IOOF - Investments, Superannuation, Retirement > Investor Education and Resources

Superannuation and Investment Education Resources

Understand your superannuation (super) and investment options today, tomorrow and beyond

To make appropriate financial decisions to meet your individual needs it is important that you have a clear understanding of the products, services and strategies that are available. On this page, IOOF provides you with general information about these matters and details how to access more information or obtain personal financial advice.

Financial Lifestages

A financial lifestage refers to a period of life that is characterised by common financial goals and needs. Understanding which financial lifestage you are in is important for raising your awareness of the financial issues that you should be thinking about now and helping you prepare for the future.

Is this you?	What can you do?
Starting out Building savings and managing your super can become a rewarding habit.	Save. Compound interest means earning interest on interest. If you invested $40 every month at 5% interest¹ you could have $33,290 in 30 years. That's through contributing less than $500 a year! Budgeting and savings tips are provided on the Saving for a better future flyer. You can save through super or take a look at the tax effective IOOF WealthBuilder savings product. First Home Saver Accounts are a Federal Government scheme that provides a simple, tax effective way for Australians to save for their first home through a combination of Government contributions and low taxes. (See useful web links below).
Building wealth Getting your finances in order makes sense. You can make your money work for you!	Government Co-contributions can help boost your super balance. Currently if you earn up to $61,920 per annum you can qualify to receive a Government Co-contribution of up to $1,000 each financial year². If you are eligible, personal contributions up to $1,000 are assessed. Find out more... Had more than one job? Have more than one super account? Consolidating all your super funds into a single account could save you money and make a big difference to your super savings. Find out more... Building an investment portfolio may seem daunting but IOOF can help. We have several investment products designed to meet many different investment and savings needs. Find out more about investment fundamentals or look at our investment product options - Pursuit Select, Pursuit Core and IOOF WealthBuilder. IOOF's super, investment and financial advisory services can provide a comprehensive financial planning solution with many benefits. For example fee aggregation across the Pursuit Select range may save you, and your family, money on administration costs.
Changing priorities To feel secure it is important to understand your financial situation and be confident that you could manage financially if any health or personal issues arise.	Have you considered growing your retirement savings by salary sacrificing into super? For employees, salary sacrifice contributions are only taxed at the rate of 15% going into the super fund, compared with your salary, which may be taxed at a higher rate. Find out more... It is estimated that over 60% of Australians are underinsured³. If anything happened, could you cover the costs of repaying the mortgage, paying bills and meeting medical or funeral expenses? Personal insurance including Death, Death and Total & Permanent Disablement and Salary Continuance are available through super. Want to do more? You may benefit from talking to a financial adviser. If you are not currently advised then IOOF can arrange a free first consultation with a financial adviser to discuss financial planning and other opportunities that may be available for you.
Life after work Plan your next move.	To retire or not to retire? At this stage of life it may be important to understand the different options available to you for creating and managing a retirement income stream. Find out more... If you want to reduce your working hours or pay less tax without reducing your disposable income, 'transition to retirement' could be the answer. Find out more...
Self-employed You can make the most of super as well!	Many self-employed Australians can claim a tax deduction for all of their super contributions so contributing to your super may be very tax-effective. If you are self-employed you may also be eligible to receive a Government Co-contribution if you make personal contributions to super and don't claim a tax deduction for them.
¹Assumes compound interest of 5% paid monthly (end of period) over 30 years with 360 monthly payments. ²These figures are for the 2009/10 financial year and as announced within the 2009 Federal Budget the co-contribution will be reduced from 1 July 2009. ³Rice Warner August 2007 Group Insurance Newsletter

Is this you?

What can you do?

Starting out

Building savings and managing your super can become a rewarding habit.

Save. Compound interest means earning interest on interest. If you invested $40 every month at 5% interest¹ you could have $33,290 in 30 years. That's through contributing less than $500 a year! Budgeting and savings tips are provided on the Saving for a better future flyer.

You can save through super or take a look at the tax effective IOOF WealthBuilder savings product. First Home Saver Accounts are a Federal Government scheme that provides a simple, tax effective way for Australians to save for their first home through a combination of Government contributions and low taxes. (See useful web links below).

Building wealth

Getting your finances in order makes sense. You can make your money work for you!

Government Co-contributions can help boost your super balance. Currently if you earn up to $61,920 per annum you can qualify to receive a Government Co-contribution of up to $1,000 each financial year². If you are eligible, personal contributions up to $1,000 are assessed. Find out more...

Had more than one job? Have more than one super account? Consolidating all your super funds into a single account could save you money and make a big difference to your super savings. Find out more...

Building an investment portfolio may seem daunting but IOOF can help. We have several investment products designed to meet many different investment and savings needs. Find out more about investment fundamentals or look at our investment product options - Pursuit Select, Pursuit Core and IOOF WealthBuilder.

IOOF's super, investment and financial advisory services can provide a comprehensive financial planning solution with many benefits. For example fee aggregation across the Pursuit Select range may save you, and your family, money on administration costs.

Changing priorities

To feel secure it is important to understand your financial situation and be confident that you could manage financially if any health or personal issues arise.

Have you considered growing your retirement savings by salary sacrificing into super? For employees, salary sacrifice contributions are only taxed at the rate of 15% going into the super fund, compared with your salary, which may be taxed at a higher rate. Find out more...

It is estimated that over 60% of Australians are underinsured³. If anything happened, could you cover the costs of repaying the mortgage, paying bills and meeting medical or funeral expenses? Personal insurance including Death, Death and Total & Permanent Disablement and Salary Continuance are available through super.

Want to do more? You may benefit from talking to a financial adviser. If you are not currently advised then IOOF can arrange a free first consultation with a financial adviser to discuss financial planning and other opportunities that may be available for you.

Life after work

Plan your next move.

To retire or not to retire? At this stage of life it may be important to understand the different options available to you for creating and managing a retirement income stream. Find out more...

If you want to reduce your working hours or pay less tax without reducing your disposable income, 'transition to retirement' could be the answer. Find out more...

Self-employed

You can make the most of super as well!

Many self-employed Australians can claim a tax deduction for all of their super contributions so contributing to your super may be very tax-effective.

If you are self-employed you may also be eligible to receive a Government Co-contribution if you make personal contributions to super and don't claim a tax deduction for them.

¹Assumes compound interest of 5% paid monthly (end of period) over 30 years with 360 monthly payments.
²These figures are for the 2009/10 financial year and as announced within the 2009 Federal Budget the co-contribution will be reduced from 1 July 2009.
³Rice Warner August 2007 Group Insurance Newsletter

Questions? If you have questions or require more information or assistance with the information provided on this page you can email clientservices@ioof.com.au

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Glossary of Financial Terms

Sometimes the terms and phrases used in the world of investment and finance can become confusing. Master trust, multi-manager, unit trust, portfolio - what do they all mean?

Product disclosure statements, terms and conditions, disclaimers, and even the straightforward explanations on this web site are much easier to understand when the words and terms are familiar to you.

Go to the Glossary of Terms

Useful web links

These links point to Government and industry web sites that include information to improve your understanding of those who oversee the financial services industry:

IOOF - Your Investment Guardians

Information For Investors

In the know

Seek financial advice

Superannuation and Investment Education Resources

Understand your superannuation (super) and investment options today, tomorrow and beyond

Financial Lifestages

Glossary of Financial Terms

Useful web links