Before you dismiss this column because you’re part of a couple, just consider that an unexpected accident or serious illness could make you a single again. Being a single retiree is quite different and it offers both advantages and disadvantages. In this column I’d like […]
You’ve left your full time job, but you don’t want to retire, or can’t afford to yet. What to do? A fairly common method of having a change of lifestyle and generating an ongoing cash flow is to buy an existing business. This option can […]
Having enough money to retire on is what most of the retirement planning industry focuses on. That’s important, but it’s only part of the story. Having enough money is certainly a big improvement on having too little. However money is really the means to an […]
The reality for most people approaching retirement is that they will probably be swapping a full-time career job for a life which is part retirement and part work. There are lots of benefits in this new ‘norm’. The additional money will help fund a retirement […]
The total number of superannuation funds now using our books, articles and presentations has now climbed to five. As pioneers of the idea that retirement is about lifestyle and not just all about how much money you’ve saved, it’s very satisfying to see that innovative […]
Many superannuation funds are still operating as if the only challenges that their retiring members faced were financial ones. It’s doubtful that any intelligent fund manager really believes that a happy and successful retirement is dependent solely on good financial management. Just planning for a […]
On January 19, the Sydney Morning Herald ran an article under this caption that reported on the results of a global survey by HSBC showing that the majority of Australians are not financially prepared for retirement. The unfortunate reality for most of us is that […]
“Who are you?” It’s probably one of the most confronting questions we can be asked. The obvious answer – “I’m Paul, I’m married, live in Coffs Harbour, publish books, used to be in tourism, marketing, sports promotion and advertising etc” is also not the right answer. I’ve […]
The recently released Financial System Enquiry Report points the way towards improving the efficiency and governance of superannuation funds. The Treasure stated that the government would respond to the report after it had consulted widely with industry and consumer groups. It’s not unexpected that a […]
Have you ever sat down to work out exactly how much income you will need to live on each year and how many years your money will last into your retirement? The Association of Superannuation Funds Australia (ASFA) publishes retirement budgets for various households based […]