Should I take my super as a lump sum or not?

Should I take my super as a lump sum or not? When it comes to accessing your super, it’s important you make the right choice. You’ve spent your working life accumulating super. So when the time comes, are you better off taking a lump sum, regular income or both? Let’s weigh up the alternatives so you can start to consider what may be best for you. Taking a lump sum If your super has been …

How to make working later in life work for you

How to make working later in life work for you Tips for taking a freestyle approach to work and retirement  The relationship between work and retirement is changing. Nowadays we expect a lot more from our later years than previous generations—we’re no longer satisfied with treading water and we want to go freestyle. But with the pension qualification age increasing,[1] people living longer[2] and concerns about whether we have enough money in our super, we …

Already retired

Already retired Have you reached your retirement age yet you feel you’re not yet ready to give up work altogether? If you’re eligible for the Age Pension, the government offers incentives for working people to defer claiming it. On the other hand, if you’ve independently funded your retirement, you may benefit from keeping track of, or restructuring, your finances so you can maximise any government entitlement.     Some questions you may wish to consider …

Retiring within the next 5 – 10 years

  Retiring within the next 5 – 10 years The combined effect of earlier retirement and living longer means that many Australians will spend more than a quarter of their life in retirement. While this sounds like good news, it does emphasise the importance of planning carefully – and well in advance – for your retirement. Some questions you may wish to consider include:• How much do I need to retire on? When can I …

Retirement still more than 10 years away

  Retirement still more than 10 years away Retirement can seem irrelevant when you’re in your 30s or 40s. There are so many other things you can do with your money – go overseas, buy a house, raise a family, or just have fun. However, according to research by the Investment and Financial Services Association (IFSA), the Age Pension won’t be nearly enough to fund the lifestyle we’d like when we’re no longer working. So …

4 Bogus Myths about Money Revealed!

4 Bogus Myths about Money Revealed! Myth 1: You Should Invest in Gold to Build your Wealth. Some financial experts tout the benefits of gold in building your wealth. The reality, however, is that investing in gold is not the best financial avenue to grow your wealth. Gold’s ability lies in its store of value. It acts as a great financial instrument to protect your long-terms savings against the dual effects of inflation and loss …