Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) and the other major banks are popular choices with Australian income investors.

But there are plenty of other ASX shares that can provide attractive income.

These three would be on my shortlist.

APA Group (ASX: APA)

APA would be one of my first choices outside the banking sector.

The company owns and operates energy infrastructure across Australia, including gas pipelines, electricity transmission assets, and other infrastructure.

I like the type of cash flow these assets can produce.

Much of APA’s revenue is supported by long-term contracts, which can give the company reasonable visibility over future earnings and distributions.

APA is also continuing to invest in new infrastructure as Australia’s energy system develops. If those projects earn attractive returns, they could help the business grow while its existing assets continue generating cash.

Debt and funding costs are important risks to watch with an infrastructure company like APA. Even so, I think its essential assets and regular distributions make it a strong long-term income option.

BWP Trust (ASX: BWP)

BWP Trust gives investors a different source of income through commercial property.

The real estate investment trust (REIT) owns a portfolio of large-format retail properties, with Bunnings a major tenant.

I like that because the quality of the tenant can be just as important as the property itself.

Bunnings has a strong position in Australian home improvement, and long leases can provide BWP with relatively predictable rental income.

Over time, rent reviews and changes across the property portfolio can also help increase income.

Like most property investments, BWP can be sensitive to interest rates and changes in property valuations. I would also keep an eye on its tenant concentration.

But for an income investor, I think the combination of established properties, a strong major tenant, and regular distributions is worth considering.

Deterra Royalties Ltd (ASX: DRR)

Deterra Royalties would be my third income pick. The company earns royalties from mining operations rather than operating the mines itself.

Its most important asset is the royalty over the Mining Area C iron ore operations in Western Australia, which are operated by BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP).

I like that model for income because Deterra receives a share of revenue linked to production without having to fund the enormous operating and development costs that come with running a mine.

That can allow a large proportion of cash generated by the business to flow through to shareholders.

The trade-off is that Deterra’s income can still move with commodity prices and production volumes, while the business has historically been heavily dependent on one major royalty asset.

Even with those risks, I think the royalty model gives income investors an interesting way to gain exposure to resources.

Foolish takeaway

I would not feel the need to rely on bank dividends alone for ASX income.

APA, BWP Trust, and Deterra Royalties generate cash in very different ways, through energy infrastructure, property rents, and mining royalties.

For me, that makes all three worth considering when looking beyond the major banks for long-term income.

The post 3 ASX income shares I’d buy outside Westpac and the major banks appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Rio Tinto vs APA Group: Which is better for passive income?
• Starting with $20,000, how to build a portfolio generating $5,000 a year in passive income
• 2 ASX dividend shares raising dividends like clockwork
• How much do I need in superannuation to receive $1,000 passive income per week?
• How to make $26,000 of passive income from ASX shares

Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Apa Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

How much you can earn in wages and/or investment income while remaining eligible for the age pension increases today.

The changes reflect indexation adjustments, which are made twice per year, to factor in inflation.

Let’s find out what’s changing today.

When can you get the age pension?

If you were born on or after 1 January 1957, you can apply for the pension when you turn 67 years old, whether retired or not.

To be eligible for either a full pension or part-payment, you have to clear the means testing.

That means testing comes in the form of assets and income tests.

Today, the rules for both tests change.

In this article, we’re focusing on the income test changes. (Go here for the assets test changes.)

What’s changing with the age pension income test today?

Under today’s indexation changes, the upper thresholds for the income test are going up.

Currently, singles who earn less than the lower threshold of $226 per fortnight are eligible for the full age pension.

Under today’s changes, singles who earn between $227 and $2,701.40 (up from $2,627.80) per fortnight qualify for a part-payment.

Part-payments are calculated by reducing the pension by 50 cents for each dollar earned above $226.

As for couples, those who earn less than the lower threshold of $396 per fortnight (combined) are eligible for the full age pension.

Couples who earn between $397 and $4,128 (up from $4,016.80) per fortnight qualify for a part-payment.

A couple’s pension is reduced by 25 cents per person for each dollar they earn above $396.

What is the Work Bonus?

The Work Bonus cuts the amount of income that counts in a pensioner’s fortnightly income test.

Every fortnight, $300 credit is added to your Work Bonus balance, up to a maximum of $11,800.

When you work and declare that income, your Work Bonus balance offsets those earnings.

That may mean you receive your normal pension payment, despite your work earnings, for that fortnight.

If your earnings are greater than your Work Bonus balance, the excess counts toward your income test for that fortnight.

This may mean you receive a lower pension payment for that fortnight.

What about investment income?

Pensioners do not need to declare the exact income from each of their financial investments, with one exception.

The exception is investment properties. Rental income is assessed separately, and you need to declare the actual amount.

For everything else, deeming rates determine your investment income for the purposes of the pension income test.

Deeming rates are going up today, but they are still generously low.

The lower deeming rate is now 1.75% for the first $66,800 worth of assets for singles and the first $110,600 for couples combined.

Everything above these amounts will be deemed to have earned the new upper deeming rate of interest, which is 3.75%.

Right now, that rate is still below what you’d actually earn if invested in plain old cash or ASX dividend shares. 

Cash in savings accounts is earning more than 5% these days.

As for dividend shares, the ASX 200 provided an average 4.23% dividend yield in FY26. (Check out which sectors paid the most here.)

Assuming full franking, that grosses up to a total of 6% earnings.

The post How much income can you earn and still get the age pension under new rules starting today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 amazing ASX ETFs to buy and hold for 10 years
• REA Group vs CAR Group: Which is best for income investors?
• ASX 200 healthcare shares lead a weaker market amid 82% chance of a rate hike
• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy next week
• Age pension rises $37 per fortnight today

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

I think buy and hold investing can be a great way to build wealth over the long term.

And ASX exchange traded funds (ETFs) can be particularly helpful because they make it easy to invest in a collection of companies in one trade.

But which ones could be top buy and hold candidates? Here are three that could be worth considering:

Global X AI Infrastructure ETF (AUD) (ASX: AINF)

The Global X AI Infrastructure ETF could be a strong option for investors that are wanting exposure to the buildout behind artificial intelligence (AI).

This fund focuses on the companies providing the physical infrastructure needed to support AI.

That includes semiconductor businesses, data centre equipment providers, networking companies, power infrastructure, cooling systems, and other businesses involved in keeping increasingly powerful computing systems running.

The long-term opportunity here is easy to understand. AI requires enormous amounts of computing power, and that means more chips, more data centres, more electricity, and more supporting infrastructure.

Rather than trying to identify which AI application will ultimately become the biggest winner, the Global X AI Infrastructure ETF gives investors exposure to the companies helping make the entire industry possible.

Vanguard FTSE Asia ex Japan Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAE)

Another ASX ETF to consider for the next decade is the Vanguard FTSE Asia ex Japan Shares Index ETF.

This fund gives investors exposure to companies across major Asian markets outside Japan. This includes businesses from countries such as China, Taiwan, South Korea, India, and Singapore.

Having this sort of exposure could be a very good thing. The region is home to enormous populations, rising incomes, major manufacturing hubs, leading technology companies, and increasingly important consumer markets.

Over the next decade, growing wealth across Asia could support demand for financial services, healthcare, technology, consumer products, travel, and many other industries. This bodes well for the holdings in the Vanguard FTSE Asia ex Japan Shares Index ETF.

VanEck Video Gaming and Esports AUD ETF (ASX: ESPO)

A final ASX ETF for investors to look at is the VanEck Video Gaming and Esports ETF.

Video games have grown from a relatively niche hobby into a huge global entertainment industry competing with film, television, music, and social media for people’s time and money.

The industry has also changed significantly. Games can now generate revenue for years through downloadable content, subscriptions, in-game purchases, online communities, and recurring updates.

VanEck Video Gaming and Esports ETF gives investors exposure to companies involved in developing games, publishing them, creating gaming hardware, and supporting the wider industry. This includes giants such as Nintendo, Tencent, and Take-Two Interactive.

The post 3 amazing ASX ETFs to buy and hold for 10 years appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How much could $10,000 invested in these AI focussed ETFs be worth in a year?
• 2 Vanguard ETFs I’d buy and hold for a decade

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Take-Two Interactive Software. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.