Retirement planning goal (super contributions and pensions)

1. Go to the Cashflows & Goals step (on the top menu), then the Retirement planning sub-step

2. For each individual in the case, you can enter the retirement age or date (when you enter the age, the date will be calculated for you, and vice versa)

3. Note that the Pathfinder uses the 'Retirement date' for the last date that the individual satisfied the work test.

See How to include or exclude the super guarantee (SG)

1. Go to the Retirement planning sub-step (under the Cash flows & Goals step on the top menu)

2. For the selected individual, find the Voluntary super contributions field. This field has options for controlling all voluntary super contributions. View the help text under the field name for more information on each option.

Also note:

• For more information on setting a specific amount in some years and optimising in others, see How to allow a value to be optimised in the series builder by using dash.

• Note that these options also interact with the options you select on the superannuation funds (e.g. which fund can or cannot receive contributions). For more, see Superannuation (a.k.a Super)

• Pathfinder will not make contributions if they contradict the legislated threshholds (e.g. the annual concessional super deposit cap). Most options in Pathfinder allow you to keep within these thresholds without any special attention (e.g. 'Robot' button, maximum). However if you set instructions that will force Pathfinder to contradict the rules, you will get an error in the 'Solve events' (which is visible at the 'Solve' step when you click the Start solve button). In some situations, Pathfinder may still produce results, but they will follow the legislation instead of your instructions, and it is strongly recommended that you adjust your inputs and run again to ensure robust result

Pathfinder will apply the bring-forward rule if all of the following apply:

• The individual can afford to do so

• They are eligible to do so as defined by government legislation

• The options entered by you do not prevent Pathfinder from doing so. For the Voluntary super contribution options field, it is best to choose the 'Robot' button (rather than trying to restrict the contributions)

• Using the bring-forward rule will maximise net wealth at the end of the analysis under the given assumptions and goals.

See How to include or exclude the unused concessional cap carry forward rule

The government co-contribution amount will automatically be calculated. However note that this co-contribution can only be made when:

1. The income entered for the individual is under the co-contribution threshold

2. The options entered in the Voluntary super contribution field allow non-concessional contributions to be made (i.e. 'None' has not been selected for all voluntary contributions or non-concessional contributions)

3. In the results, it was found to be optimal to make a non-concessional super contribution

To have individual satisfy the work test, ensure that the date the individual satisfied the work test is consistent with the 'Retirement date' you enter in Pathfinder. Please also see How to enter an initial Work Bonus balance

See How to include or exclude a Transition to retirement income stream (TRIS, formerly known as TTR)

See How to include an account-based pension (ABP)

To set the option for spouse super splitting:

1. Go to the Cashflows & Goals step (on the top menu), then the Retirement planning sub-step

2. For the selected individual, for the Allow spouse super splitting field, choose the appropriate option.

To include or exclude an estimate for the Age Pension for the scenario:

1. Go to the Cash flows & Goals step (top menu), then the Retirement Planning sub-step.

2. In the Age Pension section, for the Include Age Pension estimate field, choose 'Include' or 'Exclude'

Note that if an individual is receiving an Age Pension, you should not enter it as income in the Cash flows step (under the Cash flows & Goals step on the top menu) because this will double up with Pathfinder's estimate.

If you choose to include an age pension estimate:

• An estimate for the government Age Pension will be included in the results, this estimate may be zero.

• The age pension estimate is based on the data entered in Pathfinder:

  • Age

  • Income

  • Assets, including Lifestyle assets and excluding the Family home

  • Spouse's assets (as specified in the legislation) - the spouse and their assets need to also be included in Pathfinder

For more, see How to include or exclude the Government Age Pension

If an individual is receiving a pension income from another country, this should be entered in Australian Dollars in the Income section of Pathfinder.

If the individual is retiring before their preservation age, then Pathfinder will work out what assets it can draw on outside super to meet their expenses. This may be income from investments or selling investments or their partner's income. You can still allow Pathfinder to make deposits to super, if you choose the 'Robot' button, Pathfinder will not make contributions to super if it means they will not have enough funds to meet their expenses before their preservation age.

Defined Benefit pensions, including government super schemes such as PSS, CSS, military super, GESBE

Please contact us if you would like to model these types of pensions.

We may be able to help you as part of our standard support, but if the case is complex we will suggest you submit the case to the SDS.  Please note that we're not experts in these kinds of pensions, but as long as you know what the results should look like, then we're happy to work with you to find a way to get the results you need.