Did you know that if you’re aged between 60 and 64, you can access your super if you change jobs – without retiring permanently? The rules about when you can access your super on “retirement” grounds vary depending on your age. Find out exactly what’s required for your age group.

Recently, AMP reported that its superannuation support team has seen a surge in questions about the rules for accessing super. It says people are especially unaware about the retirement rules that apply in the 60-to-64 age range. Here, we break down the requirements by age group and clarify what you must do to “retire” and access your benefits.

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Financial literacy, like any life skill, takes time and effort to master. However, a strong foundation from which to build upon, a willingness to learn and a supportive environment can help.

Financial literacy needs to be nurtured from a young age through the teaching of personal finance concepts and the instilling of healthy financial attitudes and behaviours.

Below we have provided you with a simple exercise (broken down into nine steps) that you may find helpful to get the ball rolling with your children. Importantly, you may need to tailor this to suit your own personal circumstances.

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It has been a good year for investors thus far, as unexpectedly lower bond yields have not only generated gains for fixed-interest investors but have also improved the perceived attractiveness of many other asset classes. It has helped that …

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As you approach or enter your retirement years, there can be a desire to move away from your current place of residence and start afresh in a new location – a new atmosphere, a new climate, and a new start.

Depending on your personal circumstances, this desire can often culminate into one of the following:

• a sea change (moving to a sea-side location)

• a tree change (moving to a rural/country location)

• or a blend of both (depending on the location)

Interestingly, for inner city or suburban dwellers, this desire is often categorised as ‘counter-urbanism’ (the desire to pursue a shift in housing type and a reduction in ongoing living expenses).

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With the 2019 Budget week having concluded following the formal delivery of the 2019/20 Federal Budget by the Treasurer on 2 April 2019, and the Opposition response on 4 April 2019, it’s now “game on” in terms of policy positions as the electorate starts to consider where they will cast their vote in the upcoming election.

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Superannuation is widely considered to be one of the most tax-effective investment structures available for wealth accumulators and retirees alike. As such, from a retirement planning standpoint, building wealth inside superannuation through contributions (and, compound investment returns) can be an important focus before reaching your retirement years. However, making voluntary contributions to your superannuation can prove more difficult the further you progress through life, especially when considering contribution eligibility rules for those aged 65 and over. With this in mind, the Government has sought to provide additional flexibility for those aged 65 to 74 via a one-year work test exemption (WTE) that takes effect from 1 July 2019. In our animation, we illustrate how this exemption works.

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In our article, ‘Your 2019 financial health check’, we highlighted the importance of regularly taking stock of your personal circumstances (financial situation, goals and objectives).

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When it comes to refinancing your home loan, “refinancing” simply means taking out a new loan to pay out your current mortgage. There are a whole range of reasons why you may want to change loan providers some of which include: if your circumstances have changed, or you've had your home loan for a few years then refinancing could offer you the chance to take advantage of more flexible features.

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Estate planning is much more than having a will – it's about planning for what happens to your assets and affairs after you die, as well as who takes charge of your affairs in the event you lose capacity - your back-up plan. Sadly many Australians don't even have a will.

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