Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers has handed down the May 2024-2025 Federal Budget. There weren’t a lot of surprises but there are a couple of nice bonuses for older Australians. Before we start, it's important to note that these are only...
Planning for Retirement Articles
Can Alice retire while still working?
There was great feedback on our article about peak retirement a few weeks ago. It seems that many Retirement Essentials members are planning on working longer, but not necessarily harder! As a consequence, our advisers have had many consultations helping...
Peak retirement age: How long would you want to work?
More older Australians are staying in work for longer, creating a new ‘peak’ retirement age, according to a new KPMG report. Analysis by KPMG Urban Economist, Terry Rawnsley, suggests that Australian workers are retiring at their oldest age since the 1970s....
Doing the sums: What’s needed for an affordable retirement?
Most of us are open to doing the maths and setting goals if we believe those goals are achievable. Resistance can set in, however, if we think that the targets are unrealistic. It could be that this has become the case with the commonly accepted quarterly...
Enough
I love the story Jack Bogle, legendary founder of Vanguard, told to open my favourite of his dozen books: “At a party given by a billionaire, Kurt Vonnegut informs his pal, Joseph Heller, that their host, a hedge fund manager, had made more money in a...
Busting retirement myths: The five biggest fallacies
Making mistakes is part of the human condition. There are very few things in this life that are totally irredeemable. So knowing you can fix mistakes comes as a great relief. The belief that organising your retirement funding is a one-off project is one of...
Planning your best retirement in five easy steps
Whether you are in retirement, about to start your retirement journey or planning for the future here are five simple steps to reach your goals now and in the future. Step 1: Set your goals Do you know what you want to do during retirement? Your goals may...
Can I afford to renovate when I retire?
Adviser Megan Marshall recently met with Gary and Monica who have retired. They’ll soon qualify for an Age Pension but want to know whether a renovation or downsizing their home is the smarter financial strategy. Talking them through the rules and the likely...
Planning your travel for 2024: Adventures, deals and discounts
Photo by Bill McKinnon They say that love and marriage go well together, but retirees and travel may be an even happier mix! Right now we know that many of our members will have guidebooks, atlases and apps at hand, planning their 2024 adventures both here...