The discussion following ‘Is the Age Pension Fair?’ really stirred things up, and quite rightly so. There's clearly a strong desire amongst older Australians to stay active and boost their income in retirement. Many of you shared your stories, outlining the...
Annuity rules explained When we talk about retirement income, Account-Based Pensions (ABPs) often take centre stage because they’re the most common retirement income streams. But they’re not the only option. Lifetime income streams, such as annuities provide...
We were delighted to receive some great comments to last week’s newsletter, as well as some really good questions. Two that stood out were in response to Amanda Hardy Lai’s article, How much is enough for a comfortable retirement? Having read Amanda’s...
In late November we shared the Australian Government’s announcement of new reforms for the retirement phase of super. Since then, on 7 December, another major change to retirement income has been announced. This time it’s an attempt to increase access to...
Christmas is a magical time of the year, but between the joy of giving and taking that much-needed holiday break, it’s easy to overspend. With rising living costs and financial pressures continuing to challenge household budgets, the New Year could...
Retirement Essentials congratulates the Australian Government on its 20 November announcement that it will take action to reform the retirement phase of superannuation to deliver a better retirement for all Australians. Such reforms are 100% aligned with...
At 69, Bill was working part time, earning around $46,000, while managing two debts: a $30,000 loan due in five years, and an $80,000 loan over 12 years. What Bill didn’t realise is that he was eligible for $14,000 per year in Age Pension support...
Recent findings about the Australian retirement income system show it has taken a small hit in world rankings. A small hit is not a catastrophe, but it does offer a cautionary warning that there may be better ways of helping retirees to help themselves. What...
Noel to the rescue Few people understand retirement income as well as Noel Whitaker. Today we are examining the pros and cons of Lifetime Income Streams (LIS) and Noel has helped us out with some Q&A on these relatively new products. But first, some...