Tag
Retirement
13 Cockatoo articles in this topic.
Division 296: The $3 Million Super Tax
Division 296 adds an extra tax on earnings for super balances above $3 million. Here's how the new rules work, who they hit, and when the first bills land.
How Much Money Do You Need to Retire in Australia?
Work out your retirement "number" from all income sources — super, the Age Pension and personal savings — using the ASFA benchmarks and simple income-versus-lump-sum thinking.
How Much Super Do I Need to Retire?
How big should your super balance be? We look at ASFA's lump-sum targets, average balances by age, and the contribution levers you can pull to close the gap before you retire.
Self-Funded Retiree: What It Means
A self-funded retiree covers their own retirement income without the Age Pension. Here's what it takes, how it compares to the pension, and the role of franking credit refunds.
SMSF Pension Phase: Paying a Pension
When SMSF members retire, the fund can start an account-based pension — unlocking tax-free earnings and nil CGT, but with minimum drawdowns and the transfer balance cap to manage. Here is how it works.
Superannuation Explained: How Super Works in Australia
A plain-English guide to how superannuation works in Australia: employer contributions, how super is taxed, choosing a fund, and when you can finally access your money.
Retirement Planning in Australia: How Much You Need & How to Plan
A plain-English guide to planning retirement in Australia — how the super, age pension and personal-savings system fits together, how to set an income target, and how to draw it down to last.
Annuities in Australia
Annuities convert a lump sum into guaranteed income — for life or a fixed term. Here's how lifetime and fixed-term annuities work, their pros and cons, and how they hedge longevity risk.
Account-Based Pensions & Income Streams
An account-based pension turns your super into a flexible, tax-effective income in retirement. Here are the 2026 minimum drawdown rates, the transfer balance cap and how to make it last.
Age Pension Eligibility & Assets Test
Who qualifies for the Age Pension in Australia, how the income and assets tests work, and how deeming affects your payment — a plain-English 2026 guide.
ASFA Retirement Standard 2026
The ASFA Retirement Standard sets the benchmark income for a modest or comfortable retirement. Here are the latest February 2026 figures and how to use them to plan.
SMSF Explained: Self-Managed Super Funds in Australia
A self-managed super fund lets you run your own super, with full control and full responsibility. Here is what an SMSF is, who it suits, and how the ATO regulates it in 2026.
Transition to Retirement (TTR) Strategy
A transition to retirement pension lets you draw super while still working from age 60. Here's how the TTR strategy works, the tax rules, and who it suits in 2026.