Millennials and money: what does the future hold? | Money & Life

Millennials and money: what does the future hold? With the rising cost of housing, an aging population, climate change and now a pandemic falling squarely on the shoulders of Australia’s millennials, how is this generation faring financially? The first millennials (born between 1981 and 1996) are turning 40 this year. Still, despite more than twenty years in the workforce, it seems their financial wellbeing isn’t guaranteed. A Commonwealth Bank study has found that almost two thirds (61 …

Planning for a (much) longer life

Planning for a (much) longer life We generally need to make earnings from 40 to 50 years in the workforce extend across what could be 80 to 90 years of living. Australians today need to do something our parents and grandparents didn’t even think about – plan for a long life, and a new report shows the benefits of planning for longevity go beyond money matters. The gift of an extra decade Australians enjoy one of …

Being prepared for aged care

Being prepared for aged care Aged care isn’t something most people want to think about when they’re planning for a life of freedom and comfort in retirement. But by taking the time to explore a few important issues and questions, you can get the best possible outcome if you should need support in later years. In a recent survey of more than 5000 older people in WA, only 12% of respondents have a plan in place …

Will you be renting in retirement?

Will you be renting in retirement? Is owning your home the best option for your senior years? Discover why renting in retirement could be on the rise and explore some advantages of being a tenant in later life. Being secure in a home you own is usually part of the picture – and costs – of life in retirement. In fact, Retirement Standard figures published by the Association of Superannuation Funds Australia (ASFA) are based on the assumption …

Separating fact from fiction when it comes to superannuation

Separating fact from fiction when it comes to superannuation If you’re wondering whether super is improving retirement outcomes for Australians, we take a look at some of the findings. If you’ve got compulsory super contributions coming out of your wages or salary, or you’re making voluntary contributions, or both, you’re probably keen to know how super is making a difference to everyday Aussies, if at all, given it’s a system that has now been in …

How to work out your retirement number

How to work out your retirement number The amount of money needed for retirement is not one size fits all. How you’d like to spend your retirement is as unique as you. From the big life changing goals, to the smaller, more personal ones that give your life meaning. There’s no defined age you must retire by, and it isn’t just about your finances. Your state of mind, where you’d like to live, how you …

What is the retirement age in Australia?

What is the retirement age in Australia? With no definitive retirement age in Australia, the date you exit the workforce will probably come down to personal circumstances and whether you can afford it. The age you retire in Australia isn’t set in stone. You can really retire whenever you want to, but health, financial commitments and your ability to fund the lifestyle you want will play a big part. For this reason, you may want …

Five tips for happy healthy ageing

Five tips for happy healthy ageing The best ways to sustain or improve physical, mental and financial wellbeing in your pre and post retirement years are sometimes the simplest. If you’re in or approaching retirement, you may be surprised to know when it comes to living a longer life and leading a healthier and more active lifestyle, the best methods are often easy tasks you can turn into everyday habits. As Australians have one of …

Easing the strain for the sandwich generation

  Easing the strain for the sandwich generation By Paul Clitheroe AM The 2015 Intergenerational Report (IGR) confirmed that the majority of us can expect to live longer than people in previous eras, but it’s the so-called ‘sandwich generation’ who may feel the squeeze financially. The sandwich generation are those baby-boomers, usually aged in their fifties and sixties, who are caught between caring for elderly parents and supporting adult children who may be studying or …

New year, new start – are you ready for retirement?

New year, new start – are you ready for retirement? If 2016 is the year you were thinking about retiring, Renata Singer – a writer, community activist and educator who recently released a book called Older and Bolder, Life after 60, actively encourages women in particular, to not give up work too soon. “If you’re feeling the pressure to retire, stay doing what you love and are good at for another ten years,” she insists. …