Our superannuation products are issued by

Transcription

1 Our superannuation products are issued by 1

2 Most of us have big plans for retirement and how we ll spend our time when we re no longer working. You might want to travel, try new hobbies, volunteer, take up golf, lunch with friends or even return to study. But whatever you choose for your retirement years, there is one certainty. You ll need a plan to ensure you have enough money to enjoy it. That s where your superannuation comes in. As a key longterm investment vehicle, its combination of tax concessions, compounding interest, incentives and benefits should make your super an important part of your retirement strategy. Our Superannuation Growth Guide seeks to explain, in simple terms, the ins and outs of superannuation, no matter what age you are. In fact we ve divided part of this guide into four key sections starting out, moving up, moving on and doing business to help you better understand the power of superannuation and how it can work for you over time. Use this information with our handy super checklist and you ll be well on your way to maximising your retirement savings. Of course, if you d like more information, you can speak to a friendly Bendigo Bank branch staff member or contact Sandhurst Trustees on Or why not consider discussing your superannuation with your local Bendigo Financial Planner. Your super is likely to be one of the biggest assets you ll ever have. It pays to be interested in super. Inside Page 03 What is superannuation? 04 How much super is really enough? 05 Types of super funds 06 Where your money is invested Tax Contribute ways to boost your super 09 Accessing your super 10 Starting out 11 Moving up 12 Moving on 13 Doing business 14 Super checklist 2 15 More about Bendigo super plans

3 What is superannuation? Put simply, superannuation (super) is one of the key tools available to help you save for your retirement. It works on the philosophy that by saving small amounts of money now, you ll accumulate a nest egg to live on when you retire. In addition to your take home pay, your employer is legally required to put 9% of your earnings into your nominated super fund (unless you re under 18 or earn less than $450 a month). You re also entitled to make additional contributions of your own to accelerate your savings. If you re self employed, it s especially important to plan for your retirement. Currently you are not legally required to contribute to your own super and there is no employer who will contribute on your behalf. This means if you don t contribute yourself, you may not have any super to fund your retirement. For many of us, super is likely to be one of the biggest assets we ll ever have. And even though you can t generally access your super until later in life, with such a sizeable amount of money being invested on your behalf, it pays to be interested in super and to know as much as you can about your super fund. And why is it important? Australians are living longer than ever, which means they are spending more time in retirement. And with the government age pension now subject to strict income and assets tests, it s only logical that you ll want to ensure your super, and other investments, will provide enough money for you to live the kind of lifestyle you want in your retirement years. There are a number of reasons why super is such an attractive retirement investment option. > You can save a little bit at a time over a long period. > Because it s a long-term investment, you have longer to reap the benefits of compounding returns. We ll explain what this means later. > Super funds combine everyone s small amounts into a large investment pool, allowing the fund manager to diversify investments and potentially earn better returns for investors over time. > The Federal Government s Superannuation Co-contribution Scheme (if eligible) rewards you for contributing your own money to super. > Super funds may also offer death and disability insurance cover, providing added peace of mind for you and your family. But it s the fact that super is taxed by the government at a lower rate than other investments that makes it so attractive. The tax you pay on money entering your super account and on any earnings is generally capped at 15%. Compare this to the tax you could pay on income earned outside super which could be up to 46.5% (including Medicare Levy). So for most of us, there are more reasons to invest in super, than not. 3

4 Growth tip You should consider the following when working out how much money you may need to retire: > When would I like to retire? > Will all my debts, including my mortgage, be paid? > Will I need extra cash to assist my children or other family members? > Will I be happy with a modest or more comfortable retirement lifestyle? > For how many years am I likely to be retired (bear in mind Australians now live longer than ever before)? > Will I have any other form of income? If you re aiming to retire and live a comfortable life in retirement, you may need to contribute additional funds above the standard 9% contributed by your employer. The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia recommends a total super contribution of 12% of your income is required, which means you will need to contribute the additional 3%. Want to do the sums on how much you ll need to retire? Use the federal government s superannuation calculators located at How much super is really enough? According to the AFSA Retirement Standard 1, if you plan to rely solely on the government age pension in your retirement years, chances are you won t be living the kind of lifestyle you hoped. The Standard shows that to lead a modest lifestyle in retirement, covering essential needs and basic activities: > A couple will need approximately $31,767 per year > An individual will need approximately $21,957 per year For a more comfortable retirement lifestyle: > A couple will need approximately $55,316 per year > An individual will need approximately $40,412 per year The graph below shows the difference between the current government age pension 2 and what this Standard 1 reveals we need to budget annually in order to live a modest or comfortable retirement lifestyle. It s a great reason to make some smart decisions today about your super. Age pension income versus budgeted expenses Individuals $18, $21,957 $40,412 Amount 55, , , , , , , , $28, $31,767 Couples $55,316 15, , Age Pension Modest living Comfortable living 55, The ASFA Retirement Standard (September quarter 2011), issued by the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia Limited ( Figures assume retirees own their own home and relate to expenditure by the household. This can be greater than household income after income tax where there is a drawdown on capital over the period of retirement. Individuals calculations are based on female figures. 2 Annual figures are based on government age pension (including maximum pension supplement amount) as at 1 July , ,000.00

5 Types of super funds The primary function of a super fund is to hold and invest members money on their behalf. Today, Australians have hundreds of billions of dollars invested in super, so super funds have an important role to play. It also pays to understand some of the fundamental differences between super funds so when it comes time to choosing where your hard earned money is invested you ll be better placed to make an educated decision. In addition to investing your money, many super funds offer additional benefits and services, such as insurance cover for death, total and permanent disablement and income protection. Many also offer investment choice, providing you with a further level of control over where your money is invested. The table below provides a quick overview of some of the different types of super funds available in Australia. Retail funds Established and operated by financial institutions, insurance companies and other investment managers, retail funds are available through fund managers, financial advisers and banks. Retail funds are open to everybody, so If you re likely to change jobs regularly or are self-employed, a retail fund may suit you as it will let you maintain the same fund regardless of who your employer is. Industry funds Industry funds are generally established by industry groups or unions to provide low-cost super benefits to workers in particular industries. The majority of industry funds are run on a not-for-profit basis. Some industry funds, however, may have limited investment choices. Corporate funds Corporate funds are established by a particular company (or group of companies) and are generally only open to their staff and/or immediate family. Self-managed super funds Often called do-it-yourself-funds, self-managed super funds are designed for those who want to actively manage their own super. You can include up to three other people, however, they cannot be employees of another member, unless they are related. Due to legal and accounting costs, do-it-yourself-funds are generally more expensive to run and many advisers recommend a minimum investment of around $200,000 to make them worthwhile. With most super funds you ll have your own account to which contributions and investment earnings are added and any taxes, fees and insurance premiums deducted. When considering the right super fund for you, it s important to consider the whole package of benefits you ll receive. It may be worth paying slightly higher fees for more features, investment options or added flexibility. On the other hand, if you don t use these features, it may not be worth paying for them. Generally, super funds provide a product disclosure statement. These documents include everything you need to know about the fund. It s worth reading the product disclosure statement thoroughly, before making a decision where to invest your super. 5

6 Where your money is invested With most super funds you can choose your investment strategy. There are a number of factors that will influence your decision. If you still have plenty of time before you retire, you may choose more aggressive investment options that require a longer investment timeframe. But if you re closer to retirement, a more conservative investment approach may be best to protect your money in the short-term. It s also important to consider how you feel about risk when choosing how your money is invested. All investments present some level of risk, with the potential to deliver poor or negative returns at times. Generally investments with the highest risk can deliver the greatest returns (and losses), while lower risk investments tend to deliver lower returns. Investments in cash and fixed income are considered more conservative (or defensive) and lower in risk. They typically provide regular income with little, if any, capital growth. Investments in property and shares are considered growth assets (or aggressive) and higher in risk. They typically provide capital growth, some income and the potential to produce higher returns over time. The following graph illustrates the best and worst performance by each asset class over a 20 year period along with the average annual return during the same period. Performance by asset class - Dec 1990 to Dec International Shares Australian Shares Listed Property Fixed Income Cash Worst 1 year return Average 1 year return 2 Best 1 year return -60% -50% -40% -30% -20% -10% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 1 Property returns over 10 years only (Dec 2000 to Dec 2010) 2 Compound annualised return - assumes reinvestment of all distributions Source: International shares - MSCI World TR Index Australian shares - All Ords Accumulation Index Property - Sandhurst Trustees, ASX Property 200 Accumulation Index ABS House prices Fixed Income - UBS Composite Bond Index Cash - UBS Bank Bill Index 6

7 If you re like most people, your super will be your primary source of income once you retire. So to ensure you have enough cash to meet your needs it pays to contribute in as many ways as possible. There are two main categories of super contributions; concessional and non-concessional. Concessional (pre-tax) Non-concessional (after-tax) Superannuation Guarantee contributions Your employer is required to contribute to super a minimum of 9% of your gross salary. This is known as the Superannuation Guarantee. These contributions are made before any income tax is applied and taxed at 15% 1 when the contribution enters your super account. Salary sacrifice Many employers will allow you to contribute to super a regular percentage or one-off payment from your pre-tax income. These contributions are generally taxed at 15% 1, which is less than the average marginal tax rate making it a great way to boost your super and reduce your current taxable income. Self-employed contributions Even if you re self-employed you can contribute to super. In fact, the taxation rules that apply for these contributions make super an equally good investment for the self-employed 1. Personal contributions You can also make your own after-tax contributions to super 2. While you can t claim a tax deduction on these contributions, because you will have already paid income tax on this money, no extra tax is added when it s contributed to super or when taken as a benefit (subject to your preservation age). Spouse contributions Contributing to super on behalf of your spouse can be a tax-effective way 2 for a couple to save for retirement particularly if your spouse is only working part-time or has a limited income. There is no limit to the amount you can contribute, provided the contributions do not exceed your spouse s non-concessional contributions cap. Government co-contributions If you earn less than $61,920 3 a year and make personal contributions to your super, the federal government will match these contributions up to a certain limit. Currently, if you earn up to $31,920 3 the government will contribute $1.00 for every dollar you contribute to super, up to $1,000 per year. This amount reduces by a rate of cents for every dollar of income you earn over $31,920 - and phases out completely at $61, Subject to maximum concessional contributions cap of: Under 50 years - $25,000 per year (subject to indexation for future years). 50 to 74 years - $50,000 per year for the 2011/12 financial year. Any contributions above these caps are taxed at the highest marginal tax rate, currently 46.5% (including Medicare levy) and will count towards the non-concessional contributions cap. 2 Subject to non-concessional contributions cap of: No tax payable on first $150,000 per year (subject to indexation for future years), or $450,000 over three years if you are 64 or younger. Any contributions above these caps are taxed at the highest marginal tax rate, currently 46.5% (including Medicare levy). 3 For the 2011/12 financial year earnings include reportable fringe benefits, net business income for self employed people, total net investment losses and salary sacrifice superannuation contributions. 7

8 Insured for peace of mind Just like any other investment, there are various tax implications to consider depending on the kind of contribution you re making. To avoid paying more tax than you need to, make sure you provide your tax file number to your super fund. If you don t provide it, only employer contributions including salary sacrifice contributions will be accepted and these contributions will be taxed at the highest marginal tax rate. Contribution type Tax to pay (as at 1 July 2010) Employer Taxed at 15% when paid into your super fund contributions 1 subject to concessional contributions cap. Salary sacrifice contributions 1 Taxed at 15% when paid into your super fund subject to concessional contributions cap. Self-employed contributions 1 Non-concessional personal contributions Spouse contributions Fully tax-deductible up to the age of 75 (terms and conditions apply) subject to concessional contributions cap. No tax payable on the first $150,000 2 contributed per year (or $450,000 2 over three years if you re 64 or younger conditions apply). Additional contributions above these caps are taxed at 46.5%. You can claim a tax-offset of 18% (up to $3,000) on post-tax contributions made on behalf of your spouse 3. To help safeguard you and your family s financial security in case of sickness, injury or death, many super funds let you bundle your insurance needs together with your super. Typically providing cover for death, total and permanent disablement and income protection, insurance provided by your super fund may come with a lower price tag and tax advantages. Talk to your super fund provider or read the product disclosure statement if you re not sure what options are available to you. A Bendigo Financial Planner can also provide valuable information and insight to help you determine your needs. Did you know? Every working Australian has a one in three chance of becoming disabled for more than three months before turning Co-contributions No tax payable as the contribution has already been subject to income tax. One in 9 Australian women will develop breast cancer by the age of Subject to maximum concessional contributions cap of: Under 50 years - $25,000 per year (subject to indexation for future years). 50 to 74 years - $50,000 per year for the 2011/12 financial year. Any contributions above these caps are taxed at the highest marginal tax rate, currently 46.5% (including Medicare levy) and will count towards the non-concessional contributions cap. 2 Subject to indexation for future years. 3 Refer to page 11 for further eligibility criteria. Around 60,000 Australians will have a debilitating stroke each year. That s approximately one person every 10 minutes 6. 4 Institute of Actuaries Australia Interim report of the Disability Committee (2000) 5 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Breast Cancer in Australia An Overview National Stroke Foundation, Facts, Figures and Statistics 8

9 Accessing your super Super is a long-term investment that provides you with a source of income when you retire. You can begin to access your super: > When you ve permanently retired from the workforce and meet the relevant preservation age which varies based on your date of birth. > When you ve reached the age of 65. > When you leave or change your job after the age of 60. > If you ve suffered permanent incapacity. > If you are diagnosed as terminally ill. > If you are assessed to be in severe financial hardship. > If you re no longer employed by a standard employer sponsor of the fund and your account balance is less than $200. > If you re a temporary resident of Australia and decide to permanently leave the country. For further information about when you can access your super (and the conditions that apply), speak to one of our qualified Bendigo Financial Planners or visit At what age can I access my super? The age at which you can access your super depends on your date of birth. Super funds call this your preservation age. Date of birth Preservation age Before 1 July July 1960 to 30 June July 1961 to 30 June July 1962 to 30 June July 1963 to 30 June After 30 June

10 Andrew s 25 and currently earns $38,000 a year. He s been working since he was 16 and has $20,000 invested in super. Andrew recently made the smart decision to make additional personal contributions to his super to take advantage of the federal government s Superannuation Co-contribution Scheme. Rather than simply relying on the 9% contribution made by his employer, Andrew s decided to make a personal contribution of $760 per year (or 2% of his after-tax salary). Best of all, the federal government will match his investment dollar for dollar boosting his annual investment to $1,520. This decision means Andrew will be more than $137,026 richer when he retires and in a much better position to enjoy his life in retirement*. * Example based on annual tax rates as at 2011/12 (including Medicare levy). Assumes an inflation rate of 2.5% per annum, investment earnings of 6% per annum after fees and taxes, a contributions tax of 15% and that 2010/11 Superannuation Co-Contribution payment rates will continue over the course of Andrew s working life. Actual results may differ. A super start So you ve just started working and retirement seems like it s a long way off. But while there ll always be a reason to delay investing for your future, it is true that the earlier you start the better off you ll be. And the secret is compounding. Here s how it works The graph below illustrates the huge difference regular investment in your superannuation can make when it comes time to retire. In the first scenario, Sally starts investing $100 per month to her superannuation from age 20. By the time she reaches 60 years of age, Sally will have contributed $48,000. With the benefit of compounding her investment will be valued at $199,149 when she reaches 60. In the second scenario, Sally starts investing $200 per month to her superannuation from the age of 40. By the time she reaches 60, Sally will have contributed $48,000 just as she did in scenario one. However, in the second scenario she loses the benefit of 20 years of compounding returns and her investment will be valued at just $92,408. That s $106,740 less that Sally will have available to fund her retirement. $250, $200, $150, $100, $50, $ Sally -$100 per month Sally -$200 per month Results based on returns of 6% pa with all distributions reinvested. Results do not take into consideration taxation or inflation. 10

11 Married or de facto? Making a contribution on behalf of your spouse can be a useful strategy if you re looking to boost their super or equalise your benefits. Plus, you could receive a tax benefit yourself. Any contribution to your spouse s super account is classified as a non-concessional contribution and may help reduce the overall level of tax you pay as a couple. How? If your spouse s income (and any reportable fringe benefits) is less than $10,800, and you contribute up to $3,000 to their super account in a single financial year, you can claim a tax offset of 18% on after-tax contributions. The offset reduces up to a salary of $13,800, at which point it cuts out. So you could save up to $540. And whilst that s not a king s ransom, every little bit helps. Contributions made on behalf of your spouse are not taxed when made to the super fund but they will count toward your spouse s non-concessional cap. If you make spouse contributions in excess of the cap they will be taxed at the highest marginal tax rate. Who is a spouse? Your spouse is your husband or wife or legal defacto (including same sex) who lives with you on a permanent basis. To be eligible for the tax offset, your spouse must be under 65 years old if they are not working. Make a contribution to your spouse s super. You ll boost their super balance and may receive a tax benefit too. Now aged 42, Kaye s in a good job earning $87,000 per year. She s living with her two children in a great new house although she does have a pretty big mortgage. In the event of her death, Kaye wants to ensure she has enough money for her kids to live on and to cover their future education costs. Her insurance premium is $1,107 a year. If Kaye arranges insurance outside of her superannuation fund, she ll be required to pay the annual premium from her after-tax salary. And because Kaye s income is taxed at 38.5% (including the Medicare levy), the actual cost of the insurance will be $1,800 (before tax). But Kaye will only pay $1,107 if she chooses to arrange her insurance through her super fund. That s because her fund receives a tax deduction for insurance premiums and no contributions tax is applied when purchasing insurance this way. For Kaye, insurance will provide greater peace of mind. If she packages her insurance and her super together, she ll save money too*. * Example based on annual tax rates as at 2011/12. 11

12 Aged 61 and looking forward to retiring in a few years time, Peter s working hard to boost his super savings now so he and his wife Sue can travel overseas when he retires at 65. Earning a before-tax salary of $85,000, Peter has decided to reduce his income to $50,000 and salary sacrifice $35,000 per year to his super fund to prepare for retirement. In the meantime, Peter has also decided to access 5% of his current super balance under transition to retirement rules to supplement his income. By doing this Peter will reduce his taxable income from the 38.5% tax bracket to 31.5%. Under the transition to retirement program Peter will withdraw $20,000 from his existing super balance boosting his annual take-home pay to $60,700 per year. And because he s over 60, that $20,000 is tax-free! But most importantly, when he turns 65, Peter will have $42,653 more in his super account than he would have otherwise. So Sue s looking into an extra couple of weeks in Tuscany. Example based on annual tax rates as at 2011/12 (including Medicare levy). Assumes investment earnings of 6% per annum after fees and taxes, a contributions tax of 15%, Superannuation Guarantee contributions of 9% per annum. Actual results may differ. Already retired? Be smart with your savings Your super savings have to last you the rest of your life. It pays to check your budget regularly to ensure you re not spending more than you re receiving as income. Be sure to check your Centrelink entitlements. With recent changes to Centrelink s assets test you ll now lose only $1.50 per fortnight in pension entitlements (rather than $3) for every $1,000 you exceed the prescribed assets limit. Embrace your inner-senior. While getting older might not be that much fun it does come with its discounts. Remember to check on planes, trains and buses, at cinemas, restaurants, travel agents, the local council - and even your bank - to ensure you re receiving all your senior entitlements. Give your super a health check. Make sure you re not over-paying on fees and have selected the right investment strategy to suit your needs. If you re not comfortable doing this yourself, why not make an appointment with your local Bendigo Financial Planner. It s worth the trouble. A saving of just 0.05% per year on your fees can add up to nearly $5,600 over the next 20 years 1. Come into any money lately? By investing any large lump-sum or inheritance in your account-based pension plan, the income derived from it will be tax-free once you ve reached your preservation age. In a standard bank account, you d be taxed on the income earned. 1 Based on a $500,000 super balance at age 65, with an average return of 8% pa and an income payment of $38,000 a year. 12

13 Super for the self-employed and small business For small business operators and the self-employed, super is often the last thing on a long list of priorities. In fact, many financial advisers will confirm that the self-employed dominate among the ranks of Australians with little or no super. If you fall into this category, it s worth focussing on your super now, so you can rest a little easier when it comes time to retire. Here s a couple of simple strategies you might like to consider. > If you re self-employed any super contributions you make from your before-tax income are fully tax deductible (terms and conditions apply). These concessional contributions are only taxed at 15% when entering your super fund. If you re under 50 you can make contributions of up to $25,000 per year, or $50,000 per year until 2011/12 if you re over 50. If you invest more than this your contributions will be taxed at 46.5%. > Now open to small business operators, the federal government s superannuation co-contribution scheme is an effective way to boost your super balance. The government will contribute $1.00 (to a maximum of $1,000 a year) for every after-tax dollar you contribute to super. If you and your partner are working together in your small business, you may both be entitled to co-contributions. The maximum co-contribution of $1,000 applies if your assessable income is less than $31,920 1 and progressively reduces, phasing out completely when your assessable income reaches $61,920. > If your spouse is working part-time in the family s incorporated business, you may want to maximise their salary sacrificed super contributions (within the annual concessional contributions cap). The benefits of this are twofold. You ll be boosting your spouse s super balance, and because the contributions are tax deductible, you ll also be legally minimising the tax payable by your business. If you own your own business, some super funds allow you to establish your own employer sponsored sub-plan, letting you pay your employees super guarantee contributions amongst other benefits. Employer sponsored plans are generally flexible and enable employees to purchase insurance within the plan and make their own contributions. Sorting out your own super will pay off in the long run. But if you re also employing staff, it s not just you that you need to think about. Why not speak to a qualified Bendigo Financial Planner about the best way to grow your own super balance and help your employees do the same. At 42, Todd has recently set up his own communications business. He s managing to pay himself an annual salary of $85,000 and is paying 38.5% of that in income tax. Keen to ensure he can live the lifestyle he wants in retirement, Todd has decided to contribute $10,000 annually of his before-tax income to super in addition to the 9% he s already contributing. By doing this he s also reducing his taxable income. In fact, he ll fall into a lower income tax bracket and will pay a maximum of 31.5% income tax reducing the income tax he will pay from $20,675 to $17,175 per year. In effect, this means Todd is $2,000 better off now when you combine his take home pay and increased super contributions. And when he retires at 65, he ll have an additional $399,464 available to fund his retirement than he would have if he d only contributed 9%. Example based on annual tax rates as at 2011/12 (including Medicare levy). Assumes, investment earnings of 6% per annum after fees and taxes, a contributions tax of 15%, contributions of 9% per annum and a current super balance of $100,000. Actual results may differ. 1 Assessable earnings include reportable fringe benefits, net business income for self-employed people, total net investment losses and salary sacrifice superannuation contributions. 13

14 Super checklist Remember, all super funds are different and are designed to meet the different needs of investors. What might be the right fund for one person may not be right for you. If you re looking to select a new super fund, or review and consolidate your existing funds, our handy checklist will help guide you through the decision making process. Your budget Review your budget You may be surprised to find you have extra money to invest in super. Decide if you want to make regular contributions to your super either before or after-tax You ll need to figure out how much you can invest on a regular basis. Check your eligibility for the government s co-contribution scheme. Your needs Understand your own investment objectives and determine your appetite for risk Think about what you need for added peace of mind Do you want to bundle your super with death, total and permanent disablement and income protection insurance? Consolidate and save Roll all your super funds together to keep track of your investments and save money at the same time. Choosing the right super fund Choose a super provider and brand you trust Understand the investment strategy of your super fund Does this investment strategy match your objectives? Does your fund let you make the types of contributions you want to? What are the underlying investments of the super fund and do they match your appetite for risk? Understand the fees charged by your super fund Not all super funds charge the same fees. Higher fees can eat into your investment returns. If you d like to discuss your financial needs and objectives in more detail, make an appointment with your local Bendigo Financial Planner or a trusted financial adviser. 14

15 More about Bendigo super plans Established in 1888, Sandhurst is a highly experienced provider of financial services aiming to create, enhance and protect wealth. Sandhurst offers a wide range of products and services including investment and funds management, superannuation, commercial loans, access to funeral bonds, the management of estates and trusts, and the provision of corporate trustee and custodial services. Like Bendigo Bank, Sandhurst is committed to putting the needs of its customer first by delivering customer service, choice and flexibility. Sandhurst has flexible super plans that may suit your needs including: Personal Super Plans Employer Sponsored Super Plans Account based Pension Plan Simple investment options or the ability to tailor your own investment selection. To find out more about the Bendigo super plans available through Bendigo Bank This document is issued by Sandhurst Trustees Limited (Sandhurst) ABN AFSL and Bendigo Financial Planning Limited ABN AFSL Both of these companies are subsidiaries of Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited (the Bank) ABN AFSL Each of these companies receives remuneration on the issue of the products or service they provide. Bendigo superannuation products are issued by Sandhurst and are not deposits with, guaranteed by, or liabilities of the Bank or any of its subsidiaries and are subject to normal investment risk, including loss of some or all of the principal invested. Financial planning services are provided by representatives of Bendigo Financial Planning. This document contains general advice only. Advice in relation to superannuation is provided by Sandhurst and advice in relation to life risk insurance is provided by Bendigo Financial Planning. It is provided as general information and must not be relied upon as a substitute for financial planning, legal, tax or other professional advice. The information is given in good faith and has been derived from sources believed to be accurate at its issue date. It should be noted however that the information stated in this document has not been verified and is subject to change without notice. Accordingly no representation or warranty, express or implied is made as to the fairness, accuracy, completeness or correction of the information and opinions contained in this document. Before making an investment decision you should consider your situation and read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement. Visit your nearest Bendigo Bank branch. Phone Bendigo Bank on 1300 BENDIGO. Visit Or why not speak with your local Bendigo Financial Planner about your investment and super needs. 15

16 wealth Keeping you informed At the Bendigo, we think it s important that you understand all the options open to you when it comes to investing your money. Because the better informed you are, the better off you ll be. wealth Written in simple, easy to understand language, Growth Guides are a valuable source of information on a range of popular investment topics. They ve been designed to help you make informed investment decisions. Of course, if you d like to discuss your options and investment strategies, a member of our friendly branch staff or your local Bendigo Financial Planner is also available to help. For more information wealth At a branch With a qualified financial planner Online You can talk to a friendly staff member at any Bendigo Bank branch nationally Make an appointment with your local Bendigo Financial Planner at your nearest branch or phone 1300 BENDIGO. Visit for more useful information and details of the super products available through Bendigo Bank 2 (S37477) BEN50WM044 (10/11) 16