thread: Superannuation - nominating beneficiaries

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  1. #1
    Registered User
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    Jan 2005
    cowtown
    8,276

    Question Superannuation - nominating beneficiaries

    Does anyone have their kids nominated as their superannuation beneficiaries or know what the implications would be if they were to receive it as a minor?
    I need to do my nominations and I don't k ow what to do my parents recko. I should split it between the boys and skip dh entirely where I was going to do 50-25-25

  2. #2

    Nov 2007
    Earth
    4,434

    Because its something you can change later, I would give it all to your DH, and update your will at the same time, to say if something happens to both of you, the children get the money, but only from a certain age ITMS. You can get a trust set up in that case, to pay for their care etc, until they come of age, when they get the rest as a lump sum.

    Not sure if thats any help to you

  3. #3
    Registered User
    Add Cupcake on Facebook

    Nov 2008
    North Haven, NSW
    3,474

    I will be changing mine to the little bean once born & my mum, i imagine it would go into a trust account or something until they reach a certain age? Thats a blind guess tho...

  4. #4
    2013 BellyBelly RAK Recipient.

    May 2007
    Brisbane
    5,310

    I did Shel 100%, mostly because my understanding is that if it went to Jazz she couldn't touch it until she's 'of age'? But if something happened to me and the money went to Shel at least she could use it to look after Jazz. And obviously if something happened to both i our wills we have it going to a trust and guardians to use it to look after Jazz.

  5. #5
    Registered User

    May 2005
    Canberra
    3,617

    Why would you skip your DH???

    If the kids are minors, then their surviving parent or guardian would hold it in trust for them - it could be spent on anything, so long as it is spent for them (ie, rent, food, electricity, new car, education, whatever..)

    DH just updated his nominations yesterday. 5% for each kid, and the remaining 85% for me. The only reason that we even had the kids nominated at all is in case DH and I die together - the contribution would then be split evenly amongst the surviving beneficiarys, quicker then if they weren't listed; in which case the super company can determine who it is given to. If I am still around, I will be the one determining how my kid's 5% gets spent anyway (probably education). It's not really their's per se, but rather would be the money DH would have spent towards their upbringing anyway.

    It is really up to who you would want / think should have the money. But bear in mind that even though you nominate, it can be contested by spouse or offspring if it isn't fair.

  6. #6
    Registered User

    Dec 2005
    5,951

    While the girls are still minors, I have left mine to dh 100%. When the girls reach 18, I will change it. I don't know at this stage what percentage I would change it to. I trust that I was to pass beforehand, dh would do what's best for our children.

  7. #7
    Registered User

    May 2005
    Canberra
    3,617

    Oh and it is important to remember that to be a beneficary of a super fund or superfund insurance, they must be a dependant or spouse. So generally speaking if you choose to nominate a brother who isn't dependant on you and you have dependants or a spouse, the superfund can rule that nomination void and the just give it to whomever they think is the dependant or spouse. The nomiations are not really binding (although for the most part they are followed) and can easily be set aside. Many people nominate incorrectly and the superfund determines for itself where the money should go anyway. The reason for nominating at all is simply to speed up the process for the benefiaries (it can take a blody long time to get anything out of them even with nominations).

    get in touch with your super fund and ask them to send you some info on this, so you can decide properly and ensure you know how it works.

  8. #8
    Registered User
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    Jan 2005
    cowtown
    8,276

    Thanks, there are binding and non binding nominations.
    I want to make a binding nomination which has to be witnessed etc, I thought that if i did that, then they had to disperse the $ in the way i told them to?

    I thought that by specifically giving it to the it would have to be spent on them, which is what i want to happen.

    I might just go with the suggestion of specifying in my will how it is to be used.

  9. #9
    Registered User

    Nov 2008
    Melbourne
    2,008

    If you do a binding nomination the super fund has to follow it. In most cases you also have life insurance with your super which means the final payout is usually much more than just the balance of your account. In my case DH and I have left 100% to each other and set our insurance at a level which would allow either of us to pay of the mortgage etc so that the surviving one could continue to provide DS with the life that he is accustomed to and not need to worry about making ends meet.