Surveys tell us that the lifestage of retirement can be one of the most contented periods of our lives. One widespread positive sentiment is the sense of control over your own destiny, no longer having to answer to an employer’s needs Monday to Friday. But...
The funding of aged care can seem complex and that’s because there are different contributions for different aspects of care. Deeming also plays a part. Many people will delay discussions about, aged care, or underplay the need for a reasonable understanding...
How Don afforded his dream trip Are you also dreaming of a big trip in 2024? So many of us are and Christmas is often when we have the time to check out airfares, accommodation and take the plunge. But how do you know if you can afford a big trip? How do you...
Quite a few members have recently contacted us with the same problem. Put simply, they are concerned that they are running short of money far too often and that they urgently need a re-set. Some members have chosen to proceed to an advice appointment. Others...
At some stage in our lives most of us display similarities to the proverbial frog in boiling water. You know, when something negative goes on for such a long time that we fail to notice the severity of the situation. Many financial product providers gain a...
The real cost of living in retirement Can it be measured? There is a lot of noise about the cost of living right now. So much so that, even if you are reasonably well off in retirement, you may be starting to question whether your sums are right. Suffering...
How to save on medical bills: Know your rights and entitlements It’s easy to feel like a dummy sometimes when it comes to health care costs. At a time of rapidly rising household costs, medical and pharmaceutical bills can sometimes seem insurmountable,...
Pacing yourself across the years Last week we helped you to gain as accurate a forecast as possible of your likely life span. This may seem morbid, but it’s actually the best starting point for planning and managing retirement income. But working out how...
There’s a lot of discussion about interest rates – both here and overseas - at the moment. For some retirees higher rates are good news, while for others they can be extremely stressful. The key question is not what is happening in the short term, but how...