Is this really happening? The other night I saw an ABC TV report by business reporter, Daniel Ziffer. I normally find Mr Ziffer’s work to be both informative and interesting. So when he spoke of a ‘generational divide’ in Australia’s spending habits, I was...
Keeping Retirement Simple – Part 4 In his book Straight Talk on Investing, a friend of mine, Jack Brennan, former CEO of The Vanguard Group, gives his views on the most important piece of advice. “Live below your means….simply put, you must not spend...
Keeping Retirement Simple – Part 2 In Australia, we’re responsible for our retirement. The government helps with the Age Pension and Aged Care. But the rest we supply ourselves through our super and other savings and perhaps some work...
One of the best things about writing articles and explainers for Retirement Essentials is the quality of the comments we receive in return. A recent article on the ‘classic dilemma’ of paying off debt or retaining a mortgage (but earning more in other ways)...
Your retirement journey is likely to be as quirky and individual as you are. But whilst most of us love fun and adventure, volatile cash flow is not the type of adventure we would embrace. Predictable income becomes even more important in retirement when you...
What are your options? The other day I needed a $100 note for a gift for someone. I didn’t have my purse with debit card on me, but I did have my phone which has my debit account App installed. So I popped into the bank and expected to be able to wave my...
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...