By taking control of your super, you can ensure that your retirement is an easy and exciting transition into a new phase of your life.
For most Australians, superannuation will provide a major source of income in retirement and is one of the most tax-effective ways to build your financial assets. The sad reality for the majority of us is that by the time we want to retire we won't have saved enough to achieve, or even maintain, the lifestyle we would like.
Whether you're just starting your career, raising a family, preparing for life after work or starting your retirement, it's important to seek financial advice. While there are many strategies to consider, the key is to start planning as early as possible so that you can maximise the opportunities offered by:
We can help make sure you're not missing out on opportunities to grow your superannuation today for the future you want tomorrow. We can help you identify the strategies that suit your circumstances and give your retirement savings a real boost. If you want your superannuation to work as hard as you do, please contact us today.
Whether it's travelling around Australia or overseas, having time to pursue your favourite hobbies or spending more time with your loved ones, how are you going to fund it?
You need to start planning well before you make the decision to leave work. It's important that you don't leave your planning to the last minute because, without time on your side, your retirement options become much narrower.
So when it comes to retirement, how much is enough? Your answer to this question will be different to everyone else's and is dependent on the sort of retirement lifestyle you aspire to.
COMFORTABLE RETIREMENT | MODEST RETIREMENT | AGE PENSION | |
---|---|---|---|
$44,183 a year | $28,220 a year | $24,554 a year | |
$62,435 a year | $40,719 a year | $37,014 a year | |
One annual holiday in Australia | One or two short breaks in Australia near where you live each year | Even shorter breaks or day trips in your own city | |
Regularly eat out at restaurants. Good range and quality food. | Infrequently eat out at restaurants that have cheap food. Cheaper and less food than a comfortable retirement. | Only club special meals or inexpensive takeaway. | |
Owning a reasonable car | Owning an older, less reliable car | No car or, if you have a car, you’ll struggle to afford repairs | |
Bottled wine | Cask wine | Home-brew beer or no alcohol at all | |
Good clothes | Reasonable clothes | Basic clothes | |
Regular haircuts at a good hairdresser | Regular haircuts only at a basic salon or pensioner special day | Less frequent haircuts or getting a friend to cut your hair | |
Take part in a range of regular leisure activities | Take part in one paid lesiure activity infrequently. Some trips to the cinema | Only taking part in free or very low cost leisure acitivitites. Rare trips to the cinema | |
A range of electronic equipment | Not much scope to run air-conditioning | Less heating in Winter | |
Replace kitchen and bathroom over 20 years | No budget for home improvements. Can do repairs, but can’t replace kitchen or bathroom | No budget to fix home problems such as a leaky roof | |
Private health insurance | Private health insurance | No private health insurance |
Source: ASFA & Services Australia 2020
The amount of money you have saved and how you arrange your finances will have a profound impact on the financial aspect of what your retirement looks like. Whilst any age pension entitlement may fund part of your living costs, your superannuation and non-superannuation investments will either need to supplement the difference or fully fund your retirement.
We can help you decide the best way of supporting your retirement income needs. We can also ensure you maximise any Centrelink benefits you are entitled to. We help you implement your retirement plan, and review this with you on a regular basis.
Building sustainable wealth can be a long road, with many risks along the way. To put a sound investment strategy in place, you need access to a range of investment services that can address any particular need you may have.
When investing your hard earned money, it is important that you fully understand the risks you are taking. We will discuss these risks in detail and ensure that you are never uncomfortable with any wealth creation strategy put in place.
Whether it be investing to reduce income tax or to save for a particular purpose, we can help to find the right solution to suit you.
Have you considered the financial obligations that remain if something unfortunate happens to you? By having a comprehensive risk protection strategy, you can ensure that your family and future are protected in the event something unforeseen happens.
We can help you understand the following types of Risk Protection:
By combining a risk protection strategy with superannuation, we can investigate the appropriateness of using insurance in order to reduce any effects on your cash flow.
Risk Protection is not something that can be forgotten about as your situation is constantly changing. Whether you need more or less cover, we can source the right protection from an extensive range of providers.
Whether considering options for yourself or deciding how best to help someone close to you, aged care is a complex area and requires careful thought. The uncertainty surrounding where to move, how much it will cost and where the money will come from can be overwhelming and stressful.
Before entering an aged care facility your health must be assessed to determine your eligibility for care. The assessment can be performed by any doctor, nurse or social worker who is a member of an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT).
To make sure you find a home that you are comfortable in and that will suit your needs, you may like to visit a few different places. You can apply to as many homes as you like. The accommodation costs for all aged care facilities are published on the Government’s aged care website myagedcare.gov.au. This website also provides description of the rooms and services available at the facility.
On entry to a facility, you will be required to pay an accommodation contribution or accommodation payment. Some people will have their accommodation costs met in full or part by the Australian Government, while others will need to pay the accommodation price agreed with the aged care home. The Department of Human Services (DHS) will advise which applies to you based on an assessment of your assets and income.
There will also be a basic daily fee to pay and there may be a means-tested care fee which is determined by your level of income and assets. Some facilities offer you a higher level of service or a higher standard of accommodation or food for an additional daily fee called an extra service fee.
My question is | What do I need to do? | We can help | Who else can help |
---|---|---|---|
What upfront costs will I need to pay? | Understand if there is an accommodation payment payable and determine what assets you can use to meet the cost. | Your adviser can help you determine how to pay for your accommodation. This may involve a lump sum payment, regular instalments or a combination of both. | DHS (Centrelink) assess your income and assets. |
How much will I pay for ongoing care? | Determine which ongoing fees apply to you. This could include the basic daily fee, a means-tested care fee and any extra service fee. | There are strategies to minimise the fees you pay. Keeping or selling your home often forms part of the strategy as does how you invest. A poorly executed plan can result in a lower Age Pension and higher fees. | The aged care facility and Centrelink can assist in determining your fees. |
Can I keep my home or is it better for me to sell it? | Understand the various options and strategies available to you regarding your primary residence. | Your adviser can help you decide if it is best to keep or sell the family home. If kept, they can determine the best way to structure the accommodation payment to ensure the family home does not affect your Centrelink tests. If sold, they can also help with the best way to invest the proceeds and get the balance right between generating an income, maximising the Age Pension and minimising aged care fees. | Your financial adviser can assist you to understand your options. |
How do I maximise my social security benefits? | Determine how the social security Income and Assets tests apply to you. | Your choice of investments may help you to access or retain benefits, including the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card. The decisions you make regarding your home can also significantly impact on your Age Pension. | Centrelink determines your eligibility for Government benefits. |
How can I afford to pay for ongoing care? | Determine if your capital can be invested to provide enough cash flow to meet ongoing care costs. | Your financial adviser can assess your investment options and help you maximise your income. | Your financial adviser is best placed to help you understand your options. |
Will I have something to leave for my family | Identify which of your assets can be included in your estate and the best way to do so. | Your financial adviser can help identify what assets can be left to your estate. | Your lawyer can ensure you have a will that reflects your wishes. |
How much tax will I need to pay? | Identify what tax offsets are available and which apply to you. You also need to be aware of any issues that may arise if you sell your home or change your investments. | An overall review of your situation will identify the various tax offsets that may be available to you, including the low income, seniors and net medical expense offsets. A tax adviser can also flag issues concerning land tax and capital gains tax that may affect you. | Your tax adviser/accountant is best placed to advise on your tax position. |
Your financial adviser can help with the decisions you need to make and which strategies are best suited to your circumstances. They can also help you keep your plans on track with an annual review, in case your circumstances, or external factors such as legislation, change.
Aged care is a complex area and can be difficult for so many people involved. We can help you plan and offer advice and guidance - so contact us to find out more.
First Advice Solutions has recently partnered with Balance Finance Partners, to extend an offering to our valued clients which will include home loans and other lending products. We see this as an integral part of a client’s overall financial position & are delighted to work with Natalie and Alison going forward.
Natalie Roberts and Alison Stone have over 23 years combined experience in the Finance Industry, both within the major Banks and as Finance Brokers in their own right. Their knowledge and experience in the finance Industry has meant they have become key partners with their clients, assisting them with the best structures and outcomes, for their financial needs.
They are passionate and dedicated to their clients and businesses and strive to improve their clients overall financial situation.
Our aim is to support you through all your lending requirements including:
Natalie Roberts is a Credit Representative (454835) and Alison Stone is a Credit Representative (446657) of BLSSA Pty Ltd Australian Credit Licence Number: 391237.
Tracey Edwards has been our financial Adviser looking after my wife & my superannuation for some 5yrs in a professional manner.
In that time we have found Tracey to be reliable & prompt in dealing with our financial future. I was most impressed when my wife was terminally ill and our emotions were all over the place and Tracey stepped in, showing empathy and consideration for what we were going through and took away any burden of this process & sorting things out so that we were heading in the right direction. Today my super is as strong as first commenced and I am very happy.
Tom McCallanMay 2016
I cannot speak highly enough of Tracey and her professional but personable demeanour. I was completely out of my depth after my divorce as I had extremely limited financial experience. She was able to guide me through all aspects of looking after my finances and helped me invest wisely for my future. Best of all, apart from making sure I had money to live on, Tracey has never made me feel stupid when I don't understand something. She explains things clearly and always stresses that I can ring her any time I have a query. For this, I am extremely grateful.
Nicola HastingsMay 2016
I have been with Tracey Edwards for about 8 years and she has been amazing keeping up with the usual peaks and troughs of the financial market and keeping me informed regularly about what is going on. She is easy to understand and goes out of her way to help in any way. I am a 75 year old pensioner and I seriously don't know what I would do without her.
Lyn HarrisJune 2016
Tracey and Team, I just wanted to say a ‘BIG THANKYOU” for being so kind and the help you gave me to claim on my income protection. Thankfully I have now come through the woods – all treatment finished and all good reports and able to go back to work soon. Thanks again and regards
Margaret Waters2015