| Retirement
Planning can take on many faces. Traditionally superannuation has been
used as the investment vehicle to achieve the dollars required to enjoy a
happy and comfortable retirement. |
| Super funds have altered dramatically
over the years. We used to have very few options, sometimes none via
employer sponsored funds, and the personal super funds were extremely
rigid and unforgiving as far as switching investment options or ceasing
contributions were concerned. Penalties were high and responsibility for
continuing contributions placed pressure on the contributor unnecessarily. |
|
These days master funds have the ultimate flexibility for the investor
with almost unlimited access to whatever companies an investor chooses.
Some funds even provide access to direct share purchases within the super
fund. |
| With
the results being posted in recent times from super funds, investors have
been searching elsewhere for higher returns, or at least trying not to
suffer a loss. The substantial reduction or elimination of personal debt
is a priority at focus planning prior to embarking on
investing for
retirement. |
| Once personal non-deductible debt is under control then
options for wealth creation opportunities can be investigated. This may
mean contributing into a super fund, creating a share portfolio or
entering the investment property market. |
| All of these options command
professional experience in order to determine not only which area is right
for you, but also, once this is determined, each area demands a high level
of research (especially property) before decision making processes are
required. |
| Each
of these topics are discussed on other pages. |
