Latest news with #Cyndi
ABC News
20-05-2025
- Health
- ABC News
How much is using superannuation to pay for IVF really costing women?
In her late 30s, there was nothing Cyndi wanted more than to become a mum. Single and worried about declining fertility, Cyndi says it was "now or never" and she planned to start IVF. But she couldn't afford it. "It wasn't something I could put off and save for," says the 40-year-old from Melbourne/Naarm, who asked we don't use her surname. After discovering she could apply to use her superannuation to pay for treatment, Cyndi did so on three occasions. "At that point, what I really wanted in life more than anything was to have a child. "I had this mindset, which might sound a bit morbid, but you could die at any point and not use your super." She withdrew a total of $42,000 (plus tax), and after six embryo transfers, gave birth to her son. Australians are increasingly accessing their superannuation early on compassionate grounds, mainly to fund medical procedures, including IVF. In 2023-24, 4,210 people had applications approved for IVF treatment, compared to 2,720 in 2018-19 — an increase of 55 per cent. So what is the process, and what are the ramifications of choosing this route? The use of super to pay for IVF is something that concerns Neera Bhatia, an associate professor and director of the Law, Health and Society Research Unit at Deakin University. Her paper, Emptying the nest egg to fill the nursery: early release of superannuation to fund assisted reproductive technology, was published in 2021. While Dr Bhatia is not critical of people accessing their super to fulfil their desire to become a parent, she says there is potential for exploitation. Having been through IVF to have her own children, Dr Bhatia says "people are really emotionally vulnerable and fragile" at the time, and often don't think about the implications of accessing super in "a rational sense." And not every IVF journey ends with a baby. To access super funds early on compassionate grounds, people apply to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). Applicants need to show the procedure is needed to alleviate pain or to treat a life-threatening injury or illness, says Dr Bhatia, or claim they are experiencing "acute, or chronic, mental disturbance". "A person might be able to access super early on the basis they are claiming that infertility or the fact they are unable to have a child has caused them acute mental disturbance," she says. "It doesn't actually define what a mental disturbance is; it leaves it really open and broad." People must submit two medical practitioner reports certifying the treatment is necessary, along with a quote or unpaid invoice that details the expenses. "One has to come from a registered medical specialist in the area you are applying to have medical treatment for," Dr Bhatia says. For IVF, that would be a fertility doctor. "The second report has to come from either a registered medical practitioner or another registered medical specialist … and it does actually say on the ATO website that your application must include a medical report from psychiatrist," Dr Bhatia says. Financial educator and behavioural money coach Natasha Janssens says people also need to show they can't pay for the expenses by other means, such as by obtaining a loan. How did you manage the cost of IVF? We'd love to hear from you to help cover stories in this space: lifestyle@ The cost of withdrawing your superannuation early is likely to be more than what you take out, due to the missed returns of compounding interest. If retirement is 30 years away, Ms Janssens says a "general rule of thumb" is that it will ultimately cost you about double what you withdraw. "These numbers won't be set in stone — there are so many variables — but … a 35-year-old taking out $20,000 now means they are going to have about $42,000 less at retirement [age]," she says. You can test our own circumstances by adjusting the "super balance" entry of the MoneySmart superannuation calculator to factor in how much you intend to withdraw. The super you withdraw on compassionate grounds is paid and taxed as a normal super lump sum. There may also be other costs you don't expect, says Ms Janssens. That was the case for Cyndi. "Taking out two lots of $16,000 in one financial year, I didn't realise it would affect my income. "Having that extra $32,000 income on my tax return, meant I had to pay an extra $5,000 on my HECS debt." For couples undertaking IVF, either party can apply to access their super for treatment if they meet certain criteria, however, Dr Bhatia says her research shows more women than men access their super early for IVF. "And we know women [already] have less super than men." There are specialist companies that offer to help people access their super early. Cyndi paid $1,000 to one of these companies the first time. "After that I actually felt like a bit of an idiot because I realised how simple it was." Dr Bhatia says some of the companies advertise their services on fertility clinic websites, and in some cases, fertility clinics refer people to them. Dr Bhatia says people should be able to access their superannuation if they wish, but the involvement of fertility clinics in the process concerns her. She says it can be a "closed-loop system" where clinics are the ones providing information about accessing super to their patients. It's also possible for a fertility doctor from an IVF clinic to be one of the certifying doctors for the application. "To my mind that is a conflict of interest. It's an industry that is worth over $6 billion; they have their own vested interest. "We do need greater regulatory oversight … in that process." Manuela Toledo is a board member with the Fertility Society of Australia and New Zealand, medical director at TasIVF and a fertility specialist at Melbourne IVF. She says the decision to access super for fertility treatment "should not come from the clinics". "FSANZ strongly recommends that this process be independent of the clinics and the treating fertility doctors." Dr Bhatia says financial counselling should be a mandatory part of the process to help people "take a breather and think about what other ways there might be." Ms Janssens says it would be "wise" to speak to a financial adviser, counsellor, accountant, or your super fund to get a greater understanding of your individual circumstances, adding that people should consider how they will replenish the money they withdraw. Cyndi says she doesn't regret accessing her superannuation early. "I do think about it in the sense that that money could be a lot down the line, but I don't dwell on it. "I made the decision, what's done it done. I have my son, and life will play out as it will." This article contains general information only. You should consider obtaining independent professional advice in relation to your particular circumstances.
Edmonton Journal
15-05-2025
- Business
- Edmonton Journal
Former Oilers GM Holland joins playoff rivals Los Angeles Kings
Article content He's 69 and while the lefty likes golf and even has an import membership at famous Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, the scene of this summer's Open, he can't golf every day. Golf's his like, hockey's his passion. He's always been up early, talking to agents, other managers, having coffee with his staff, asking questions. As he's long said, he's not wired for a stress-free existence. With his Hall of Fame resume (three Stanley Cup celebrations in Detroit, the fourth-most wins of any general manager in history), he could be sitting on his couch with a TV remote, or be out on his boat on the lake in B.C. enjoying retirement with his wife Cyndi. But, that's not him. 'After Game 7 last June when we lost in Florida on a Monday night, I met with (team CEO) Jeff Jackson and we agreed we were going to go our separate ways,' said Holland. 'That weekend was the NHL draft and I missed not being there. It was the first I had missed in 40-something years. I wasn't sure where I was going. Was I going to miss it? And over the course of the winter living in British Columbia, every night the TV's on and I'm watching hockey from 4 o'clock until 10:30 and my wife is in the bedroom watching a movie or reading a book,' said Holland.
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Cyndi Lauper proves she's still a trailblazer as she plays farewell show at Manchester's Co-op Live
We're only halfway through Cyndi Lauper's show in Manchester and her band have been jangling away on tambourines and percussion boxes for a good few minutes now - but there's no sign of the native New Yorker to be seen. And then, out of nowhere, she appears from a trap door dressed in a red suit jacket with yellow tassels with a bright canary yellow wig to match. Oh, and she's also wearing a washboard as a sort of armour plate. She's essentially a medieval Ronald McDonald if he was walking London Fashion Week and everyone is loving it in complete bewilderment. But this is Cyndi Lauper we're talking about, after all. And subtlety is not her thing nor does anyone want it to be. Taking to the Co-Op Live stage on Sunday night (February 9), she's here in the city for the first time in 14 years and she's saying goodbye. READ MORE: Oasis make big announcement with new release and video READ MORE: How to get Beyoncé Cowboy Carter tickets before they sell out: tour dates, prices, presale and more 'This is it for me,' the 71-year-old tells the crowd after opening with She Bop just in case any of the 23,500 fans in attendance aren't convinced if this is the last time they'll see her on tour. But she's insistent on going out with a bang - 'If I was going out, I was going out big!' - even if she does take the crowd on a few little detours and prolonged anecdotes along the way. On some occasions, the show becomes more of a chat show than a concert, with Cyndi quite willing to stand on stage for five minutes straight to discuss why you should not buy a house over a graveyard or how she once took down a professional wrestler. But this is Cyndi as she has always been - candid, a non-conformist and, of course, unusual. 'I'm only talking to you because none of this is bigger than you and me,' she explains about wanting to capture an intimate setting amongst her fans - albeit in front of thousands of them. 'I love Manchester,' she tells the crowd amongst one of her many other interludes. 'I know it's the heart of rock and roll in England.' Having emerged onto the scene with her debut album She's So Unusual in 1983, she immediately broke records making her the first female singer to have four top five singles from one album on the American charts and becoming one of the best-selling albums of the 1980s. The set-list for this Farewell tour mostly remains in that 80s era - with the likes of Goonies R Good Enough and her stellar cover of Prince's When You Were Mine both getting early performances - which means there's no songs from her insanely-underrated 2008 dance-pop album Bring Ya To The Brink to be seen, which is a bit of a shame personally speaking but I'm aware I'm perhaps very much one of the only ones that was hoping for such. For casual fans, there is perhaps a bit of a dip in memorable songs in the middle of the set - but it's also here where Cyndi is her rawest as a performer. Opting for acoustic openers with the likes of Sally's Pigeons and Fearless, any nay-sayers worrying that her quirky voice may not be up to scratch are quickly shut down as she captivates the huge auditorium with not a pin drop to be heard. Of course, it's songs like I Drove All Night and Time After Time which the masses are here for and they are both delivered to rousing applause and singing along. Change of Heart and Money Changes Everything also get a surprisingly big reaction too - with the latter including a lot of shuffling and even a bit of rolling around on stage from Cyndi. There are a few wig and costume changes along the way too, with the likes of Geoffrey Mac and Christian Siriano both heavily involved ('You know I love glamour, I clamour for it,' she tells the crowd as she giggles to herself). However, the show is not without a hitch. There are a couple of small setbacks, although nothing largely noticeable. On a handful of occasions, Cyndi's vocals are drained out by the live music, there's a couple of issues with battery packs and a guitar rendition just never quite gets going quite like it perhaps should ('ah, **** it,' she tells the crowd after giving up). But, it's her rendition of True Colours which really stands out as a special moment that many fans in the audience will cherish for a long time to come. Recorded shortly after the death of her close friend Gregory Natal, who passed away from AIDS, the track became an important rally cry at the time and meant so many different things to so many people. Having since also deeply resonated with the LGBTQ+ community, her rendition on a second stage in the middle of the crowd as she waves a rainbow flag above her is something simple yet effective. Surrounded by a sea of mobile phone lights, it's powerful and shows that this is why Cyndi has stood the test of the time. With that song, alongside her most famous of hits, it's a reminder that Cyndi has not only always dared to be different, but she's also stood up where it counted the most and has been a voice for so many who often feel unheard. In one on-stage reflection, she recalls telling a singer who challenged her on being a 'feminist': 'If I'm not interested in my own civil liberties, who will be?' While she steers away from discussing modern politics, she tries to enlist her own pearls of wisdom on the crowd about aiming for the stars and never feeling like things are over. In another act of support, she explains that profits from wigs sold as merchandise are going towards women's rights charities - and there's plenty of them in the audience tonight. But, of course, Cyndi knows what most of the people - especially the casual fans - are here for and she teases them for it until the very end. Bringing out Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, whilst dressed in a polka-dot Red Nose Day-infused outfit from Yayoi Kusama, it's gleeful, energetic and delivers a real party atmosphere - even if it's teetering on 11pm on a Sunday night. Midway through the song, she breaks out into a rap in a similar fashion to her Glastonbury performance where she asks the audience to chant out that Girls Just Want to Have Fundamental Rights - a nod to her women's rights fund. Cyndi has always chosen to do things her own way, and she's keeping true to that with her farewell to the UK. Throughout her career, she has always been a trailblazer and she still remains one today. It's sad to see her leave the world of touring behind her, but she promises that it's definitely not going to be the last time we hear from her - and that's something to look forward to. She Bop The Goonies 'R' Good Enough When You Were Mine I Drove All Night Who Let in the Rain Iko Iko Funnel of Love Sally's Pigeons Fearless Sisters of Avalon Change of Heart Time After Time Money Changes Everything Encore: Shine True Colours Girls Just Want to Have Fun
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Yahoo
Friends remember Park Plaza shooting victim Cynthia Gregory
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Police are still looking for whoever shot and killed a woman in the parking lot of the Park Plaza Mall Monday night. Cynthia Gregory, also called Cyndi, was 47 years old. She is being remembered by hundreds who knew her and her family, including Ann Basco. 'Cyndi, I love you and so many people do,' Basco said. Park Plaza shoppers 'shocked' after woman was shot, killed in mall parking lot Basco met Cyndi seven years ago when she walked into Cyndi's yoga class for the first time. Over the years, she said she learned from Cyndi how to stay physically and mentally fit. A friendship was built through her gentle words, caring instruction and many conversations. 'She treated everybody like they were the special person,' Basco said. 'She was definitely special.' Cyndi worked at the Baptist Health Foundation as its senior major gifts officer. Her coworker Janet Marshall shared a statement. 'She was a beautiful woman who was caring, funny, smart, hard-working, and a Christian wife and mom,' Marshall said. 'Cyndi wanted nothing but the best for her family and she will be greatly missed.' Little Rock police release name of woman killed in Park Plaza Mall shooting 'It's a shock. It's devastating, but I'm not going to give that person, who chose to do this act, I'm not going to give them control of my thoughts and my feelings,' Basco said. More than 400 people have donated to the family online. Pulaski Heights Middle School Principal Darryl James Powell sent a message to parents about Cyndi's death saying in part, 'This family is, and will always be, part of the PHMS family.' Cyndi's husband is the girl's basketball coach at Mills High School. According to Basco, at least one team within the Pulaski County Special School District had a moment of silence before their game Tuesday. Woman dead after being found shot in Park Plaza Mall parking lot In those moments of silence and disbelief, Basco said she is holding onto the words Cyndi ended every yoga class with: 'The light in me recognizes the light in you. Namaste.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
