Ask Noel

It was never going to increase them. At present, there is a government proposal to keep them at $50,000 for people with balances under $500,000 from July 1. As the laws now stand, you can contribute up to the $50,000 cap in concessional contributions until June 30 and this will reduce to $25,000 on July 1. This is not legislated yet so watch this space.

I am seeking advice regarding my super fund. I have become aware that when I pass away, my daughter, who inherits, will have to pay a sizeable chunk of tax as she is a non-dependant. One suggestion is that I roll it over into a bank account. The big question is should I move it or should I just sit with it as it is?

The main purpose of super is to provide for your retirement and save tax, so you will need to ask your adviser if you will pay much tax if you withdraw the bulk of the funds now. An important factor is your age, because if you are younger than 60, there could be tax on money withdrawn from super. If you are in a taxed fund and are older than 60, a better option may be to give an enduring power of attorney to a trusted person, with instructions to withdraw the funds tax-free and place them in your bank account if your health deteriorates.

My wife and I have a self-managed super fund in transition-to-retirement phase and would like to know the life cycle of a self-managed fund from now on. What are the maximum and minimum contributions, concessional and non-concessional, and the implications attached?

You cannot make contributions to a fund that is paying an account-based pension but you could make contributions to a separate account in either name in that fund. There are no special rules for self-managed funds.

I'm 21 and my dad passed away this year without leaving a will. I'm about to receive $70,000 from his share in his parents' house. Is this going to be taxed as a gift? I also have no idea what I should do with it once I have it. With everyone harping on about super, is it feasible for me to make a contribution or is it safer to put it in a high-interest savings account?

If the legacy is in cash, there should be no tax to pay. I wouldn't put it into super as you will lose access for nearly 40 years. My preferred option is to put it in a term deposit with a major bank, eventually using it as a house deposit. You could make a $1000 non-concessional super contribution to get the government co-contribution.

If someone is a carer and does not have a superannuation fund, can they open a personal fund and get a co-contribution from the government?

To be eligible for a government co-contribution, you must have income from paid work or your own business. Unfortunately, if you are solely an unpaid carer, you will not qualify.

I am 52, single and earn $2478 gross a fortnight. My super balance is $54,000. I pay $600 a fortnight off my home loan and have $153,000 left on my mortgage. I have one more year of child-support payments of $900 and have $1500 in savings. Am I best to put all I can into my mortgage or should I salary sacrifice what I can into superannuation?

At your age, I prefer the strategy of salary sacrificing because such contributions lose just 15 per cent, whereas money taken in hand for a person in your tax bracket loses 31.5 per cent.

I am 58, single and finding it difficult to find employment, so am considering retirement. I own my house and have $700,000 in term deposits, $380,000 in super and $60,000 in shares. Is this enough for me to be comfortable for the rest of my life? I would like to keep my money in term deposits and roll my super over into an allocated pension for a monthly income stream. Can I get any pension?

You should be taking advice, because money contributed to superannuation is not assessed by Centrelink until you reach pensionable age you might be eligible for Newstart if the bulk of your superannuation could be sheltered by this strategy. How long your money will last depends on the earnings rate, the state of your health, how much you withdraw and how long you live. A good rule of thumb is that you need 12 times your expected expenditure, so with financial assets of $1.14 million you should be able to spend $90,000 a year without your money running out. Your assets would preclude you from getting any age pension if you were 65 now.

Advice is general readers should seek their own professional advice.

Contact noel.whittaker@whittaker macnaught.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @noelwhittaker. Questions to: Ask Noel, Money, GPO Box 2571, Qld, 4000, or see moneymanager.com.au/ask-an-expert.