<img height="1" width="1" style="display:none" src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=264357774380001&amp;ev=PageView&amp;noscript=1">
  • about_banner

Super vs mortgage. Can you guess the winner?

5.12.2018 by Neville Hughes

The pros and cons of using spare income to pay more off your mortgage or increase your super need to be weighed up, but with both strategies the winner could be your financial future.

The direction you take depends on a few factors such as your age, how much you earn, your level of debt and your income tax rate.

If you are in your twenties, for instance, you may not want to save for a retirement that is 40 years or more away. A better strategy might be to invest in a home where you can build some equity before you start considering a retirement strategy.

However, the older you get, the more you might want to invest in your superannuation and begin the transition to retirement financially.

Issues to consider if you take the mortgage route:

  • Paying no tax on growth in the value of your family home
  • Access to redraw facilities if you need a quick flow of cash
  • Equity which you can borrow against
  • Reliance on the property market as a long-term strategy
  • Changes to interest rates

Issues to consider if you send more money your super’s way:

  • Boosting retirement income
  • Tax-effective as tax on investment returns is capped at 15%
  • Tax-effective when you salary sacrifice
  • Potential benefits of Federal Government co-contributions if you earn less than $46,920
  • Inability to access funds if you are under retirement age

Questions to ask yourself…

If you are at the time in life when you feel it's better to place your cash into super, here are some steps to help you decide how to put a strategy in place:

How much do you owe on your mortgage?

Sit down and do your sums to figure out how much money is going into repayments, and how long it will take you to pay off your mortgage.

How is your mortgage set up?

Do you have an interest-only strategy at the moment and how long is the life of your loan? It might be worthwhile considering if this needs to be changed.

Switching to an interest only loan may also give you more cash-flow that can be invested into your super.

Is there cash looking for a better home?

You may have more money floating around than you think and some can go into growing your super balance.

Do you have the capacity to salary sacrifice?

Your employer may allow you to salary sacrifice some of your income which will be taxed at a maximum rate of 15%, saving you a tidy sum in tax if your income is currently being taxed at a higher rate.

Assess your personal situation to identify how much cash you've got and whether it could be better placed to give you more money in your retirement.  Taking your unique personal and financial circumstances into account, your financial adviser is ideally placed to help you work out a strategy that is right for you.

To find out what is the best strategy for you call us on 07 79725177 or email gtcfin@gtcfin.com.au for an obligation free meeting.

Source: Colonial First State Investments

This information is general information only.  You should consider the appropriateness of this information with regards to your objectives, financial situation and needs.

GTC Financial Services Pty Ltd ABN 94 010 624 914 is a Corporate Authorised Representative of Infocus Securities Australia Pty Ltd ABN 47 097 797 049 AFSL and Australian Credit Licence No. 236523

 

Contact Us

Topics Personal Financial Planning, Wealth creation

Subscribe to Email Updates

Subscribe To Our Blog
 
 
 
 
 

Recent Posts