feel a little uneasy. Watching the markets fluctuate might leave you worrying about whether your superannuation will be enough to see you through.

It’s not a time for hasty moves, though.
If you are concerned a calm review of your current portfolio and investment strategy may be helpful.

Bonds are not usually the flashy upstarts of the investment world with their every move reported, like stocks.

But the Trump Administration’s extraordinary refashioning of world trade, with on-again off-again tariffs of eye watering amounts, has put bond markets in a similar position to share markets – in turmoil.

The Star Ratings system debuted in December 2022 and it was designed to help families find high-quality aged care providers.

The five-star scale was introduced in response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. It was meant to distil complex care metrics — Resident Experience (33 percent), Compliance (30 percent), Staffing (22 percent) and Quality Measures (15 percent) — into a digestible score.

Hospital admissions can be distressing for individuals and costly for healthcare systems. Many of these admissions, particularly for older adults and those with chronic conditions, can be prevented through adequate support at home. Home Care Packages (HCPs) play a vital role in reducing hospital entries by providing tailored care that promotes health, safety and independence.

Work out how long your super or account-based pension will last.

There are many variables that come into play when calculating how long your super or account-based pension will last in retirement, and it can be challenging to figure it out alone.

When you start to plan for retirement, you’ll need to check your super:

You can do this in 5 simple steps with the ATO's super health check. For most people it only takes a few minutes.

About 36% of homeowners still have a mortgage when they retire, up from 23% a decade ago.

This increase in mortgage debt is due to soaring property prices, changes in retirement ages and easy access to drawdown equity loans (where you use your home as security to get a loan, which can be used to fund travel, medical costs and other expenses)

As we advance into the 21st century, the concept of aging is undergoing a transformation, largely thanks to a new generation of “oldies” who don’t feel old - and are reframing what it means to be getting on in years.

Traditionally, aging has been associated with decline, frailty, and a sense of irrelevance.