Australians aged 67 years or older are eligible for a fortnightly Age Pension payment to help fund basic living expenses in retirement.

The Age Pension, which is paid by Centrelink, is an important safety net that ensures that older Australians are able to meet basic living requirements, regardless of the amount of savings, income, assets, or superannuation they own.

The catch is that it isn’t available to everyone. Your eligibility is subject to several key criteria, including your age, residency, and an income and asset test.

The problem is that while many understand that their income could affect the payment they receive, many overlook asset limits.

Here’s a breakdown of everything you need to know about the Age Pension and the asset test.

The maximum Age Pension payment

The Age Pension is paid on a fortnightly basis up to a maximum total payment of $1,200.90 per fortnight for singles and $1,810.40 for couples combined. 

These sums include the maximum basic rate, the maximum pension supplement, and the energy supplement.

As I mentioned above, the final amount you’ll receive (if anything) is heavily dependent on Centerlink’s income and asset test. 

What is the Age Pension asset test?

Then an asset test includes any stocks, like S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares, property, or possessions you own in full, in part, or have an interest in. This includes assets held outside Australia and any debts owed to you. It generally excludes the home you live in.

Note, however, that Centrelink assesses you under both tests and applies what it calls the ‘lower rule of two’. 

This means your potential fortnightly Age Pension is calculated under both tests. The one that results in the lower payment is the amount you will actually receive.

What are the asset test limits?

In order to receive the full Age Pension, single homeowners can own assets (including superannuation) up to a value of $333,000. For single non-homeowners, this will be up to $600,000 in retirement.

But a couple has a different threshold, and it’s not double the amount of one person. From the 1st of July, a couple combined can own up to $499,000 in total if they own a property, or $766,000 if they don’t.

How are assets calculated?

In order to determine how much income you make from your assets, Centrelink uses a deeming rule. 

Deeming assumes your financial assets earn a fixed, set rate of income, regardless of what they actually earn.

This assumed income is then added to your other income to determine your Age Pension rate.

For single Australians, the first $66,800 of their financial assets has a deemed rate of 1.25%. Everything over that is deemed to earn 3.25% interest.

Couples will have a 1.25% deeming rate on their first $110,600 of combined financial assets (this includes superannuation). Anything over $110,600 is deemed to earn 3.25%.

What if I own over that threshold?

If your assets are over the limit explained above, it’s still possible to receive a part Age Pension payment

From the 1st of July, the cut-off point for single homeowners is $733,500, and $1,000,500 if you’re single and a non-homeowner. If your assets come in above the initial limits but below these thresholds, you’re still entitled to some level of payment.

Couples are also entitled to a part-payment, so long as their combined assets don’t exceed $1,102,500 for homeowners. Non-homeowners can own assets totalling up to a limit of $1,369,500.

The post What assets can I own in retirement and still qualify for the Centrelink Age Pension? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Samantha Menzies 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.

National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) shares are in the green again in Tuesday lunchtime trade.

At the time of writing, the ASX bank stock is up around 0.5% to $38.83 a piece.

Today’s increase means NAB shares have now recovered around 9% since they dropped to a 52-week low in early June.

For the year to date, NAB shares are still down around 8% and are around 1% below the levels seen this time last year.

What happened to NAB shares?

NAB shares rallied strongly to a record high of around $49.10 in late February this year. 

The increase was mainly driven by the bank’s strong earnings results, expectations of lower interest rates, and investor appetite for high-yield bank stocks.

But as quickly as NAB shares stormed higher, they softened again. By early June, the shares had shed around 27% of their value and slumped to an annual low of $35.86.

The sell-off followed concerns that major banks, including NAB, were overvalued after a strong rally. 

Meanwhile, intense mortgage competition has put pressure on the bank’s profit margins and raised concerns about future earnings.

The share price has rebounded slightly since the dip, most likely reflecting slightly improved market sentiment. However, many experts are still cautious.

Which leads to the question, what’s next?

Are the ASX 200 banking giant’s shares a buy, sell, or hold over the next 12 months?

Market Index data shows that brokers are divided about NAB shares, but the majority rate the bank stock as a hold. The average target price of $39.17 implies a potential 1% upside ahead.

Sentiment is similar on TradingView. Data shows that the majority (eight out of 16 analysts) have a hold rating on the shares. Another five rate NAB shares as a sell or strong sell, and the remaining analysts rate the stock as a buy.

But the average $37.78 target price implies a potential 3% downside ahead, at the time of writing. 

The range is huge, though. The maximum $47.50 target price implies a potential 22% upside ahead. But others think NAB shares could crash 25% to just $29 each.

Fairmont Equities’ Michael Gable said he is concerned about the outlook for NAB shares in FY27. He pointed to margin pressure, credit risk, and questions around the bank’s competitive advantage. He has a sell rating on the shares and said the stock is exposed to downside risk. 

Mark Gardner from MPC Markets said his team is bearish on NAB shares. He said they believe the bank’s near-term earnings outlook is under pressure. The broker recently said that while its dividend remains attractive, valuation support is less convincing if earnings momentum continues softening. Gardner has a sell recommendation.

Catapult Wealth’s Dylan Evans also has a sell recommendation on NAB shares. He said that changes announced in the Federal Budget, coupled with households pressured by rising interest rates, could create new headwinds for the bank.

The post Here’s what brokers tip for NAB shares over the next 12 months appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Samantha Menzies 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.

PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) shares remained under pressure on Tuesday, falling 5.6% to $4.85 during afternoon trade.

The latest decline extends a difficult run for the lithium giant, with the stock now down around 18% over the past month.

That pullback looks painful, but it also needs some perspective. PLS shares are still up around 18% in 2026 and an extraordinary 226% over the past 12 months after emerging as one of the ASX’s standout performers during FY26.

So, why are investors suddenly hitting the sell button?

A victim of its own success

PLS was one of the biggest winners during the lithium rally, making today’s weakness partly a case of profit-taking after an exceptional run.

The company is widely regarded as the highest-beta lithium stock on the ASX. When lithium prices rally, PLS shares often outperform the broader sector thanks to its size, production scale and operating leverage.

Unfortunately, the opposite is also true. When lithium prices soften, PLS tends to fall harder than its peers as investors reduce exposure to the sector’s market leader.

That appears to be exactly what’s happening now.

Lithium prices lose momentum

Another factor weighing on sentiment is the recent weakness in China’s lithium market. Chinese lithium carbonate futures declined again overnight, extending the pullback that began in late June following a powerful rally earlier this year.

The correction appears to be driven largely by profit-taking, with traders questioning whether lithium prices had risen too far, too quickly relative to underlying market fundamentals.

Because lithium prices remain one of the biggest drivers of earnings expectations across the sector, weaker futures have flowed through to ASX-listed lithium producers, including PLS.

Underlying business remains strong

Importantly, the recent share price weakness doesn’t reflect a deterioration in PLS’s underlying business. The company’s impressive first-half FY26 result highlighted just how much its financial performance has improved.

Revenue climbed 47% to $624 million, supported by both stronger lithium prices and higher sales volumes. Underlying EBITDA surged 241% to $253 million, while EBITDA margins expanded from 17% to an impressive 41%.

Those results demonstrate the operating leverage within the business. As lithium prices improve, PLS can translate higher revenue into significantly faster earnings growth.

Its flagship Pilgangoora operation also remains one of the world’s largest hard-rock lithium mines, giving the company significant scale advantages and a competitive cost position.

What’s next for PLS shares?

The next major catalyst will be the company’s second-half FY26 results, due on 31 August. Investors will be watching closely for updates on production and shipment volumes, operating costs and management’s outlook for lithium demand and pricing.

Progress on the P2000 expansion project will also be closely scrutinised, with investors in PLS shares eager to understand how the company plans to increase production while maintaining its cost advantage.

Foolish takeaway

PLS shares have lost momentum over the past month, but much of the weakness appears linked to softer lithium prices and investors taking profits after one of the strongest rallies on the ASX.

The company’s fundamentals remain solid, supported by strong earnings growth, expanding margins and one of the world’s premier lithium assets.

However, until commodity markets regain momentum, investors should expect volatility to remain part of the ride.

The post Why are PLS shares still falling? Here’s what’s behind the sell-off appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Marc Van Dinther 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.