James Coyle

James has over 35 years experience in financial services with particular expertise in two of the key components of retirement finance - Superannuation and the Age Pension. He is passionate about providing the guidance and support that can help older Australians enjoy their best possible retirement. He lives in regional Victoria surrounded by dogs and chooks.
Save on energy with higher Age Pension payments

Save on energy with higher Age Pension payments

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If you are worried about the effect rising energy prices are having on your household budget, you’re not alone. Research from the Energy Consumers Australia confirms that a majority of Australians (56%) believe energy will be unaffordable within three years.

That’s a shocking statistic, but there are ways to meet this challenge.

Creating a more energy-efficient home was the subject of a recent ABC TV news report by Jane Norman. It’s a great report and we suggest you take time out to watch the seven-minute video which is super informative.

Heading to Italy on an Age Pension

Heading to Italy on an Age Pension

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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 gain the confidence to spend when it’s difficult to judge how long your money will last?

These were the questions posed by Don when he caught up with Nicole. He was both pleased and surprised to learn that he could afford to indulge his dreams of an Italian adventure next year. Don was widowed two years ago and now feels ready to get back out into the world. He’s hoping a group tour in northern Italy will give him a very social adventure to look forward to. Here’s how he and Nicole approached this challenge and how he was able to reach a successful financial outcome.

Many people are under-spending in retirement, sacrificing their dreams and their lifestyle, only to end up sitting on a large nest egg wishing that they’d gone hiking in the Dolomites when they had the chance. A lot of this has to do with our mindset. Changing from a saving mindset (that has been ingrained in us since we were young), to a spending mindset is a much bigger leap than most people anticipate. But this change does occur as we move into retirement. So how can you become more confident in your decision-making?