How to manage debt in retirement A common view of retirees is that of people who live in their own (fully paid-off) homes, with no debt and the ability to do whatever they want, whenever they please. Those who have already retired may find this amusing,...
Retirement Advice Articles
What is your risk tolerance?
How to find your sweet spot Retirement Essentials’ financial adviser, Nicole, says that risk tolerance to her is about the difference between anxiety and peace of mind. ‘When I talk to clients about it I often refer to the 'sleep test' in retirement - if...
Right advice – get a life
Can the right advice help you get a life? It did in Laurie’s case. A divorced 64-year-old painter, Laurie is tired of working full-time, but he needs his full-time salary – or the equivalent – to live an enjoyable life. His daughter wants him to spend more...
Home Equity Loans
Need a retirement top-up? In today’s Jargonbuster we look at the different types of home equity access. This is a complex topic as there are many different types of home equity available for retirees – and each type varies in features, upsides, downsides and...
Financial Hardship
There are two different ways to understand the concept of ‘financial hardship’: The official definition which is used by government agencies to assess whether you are eligible for extra or emergency support or special eligibility consideration. The...
Is your spouse younger than you? It could help!
A mature couple standing outside and thinking This is nobody’s business but your own, you may think. But when it comes to retirement there is a big dividend to be gained from knowing and responding to the rules. First up, it helps to know that you are...
Checking with an expert can help
Meet Nicole and Jodi With more than 50 years combined financial services experience, Nicole Bell and Jodi Seaton are just the right people to assist Retirement Essentials members with affordable financial advice. The team at Retirement Essentials realised...
Retirement Essentials 2021 Key Market Indicators
Despite the challenges of the Covid pandemic, it seems that house prices and the cost of living have risen, as has the ASX All Ordinaries and super fund returns. The only thing not going up right now would seem to be interest rates. Here are some key...
Five worst retirement money mistakes
And how to avoid them The team at Retirement Essentials has spent years helping our members to manage their retirement finances, particularly in regard to maximising their benefits and their ongoing income. Our experienced team provides daily support and...