by Amanda Hardy Lai | Oct 9, 2025 | Planning for Retirement
Big changes are coming to Australia’s aged care system on 1 November 2025, especially for those of us who want to stay in our own homes as we get older. These updates aim to make care safer, more respectful, and better tailored to individual needs, following the...
by Jeremy Duffield | Oct 9, 2025 | Centrelink Age Pension
Any idea which group of workers are paying the highest tax? I’m disappointed to report that it’s older Australians on an Age Pension. We uncovered this disappointing fact while completing research for leading super fund HESTA. The key takeaway was the severe burden on...
by Amanda Hardy Lai | Oct 9, 2025 | Centrelink Age Pension
When we shared an update article on gifting rules it sparked plenty of follow up questions from our members. Retirement Essentials Head of Customer Service and Centrelink guru, Steven Sadler, was instrumental in addressing these queries. And, being the guru he is, he...
by Kaye Fallick | Oct 2, 2025 | Centrelink Age Pension
All successful relationships rely on give and take. It’s necessary in marriage, business and with any financial service relationships. And, with 70% of older Australians on an Age Pension. You would also expect it to work well with Centrelink, the agency that manages...
by Amanda Hardy Lai | Oct 2, 2025 | Superannuation
Mark, 65, and Sophie, 63, are both looking forward to retiring in two years. Mark, a long-time chef, and Sophie, a retail assistant, realise that their super balances are modest, reflecting part-time shifts, casual work and caring responsibilities. They would like to...
by Amanda Hardy Lai | Oct 2, 2025 | Centrelink Age Pension
Understanding your Age Pension eligibility and what you’re entitled to can feel like a big puzzle, but it’s a really important piece of planning for a secure retirement. At Retirement Essentials, we truly believe every Australian deserves clear,...
by Amanda Hardy Lai | Sep 25, 2025 | Retirement Income
Even after retirement, it’s normal to feel uncertain about whether your money will last and whether you’re making the most of what you’ve worked for. Many Australians in their late 60s and 70s share the same concerns: Am I getting all the Age Pension I’m entitled to?...
by James Coyle | Sep 25, 2025 | Centrelink Age Pension
Here’s what Bob, Ibrahim and Monica found out There are many ways of saving for your retirement. You can pay off your home, put money into super, an investment property or managed funds. Perhaps invest in art, cars or fine wine. I’m not a big fan of those last three,...
by Kaye Fallick | Sep 25, 2025 | Planning for Retirement
Most of us like to benchmark ourselves; our income, house prices, super savings or even how many steps a day we walk. It’s a very human characteristic, but also a useful one. Why? Because knowing our place in the overall scheme of things can often help us better...
by Jeremy Duffield | Sep 19, 2025 | Retirement Advice
Retirement can be filled with all sorts of new freedoms and experiences. However, this new phase is not without its anxieties. Research just out by UniSuper shows that over 90% of Australians have some concerns about retirement, and fewer than 10% feel their...
