Retirement

With most Australians now living much longer and stronger we will all probably spend more time after full-time work, getting a new life. Retirement used to be the stage of life where you gave up work and looked forward to life full of Saturdays, but now a successful retirement takes a lot more planning and skill to get the timing right.

Retirement should be seen as the opportunity to seek new challenges, to try something different in the workforce or realise some of the dreams you’ve held throughout your working life. Finding your way through retirement requires planning for your whole future, not just focusing on your finances.

Planning not only offers the best chance to achieve your goals, it also helps you work out what the type of retirement you don’t want and can ensure you avoid the common mistakes that can see all your years of hard work simply wasted. We all value our independence very highly and the best way to maintain independence is through good health and a firm financial footing which will deliver maximum choice as we age.

The Retirement section of YourLifeChoices website has been organised into seven main categories to help you plan and enjoy the next stage of life. Critical points to consider when retirement planning are timing, your emotional readiness, how much (money) is enough and maximising your nest egg with an effective transition to retirement.

And don’t forget that every quarter we bring together the best brains in the business to answer your questions on how your super can work best for you, making the most of your income in retirement, your rights in retirement, the latest government, health and technology news, relationship dilemmas and so much more in our Retirement Update. 

Timing your retirement Ensuring the optimal timing of your retirement right is the first step, so how do you achieve this?

Retirement planning Retirement planning is often considered in a purely financial terms, but there’s so much more to consider than just money.

How much is enough? With people living longer on average in retirement, it’s understandable that running out of money is a major concern. So how much do you need to fund retirement?

Making the transition to retirement Very few people go from working full time to full-time retirement, so what can you do to enjoy a successful transition?

Retirement income There are several ways to secure an income in retirement, so here's a plain English summary of the main options.

Living in retirement Options for living in retirement and how your home can help fund your retirement lifestyle are varied, so which choices do you need to consider?

Do you know if you qualify for an Age Pension? Find out with our RetirePlanner tool.

How will land tax affect retirees?

How will land tax affect retirees?

Victoria and NSW are considering scrapping stamp duty in favour of land taxes.

What it means

Are you in aged care denial?

Are you in aged care denial?

Challenger shares five facts that might surprise you when it comes to aged care planning. ...

Understanding fees

How to ensure you won’t get a pension

How to ensure you won’t get a pension

Retired actuary John De Ravin crunches the numbers on owning a home and the Age ...

Best scenario

COVID-19 intergenerational war

COVID-19 intergenerational war

Long-term strategies and quick fixes are required, but who’ll fund them?

Who’ll foot the bill?

COVID-19 recovery could take years

COVID-19 recovery could take years

Throwing Australian retirees a lifeline could save more than retirement dreams.

What more can be done?

Money going to the wrong people

Money going to the wrong people

Australia must confront fundamental problems with its retirement income system.

Policy blind spots

Middle Australia’s mean pension test

Middle Australia’s mean pension test

Actuaries worry means test will force Australians to spend savings before retirement.

A mean test