Advanced search

Top Navigation

Categories | Pensions

A guide for choosing which pension to commute

A guide for choosing which pension to commute

By William Fettes ([email protected]), Senior Associate and Bryce Figot ([email protected], [email protected]), Special Counsel, DBA Lawyers In the lead up to 30 June 2017, fund members with more than one account-based pension (‘ABP’) and total pension capital greater than $1.6 million will need to make a decision about which ABP to fully or partially commute to [read more]

housedollar

Big changes for LRBAs on the horizon?

Co-Author Bryce Figot, Special Counsel, DBA Lawyers Treasury recently released some potentially game-changing exposure draft legislation in relation to limited recourse borrowing arrangements (‘LRBAs’) and their interaction with the transfer balance cap and total superannuation balance provisions. These are significant changes for Fund trustees considering entering into an LRBA in the future. Importantly, the amendments [read more]

growth

Many strategies are based on the proportioning rule

Co-author by Daniel Butler, Director, DBA Lawyers Introduction We have had numerous queries about the proportioning rule over recent times. A common query is how does the proportioning rule apply and how do you calculate the tax free and taxable components in a superannuation benefit. This article is to assist you understand the fundamentals of [read more]

SMSF Deed

Advantages of the DBA Lawyers SMSF deed

DBA Lawyers is Australia’s leading SMSF law firm. We have been refining our SMSF deed for well over 20 years, making it the best SMSF deed available. Additionally, our SMSF deed contains numerous ‘value-added’ advantages that set it apart. Accordingly, our SMSF deed offers many benefits that are not found anywhere else. All of the [read more]

pension documents in shape

Don’t get left behind — get your pension documents in shape for 1 July 2017

DBA Lawyers has recently been inundated with requests for up to date pension documents. Our suite of pension documents is fully up to date, including partial commutation documents with a tick-a-box option allowing the partial commutation of pension capital to just under a member’s personal transfer balance cap. Also, changes to the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) [read more]

Lump sum payments

Lump sum payment arising from a partial commutation

Co-author by Daniel Butler, Director, DBA Lawyers Introduction The treatment of a lump sum payment arising from the partial commutation of a pension will be significantly impacted by the super reform measures. This article examines changes from 1 July 2017. Background — lump sums arising from a partial commutation A benefit payment arising from the [read more]

super reform resources

DBA Lawyers offers a wide array of super reform resources

Co-author by Daniel Butler, Director, DBA Lawyers We have been busy making sure our SMSF documents and training are up to date with the latest super reforms and strategies. Not surprisingly we continue to come across many SMSF documents recently acquired elsewhere that have not been updated with the recent reforms. Naturally, if you are [read more]

cash flow

TRIS strategies after 1 July 2017

A transition to retirement income stream (‘TRIS’) provides an easy way to access superannuation savings. Various TRIS strategies have developed in recent years which may change following the super reforms that commence on 1 July 2017. This article examines a number of popular strategies and considers the likely impact on TRISs on and after 1 [read more]

Reversionary pensions

Reversionary pensions and the super reforms

Introduction Superannuation law is currently undergoing the most significant period of change since mid-2007. As a consequence of the Federal Government’s reform measures, including the $1.6 million transfer balance cap (‘TBC’), it is important that the succession plans of fund members are reviewed as soon as possible so that appropriate and tax effective succession arrangements [read more]

Impact of the superannuation reforms on legacy pensions(1)

Impact of the superannuation reforms on legacy pensions

Transfer balance cap modifications As the Treasury Laws Amendment (Fair and Sustainable Superannuation) Act 2016 is now law, it is critical that advisers have an understanding of the impact of the superannuation reforms on legacy pensions. In particular, the specified defined benefit pension modifications apply to lifetime pensions, fixed term (life expectancy) pensions and market [read more]