September 2022 Age Pension increases

September 2022 Age Pension increases

Biggest increase in 12 years Last Monday the Minister for Social Services, Amanda Rishworth, announced the largest increase in the Age Pension for 12 years, effective September 20. The full range of welfare increases will affect 4.7 million Australians. The new...
Earn more and keep your Age Pension

Earn more and keep your Age Pension

Work bonus change for retirees Last week’s Jobs and Skills Summit produced 36 concrete actions to reduce Australian workforce and skill shortages. The one of most interest to older Australians is the change in the rules on income and the Age Pension. The new measure...
What is asset allocation?

What is asset allocation?

And why does it matter? The term asset allocation comes up a lot in discussions about retirement income and superannuation. It’s hard to avoid and also probably too easy to gloss over, assuming we fully understand both the definition of asset allocation and its...
It’s all a matter of perspective

It’s all a matter of perspective

What you see – or don’t … … can cost you dearly A diptych is a double image that shows two different things simultaneously. The example in the image above is very famous. It was first published in a German postcard in 1888 and then reshared by an Englishman, who named...
Inflation Explained

Inflation Explained

Are retirees now better off? ‘Inflation’ is a word very likely to jump into sight as you read your morning news. It’s also reported on the nightly TV news, a frequent topic in discussion in our federal parliament and a regularly reported source of concern in financial...
Is your spouse younger than you?

Is your spouse younger than you?

How can this increase your income? In any couple one of the partners by nature will be younger. That’s a given. What is less well known is the radical difference it can make to use the rules of retirement income to your advantage if one of you decides to leave full...
Good debt, bad debt:

Good debt, bad debt:

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, annoying or...
Tackling financial stress:

Tackling financial stress:

Five steps to peace of mind The final report of the Retirement Income Review ( July 2020) found that 28% of early retirees are in financial stress. This report was tabled two years ago, before interest rates and the Consumer Price Index began to increase so rapidly....
The pros and cons of downsizing

The pros and cons of downsizing

Is it right for you? Downsizing is frequently a major turning point in retirement. It’s not for everybody, but it does offer a rewarding and potentially lucrative strategy for many older Australians. In fact, access to home equity can mean the difference between a...
Beware Centrelink rules

Beware Centrelink rules

Why did I lose my income? This week we received a distraught call from someone who has just lost nearly all their part-Age Pension. Let’s call her Susan. She contacted us to see if we could help reverse this loss of income and agreed that we could share this situation...