And they’re off! The long-awaited election campaign is now finally in full swing and babies are being kissed, working families praised and the nightly news shows too many politicians.

Those lucky enough to retire early – well before their preservation age – are often confused about when they can access their superannuation.

While the hearings sent shockwaves through Australia’s major financial institutions, I would describe the final report as being light on major structural reforms.

When we use the term “segregation” or refer to an asset as being “segregated” in a superannuation fund, we are generally referring to a tax concept which relates to funds providing retirement phase pensions.

Winter has arrived and that means it is time to get all our pre-30 June planning finalised.

And is the minimum pension for the current year recalculated on his 65th birthday?

It is a well established principle that company directors are not considered common law employees, unless they are also engaged under a contract of employment to provide non-director duties.

A good deed should last 5 years as a general rule and we generally recommend a review to our clients after that time rather than every year.