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For many retirees in Bendigo and across Central Victoria, downsizing from the family home is a practical step as circumstances change. If you are still weighing up whether downsizing is the right move for you personally, our article on downsizing and whether it's right for you covers the lifestyle side of that decision. This article looks specifically at what happens to your Age Pension once you decide to sell. Why downsizing changes your assessable assets Your principal home

On 20 September 2026, Age Pension payments increased. On the same day, deeming rates increased too. For some retirees the two changes partly offset each other, and for others they do not. Which applies to you depends on the financial assets you hold, which Centrelink test is reducing your payment, and which concession cards you have. This article explains how deeming works, what changed, and how it can affect your Age Pension, health cards and some aged care fees. Deeming rat

If you receive the Age Pension, or are close to the threshold either way, two rounds of Centrelink indexation have just moved the goalposts. The asset test limits increased from 1 July 2026, and the income test limits increased again from 20 September 2026. Here is what actually changed and who it may affect. What changed: asset test limits (from 1 July 2026) Situation Previous limit New limit Increase Single, homeowner $321,500 $333,000 $11,500 Single, non-homeowner $579,500

On paper, applying for the Age Pension looks straightforward. In practice, small errors in timing, paperwork or declarations are a common reason claims are delayed, assessed incorrectly, or questioned later. This article covers where applications commonly run into trouble for retirees across Bendigo and Central Victoria, and where professional support can help. Assuming that turning 67 means you will receive a payment The current Age Pension age is 67, and you also need to me

Retirees across Greater Bendigo searching for pension financial advice can access dedicated support at Venture Financial Advisers. As local pension advice specialists located on Bull Street, our team assists you in understanding eligibility, navigating the Age Pension means test, and lodging Centrelink documentation accurately. Understanding Centrelink Rules in Regional Victoria Applying for the Age Pension or managing reporting requirements involves complex government system

Venture Financial Advisers provides independent, fee-for-service DSP help in Bendigo and Central Victoria. Our experienced independent Centrelink advocacy team assists residents across the Greater Bendigo region and beyond with compiling functional medical evidence, navigating Centrelink Impairment Tables, and preparing robust claims to help your application meet strict Services Australia criteria. For many Australians living with a permanent condition, applying for the Disab

When you’re eligible for Centrelink support, you might find yourself asking: “Should I spend the time navigating the myGov portal myself, or is it worth hiring an independent professional Centrelink advocate to manage it for me?”. It’s a completely valid question. With the rising cost of living, no one wants to take on unnecessary expenses. At Venture Financial Advisers, we believe in providing completely honest, objective guidance. The reality is that for some Australians, s

For many people across Central Victoria, receiving an official letter from Services Australia can cause a sudden wave of anxiety. In particular, the fear of an automated debt notice or an unexpected payment suspension is incredibly common. In our experience, the vast majority of Centrelink debts are completely accidental and are triggered by simple administrative oversight, a late update, or a misunderstanding of complex rules, rather than any deliberate intent to misreport.

If you’re seeking help with Centrelink in Bendigo or the surrounding areas, then having an independent, professional Centrelink advocate can help guide you through every step of the way.

From 1 July 2026, Division 296 introduces a significant change to the way superannuation earnings are taxed for individuals with larger superannuation balances. If your Total Super Balance (TSB) is above, or even approaching, $3 million, now is the time to understand how the new rules may affect you and begin planning accordingly. What's changing? Division 296 introduces an additional tax on earnings attributable to higher superannuation balances. Total Super Balance between

2026-27 Federal Budget On Tuesday, 12th May 2026, treasurer Jim Chalmers delivered the 2026-27 Budget with major tax reforms, NDIS spending, and business productivity at the forefront of the budget proposals. This was Chalmer’s fifth budget since taking office as Treasurer under Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in 2022. He used his speech to discuss the impact of inflation, lack of affordability of housing for young people and how Australia is handling the impact of the war in

Australia is undeniably grappling with a rental crisis as the demand for rental properties surpasses the available supply. Various stakeholders, including governments, the property industry, charities, and others, are advocating for solutions to address this shortfall. One proposed remedy involves increasing rental properties, necessitating more investors to enter the market. Data from the Australian Taxation Office reveals that a significant majority of landlords are over 5

Proposed additional 15% tax for earnings on super balances over $3 million came into effect on 1 July 2025. The Government recently announced proposed changes to impose an additional tax of 15% (the additional tax), increasing the original concessional tax rate from 15% to an effective new 30% rate, on earnings on total superannuation balances (TSB) over $3 million. This measure is proposed to commence on 1 July 2025 and apply to the 2025-2026 financial year onwards. The Go

From 4 November 2022 the income thresholds for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Care Card (CSHC) have been increased, allowing more Australians access to medical and pharmaceutical discounts and concessions. These changes will greatly benefit self-funded retirees who were previously unable to access the benefits of the CSHC. Current CSHC holders will not be affected by these changes. Income limit 20/09/22 – 3/11/2022 Income limit 4/11/22 – 19/09/2023 Singles $61,284 $90,000

Managing your own superannuation gives you significant control, but it also comes with strict legal responsibilities. Maintaining SMSF compliance is your primary duty as a trustee to keep your retirement savings safe. When trustees have not complied with super laws, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has several courses of action to address non-compliance. Whether you are running a fund in Bendigo, managing an investment property from Castlemaine, or operating a farm-based

Individuals aged 67-74 now have greater opportunity to contribute to super with the following changes: the removal of the work test for personal (after-tax) contributions and salary sacrifice contributions, and an increase to the amount of after-tax contributions that may be made within a single financial year. Removal of work test Prior to 1 July 2022, the work test required you to undertake work for at least 40 hours in a consecutive 30 day period in the financial year a su

The Australian Government provides a range of social security benefits to assist certain individuals and families. The type and amount of benefits you can receive depend on your personal and financial circumstances and your stage of life. Common benefits that retirees may be entitled to include the Age Pension, Service Pension, Pensioner Concession Card, and Commonwealth Seniors Health Card. The Age Pension and Service Pension are subject to means testing, which means your a

According to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), there has been a surge of promoters encouraging individuals to set up self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs) in order to invest in crypto-assets. ASIC warns people to be aware that while crypto-asset investments are allowed for SMSFs, they are high risk and speculative, as well as being an attractive area for scammers targeting uninformed investors. For example, late last year ASIC moved to shut dow

Australia is experiencing a slowdown in population growth as fertility rates continue to decline, partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. By 2061, the number of Australians aged 65 and above is set to double to 8.9 million, representing almost a quarter of the total population. The growth rate is even higher among the 85 and older group which is predicted to triple to 1.9 million or 5% of the population, up from 2% in 2020. With a small economy tasked with managing a rapidly a

There are many types of investment vehicles available to choose from, with managed funds one of the most popular choices in Australia. We have outlined the four types of investment vehicles and detail the benefits of each investment. The four types of investments include: Managed funds Direct shares (listed equities) Exchange traded funds Investment bonds. What is a managed fund? Managed funds pool the money of many individual investors. This money is then invested by a profe