Page 6 - Advice Matters - Byfields Wealth May 24
P. 6

Supercharge your Super before


                 the clock strikes EOFY!






                 EOFY can have a tendency of creeping up on you… The calendar   Now that we’ve covered off on making contributions to
                 ticks over to 1 June, suddenly, your inbox is bombarded with   superannuation, let’s keep the momentum going with a - Five
                 EOFY sales, and you’re left thinking ‘Where has this year gone, it   Step Super Health Check
                 feels like Christmas was only yesterday!’.           1. Check… that your Super is consolidated
                 Then you remember the superannuation tasks you’ve been   Multiple accounts mean multiple fees, eating into your retirement
                 putting off.                                         savings. Use the ATO’s online services to track down lost super
                 If this sounds familiar, then keep reading for our top ten tips to   and consolidate your accounts easily.
                 making the most of your superannuation before EOFY.
                                                                      Important Note – Make sure to check your insurance status
                 Let’s get started with - Five ways to boost your Super with   before completing any consolidation!
                 contributions
                                                                      2. Check… how you are invested
                 1. Consider additional Concessional Contributions    Your  super’s investment  strategy  should  match  your risk
                 (Pre-Tax Contributions)                              tolerance and retirement goals. Are you too conservative? Or
                 Why? Because these contributions are taxed at just 15%,   too aggressive?
                 potentially lowering your taxable income. It’s like giving less to   EOFY is a perfect time to review your investment options.
                 the taxman and more to future you!
                                                                      Adjusting  your  investment  mix  can significantly  impact  your
                 You’re allowed up to $27,500 annually, including your employer’s   super’s growth over time.
                 11% contribution. However, there is one exception to this…
                                                                      3. Check… what insurance you have
                 2. Catch-up on Unused Concessional Contributions
                                                                      Most super funds offer life, total and permanent disability, and
                 If you haven’t maxed out your concessional contributions from   income protection insurance. Review your insurance  needs
                 previous years, legislation now allows you to make ‘catch-up’   before EOFY to ensure you’re adequately covered without
                 contributions if your super balance is under $500,000.   eroding your super balance unnecessarily.
                 Look back up to five years to see if you’ve got unused caps you   4. Check… to make sure you have a beneficiary
                 can access.
                                                                      nomination
                 3. Take Advantage of Non-Concessional Contributions   Super isn’t automatically covered by your Will, so nominate your
                 (After-Tax Contributions)                            beneficiaries to ensure your super goes to your loved ones as
                 If you’re a low- or middle-income earner, the government co-  intended.
                 contribution scheme is a great way for you to contribute to   5. Check… your details to make sure they’re up to date
                 superannuation personally AND get a little bonus top up from
                 the government.                                      This will ensure you’re kept up to date with important information
                                                                      from your super fund.
                 It’s also a great way to add larger amounts to super, because
                 you’re allowed to contribute up to $110,000 per year (or $330,000   By taking action on these ten tips, you can feel confident knowing
                 if you are eligible to ‘bring forward’ future contributions).    that you’ve made those most of your super for the financial year,
                                                                      and that it’s in tip top shape for the year ahead!
                 4. Sharing the Super love with Spouse Contributions  Alternatively, if you’ve gotten this far and are still stuck thinking
                 If your partner’s income is on the lower side, contributing to their   about what happened to February (like seriously… does anyone
                 super could earn you a tax offset of up to $540.     actually remember February, or March for that matter?), then
                 It’s a win-win: you help increase your family’s total super savings   book in with a Financial Planner today and take the hassle out
                 while scoring a tax perk for yourself.               of your EOFY planning.
                 5. Or consider Contribution Splitting with your      It’s an investment your future self will thank you for!
                 Significant Other
                 You may be able to split up to 85% of your concessional super   Sources:  https://www.ato.gov.au/tax-rates-and-codes/key-
                 contributions with your spouse.                      superannuation-rates-and-thresholds “Key Super Rates and
                                                                      Thresholds”, Australian Tax Office (accessed 22 March 2024)
                 This strategy can help even out your super balances, potentially
                 reducing  the  tax  paid  on  super  pensions  in  the  future.  It’s a
                 smart move, especially if one of you is taking a career break or
                 working part-time.



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