Retire Right 415 Super strategies at 65, moving back to Australia for the pension & borrowing to invest
Apr 8, 2026
Martin McGrath, a financial adviser specialising in retirement, super and Centrelink rules, walks through practical retirement maneuvers. He covers starting an account‑based pension at 65 and timing transfers around cap changes. He explains residency rules for returning to Australia and the basics of borrowing against home equity to invest.
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Turning 65 Lets You Move To Tax Free Pension Phase
- Turning 65 gives you the option to convert accumulation super to an account-based pension for 0% tax on earnings.
- Moving to pension phase removes the 15% tax on returns but triggers minimum pension drawdowns (5% at 65–74) and other timing rules.
Plan Transfers Carefully Around The Transfer Balance Cap
- Consider timing and commuting when moving money into pension phase because transfers count against your lifetime transfer balance cap.
- Use commuting back to accumulation (before money leaves super) or tick the lump-sum box to reset credits strategically.
Delay Starting A Pension If A Cap Increase Is Imminent
- Delay starting your first account-based pension by days or weeks if a higher transfer balance cap is imminent to secure a larger lifetime cap.
- Small short-term tax costs can buy a permanently higher pension-phase allowance.