Working to restore your balance In our fast-paced world, the desire for a better work/life balance is a common goal. It affects everyone from young professionals working long hours to get ahead, dual income households juggling inflexible jobs and children, and older workers wanting more time to help care for grandchildren or ease into retirement. While some people want to increase their working hours, the more common reason for pursuing work/life balance is to …
Federal Budget – what could it hold? Speculating about the likely look and feel of the 2016 Federal budget is fast becoming a national pastime. That’s largely because significant tax reforms are on the cards, with changes that could impact key wealth assets like property and superannuation. Any reforms are expected to help to plug the revenue gap created by the winding down of the resource boom, which has seen corporate profits (and consequently tax …
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 research shows one in three Australians think retirement is too far away to plan for. That’s a big mistake. Retirement rolls around faster than you think. Take it from me, the day when you’re ready to hang up your work boots is likely to roll around far more quickly than you anticipate, and it pays to be prepared. If you think time passes more quickly as you get older, you’re absolutely right. It turns out …
Jump retirement hurdles with a coach Retirement is a life event that many of us long for, dreaming of the day we don’t ‘have’ to work anymore and we can finally achieve the ‘financial freedom’ we have saved for. But it can also mean a period of adjustment as we settle into a new version of our life. This can sometimes bring with it feelings of anxiety, unsure of what we will actually ‘do’ or …
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, people living longer and concerns about whether we have enough money in our super, we may …
Make your own plans for aged care It can be tempting to put off thinking about aged care. When you’re busy enjoying life in the present it can be challenging to find the time or desire to think too far ahead. But the key to successful ageing is having a sense of control—and when it comes to control, planning ahead is essential. When’s the right time to start planning? Considering your aged care options …
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. …
Nothing succeeds like succession planning Small business is generally regarded as the backbone of the Australian economy, but that strong back is showing signs of age. With 30 per cent of all small business owners aged on the wrong side of 55i, it is important to have a succession plan in place. Ideally, succession planning should begin when the business is formed to ensure a smooth transition if and when the need arises. But …
See How You Can Build Towards Your Retirement How can we help in your Retirement? Here we look at how you can maximise your income in retirement, whether you’re: a long way off retirement close to retirement or already retired. 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 …
