The three main ages at which Australians access their super savings are: Preservation age – once you have turned 60 and retire or significantly reduce your working hours. or Age 65, at which point you are able to access your super without restriction...
Do you ever wonder if you’re spending too much - or not enough in retirement? You’re not alone. Many retirees tell us they feel unsure about what’s “safe” to spend. Others are reluctant to touch their savings at all, even when they know they’ve worked hard...
Do you have the checkout blues? Every time you head to the supermarket, you’re gobsmacked at how much everything costs? Who knew a lemon would be $1.10? You probably remember when you could buy five for that amount of money. Yet we’re told that inflation is...
Navigating the complexities of retirement planning and intergenerational wealth transfer is increasingly important for Australian families. As the ‘Bank of Mum and Dad’ (BoMaD) plays a more prominent role in assisting younger generations, understanding the...
“My husband is 74, and I’m 68. We own our home and have around $400,000 in super. We receive the full Age Pension and live off that for our regular bills. When something comes up — car repairs, holidays — we take money out of super. This amounts to about...
We’ve all made that crazy, quick decision to buy something special. And then wondered at leisure if we could afford it. That’s what happened with Aaron and Julie. They booked their dream trip to South America – and immediately had buyers’ remorse when they...
What if you had a crystal ball? Would that help you eliminate your FORO – the fear of running out? I’ve been writing about retirement income for nearly 25 years now (yes, let’s agree that I started when I was a teenager, NOT!). But all jokes aside, there are...
I’m at least 10 years away from retirement, but I admit there are times when I’ve pondered my future in the small hours, especially when work or family circumstances change. Financial worries are surely universal and, leading up to or during retirement,...
When we last discussed the ‘classic dilemma’ of paying off debt or retaining a mortgage (but earning more in other ways) we received some great feedback from members. Many of you said that this option doesn’t have to be an ‘all-in’ decision. Which has...