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22 June 2025
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More Australians are moving away from the dream of early retirement with pre-retirees planning to work longer after the age of 67, according to our new report ‘Retirement: The now and the then’ which was developed in conjunction with independent research firm, MYMAVINS.
The research was undertaken to help financial planners better understand their clients’ views on retirement and their main drivers of life satisfaction. It also looks at the evolving role of the financial planner and implications for service offerings, advice processes and portfolio construction decisions.
Importantly, in this report we've reversed the perspective to see things from the retiree’s point of view and better understand the real emotional drivers of a successful retirement.
Excellent. Was well worth taking the time to read it. [From an early retiree].
I found the comment from BeenThereB4 very good reading and absolutely correct! Our SMSF is overweight good quality fully franked Australian Shares. Having worked in a minor capacity in stockbroking, I'm comfortable with equities, rebalancing, investing for the long term to fully fund our retirement. My husband "retired" at 66 and does understand how our "buckets' and Investment Strategy work, but I primarily do the legwork. There is no "one size fits all" for people, and no get rich quick scheme on our radar, but, whilst our auditor would probably prefer to see a greater spread, she can't overlook our solid returns and cash buffer. I guess that comes back to being comfortable with what you know, knowing how much that comfort costs to maintain, and that you always have prudent plans to manage risks.
I am a stockbroker in my 70's. I have been advising clients for many years, with many clients in SMSFs. Whilst clients were in pre-retirement, I focused on building up member balances such that come the day they move to pension phase, they have a bigger nest-egg ... certainly not brain surgery. According to the financial planner mantra, my clients are overweight leading Australian shares (that pay franked divis), and they do not have "balanced" portfolios that feature some international shares, some domestic and some international fixed interest ... you know, the usual banquet meal. Whilst a small number of my clients are HNW, most retire with portfolios with value $1-to-3 million, and with a 4-to-4.5% dividend yield, this generates adequate income to meet routine spending. As they get older, a minority are dipping into the capital of the fund. The biggest issue that I encounter is a lot of otherwise sensible people are just not "engaged" with financial matters. So, typically one of a couple passes away (the person who manages the dosh), and the surviving partner is all at sea with the "estate". The survivor doesn't really read / understand the 100-page Financial Plan, and is not in to "buckets" and asset allocation vocabulary. I found the FIL paper very interesting, but still some distance away from that part of the real world I see.
Sydney is set to become the world’s most expensive city for housing over the next 12 months, a new report shows. Our other major cities aren’t far behind unless there are major changes to improve housing affordability.
The Government's proposed tax has copped a lot of flack though I think it's a reasonable approach to improve the long-term sustainability of superannuation and the retirement income system. Here’s why.
The $3m super tax could be put down to the Government needing money and the wealthy being easy targets. It’s deeper than that though and this looks at the factors behind the policy and why more taxes on the wealthy are coming.
The super tax has caused an almighty scuffle, but for SMSFs impacted by the proposed tax, a big question remains: what should they do now? Here are ideas for those wanting to withdraw money from their SMSF.
Behind market volatility and tariff threats lies a deeper strategy. Trump’s real goal isn’t trade reform but managing America's massive debts, preserving bond market confidence, and preparing for potential QE.
Australia's superannuation inequities date back to poor decisions made by Parliament two decades ago. If super for the wealthy needs resetting, so too does the defined benefits schemes for our public servants.
Business investment and per capita GDP have languished over the past decade and the Labor Government is conducting inquiries to find out why. Franking credits should be part of the debate about our stalling economy.
You've no doubt heard about Division 296. These case studies show what people at various levels above the $3 million threshold might need to pay the ATO, with examples ranging from under $500 to more than $35,000.
It might be hard to imagine a world where Apple and Google aren’t dominant, but disruption often starts with tiny cracks. AI's emergence into the mainstream might have set the stage for a new generation of leaders.
Defined benefit pensions were designed to offer security in retirement. But new tax policies and arbitrary limits now erode their value - especially for Australians who contributed their own savings to these plans.
Farmland prices have flatlined, bringing one of the most dramatic rural property cycles in Australian history to an end. The market for agricultural land now seems to be entering a new and more nuanced phase.
Neighbourhood shopping centres have fought off one perceived threat after another. What's more, they continue to offer secure income from blue-chip firms and other tenants linked mostly to essential spending.
High-profile Australian stock market listings, like Guzman Y Gomez's IPO in 2024, are rare. ASIC aims to streamline the IPO process to boost listings, but faces barriers like share structures and governance.