There are certain ‘motherhood’ statements, so-called because you would find it hard to disagree with these sentiments. One such statement is that we all want what’s best for our kids. We’d walk over hot coals for them, in fact. This is evidenced financially...
There are many challenges associated with planning retirement and retirement income. Over the years, we’ve highlighted lots of ways to tackle them one by one. But the ‘fear of running out’ (FORO) remains the main concern for many older Australians. And...
Downsizing is the term used when older Australians sell a family home and relocate to a smaller, low maintenance residence. This often involves the move from a house to an apartment or unit, or to a residential village. It’s also a term used in ‘Downsizing...
Most retirees own their own homes. A growing number (13%) of those aged 67 and over still have a mortgage. But of those approaching retirement, aged 55-64, a staggering 54% are still paying off a home loan. In early August we discussed the option of...
One popular misconception about retirement is that it is a choice that we can all make when we feel like having more spare time. This is not what always happens, however, with most recent ABS statistics on Retirement and Retirement Intentions (2023)...
The team at Retirement Essentials is always interested in how our members seek advice on money matters. And which type of advice works best for you. Last week we were contacted by Roger, and with his permission (and a change of names), we’re sharing some of...
The race that stops a nation takes off at 3pm on the first Tuesday of November. There’s thrills, spills, fancy headgear and this year gentlemen may even wear shorts! By 3.15 pm we’ll all know the winner and the bookies will be even richer. Most of us love...
The most commonly asked questions in retirement income are ‘Will my money last as long as I do?’ And ‘Am I in danger of running out?’ The problem is, there is no really useful way to respond. The correct answers to these two questions are ‘probably,...
Max and Sarah are now typical of more than 50% of Australians their age – those between 55 and 64. That’s because they are carrying a hefty debt into their retirement. And they’re starting to feel concerned about the affect this will have on their ability to...