What Changed With Centrelink in March 2026? The Age Pension Rules That Affect Your Payment
Three things changed for the Age Pension on 20 March 2026: payment rates, test thresholds and deeming rates. Here’s what it means for your pension.
Wealthlab Blog
Financial Planning
Insights & Advice
Expert insights, practical strategies, and market updates to help you make informed financial decisions for your future.
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Why Financial Advisers Can’t Call Themselves Independent in Australia
The word “independent” is legally restricted for Australian financial advisers under section 923A. Here’s what it actually means, and what it doesn’t.
The Truth About Australia’s $730,000 “Comfortable Retirement” Number
ASFA says couples need $730,000 for a comfortable retirement in Australia. Here’s why that number is broken, and how to work out your real target.
Cost of Living in Retirement in Australia: What It Really Costs (2026)
The cost of living in retirement in Australia is $54,240 per year for a single homeowner living comfortably, according to the ASFA February 2026 standard. That works out to approximately $4,520 per month. But that headline figure masks how dramatically costs shift across a 30-year retirement and which three categories consistently catch Australians off guard.
Best Ways to Generate Passive Income in Retirement in Australia (2026)
What actually generates passive income in retirement in Australia? Super, dividends, interest, rental income and the Age Pension,how each works and what to watch.
Should I Pay Off My Mortgage or Put Money in Super?
Should you pay off your mortgage or put extra money into super? For most Australians on above-average incomes with more than 10 years until retirement, salary sacrifice into super wins on the maths because of the tax saving on concessional contributions. For those close to retirement, or on lower marginal tax rates, or who value certainty over expected return, extra mortgage repayments can genuinely be the better call. The Age Pension interaction, which almost every generic calculator ignores, can shift the answer again.
This guide walks through both sides with the 2026-27 tax and contribution cap figures, covers the Age Pension mechanics most people miss, and gives you a framework by life stage rather than a one-size-fits-all answer.
Is Superannuation the Same as Pension? Key Differences Explained
Is superannuation the same as pension? Learn the key differences between super, account-based pensions, and the government Age Pension in Australia.
What Non-Financial Issues Should I Consider in Retirement? (Housing, Lifestyle, Mental Health)
The most important non-financial issues to consider in retirement are housing (where and how you’ll live), daily purpose and routine, social connection, mental health and emotional adjustment, relationships with your partner and family, and physical health. Research from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare puts social isolation and poor mental health among the biggest wellbeing risks for older Australians, and the pattern we generally see in practice is that the retirees who struggle in the first year are almost never the ones with lower super balances. They are the ones who did not think through how they would spend their time.
This guide covers the non-financial side of Australian retirement planning: what actually shapes quality of life after work, what the current research shows, and how the non-financial decisions connect back to the financial ones.
How to Estimate How Long My Retirement Savings Will Last (2026 Guide)
How to estimate how long my retirement savings will last? Learn how to calculate it, what factors affect it, and smart strategies to make your super last longer.
What Is the Transition to Retirement (TTR) Strategy? (2026 Explained)
What is the transition to retirement (TTR) strategy? Learn how to access your super while still working, reduce tax, and ease into retirement with confidence.
What Is the Current Superannuation Guarantee Rate?
What is the current superannuation guarantee rate? Learn Australia’s 2025 SG rate (11.5%), upcoming 12% increase, and what it means for your retirement savings.
How Much Super Can I Have and Still Get the Full Age Pension in 2026?
How much superannuation can I have and still get a pension? Learn the 2025 Age Pension asset limits, income rules, and how to plan your super for maximum benefits.
What Changed With Centrelink in March 2026? The Age Pension Rules That Affect Your Payment
Three things changed for the Age Pension on 20 March 2026: payment rates, test thresholds and deeming rates. Here’s what it means for your pension.
Best Ways to Generate Passive Income in Retirement in Australia (2026)
What actually generates passive income in retirement in Australia? Super, dividends, interest, rental income and the Age Pension,how each works and what to watch.
TelstraSuper Direct Access Closure: What It Was and What Happens Next
TelstraSuper’s Direct Access investment option closed in January 2026 as part of the fund’s merger with Aware Super. If you were a Direct Access member, your shares and ETFs have been sold and your proceeds reinvested. Here is the full story of what Direct Access was, why it closed, what it meant for members, and what comes next.
Which Superannuation Has the Highest Return in Australia
It’s one of the most searched super questions in Australia,
Do I Need a Financial Adviser for Retirement in Australia?
A retirement planner in Australia does what no calculator can. Calculators give you a projection based on standard assumptions. A retirement planner builds a strategy around your actual life, your super, your Age Pension entitlement, and the decisions you haven’t thought to question yet. We break down what they cover, what it costs, and how to find the right one if you’re over 50.
How Much Income Do You Need to Retire in Australia?
Most people approaching retirement share the same quiet worry: they don’t really know what their income will look like once the pay cheques stop.
The good news is it’s fixable. Your retirement income comes down to three things: what your super can realistically pay you, whether you qualify for any Age Pension support, and how long the money needs to last. We break down the current numbers, the key variables, and how to build a starting estimate you can actually work with.
Reflecting on 2024 & A Special Christmas Episode
As we wrap up 2024, we wanted to say a big thank you for being part of the Wealthlab journey this year. It’s been a huge year—one filled with challenges, lessons, and wins. And as we look toward 2025, we’re excited to continue helping you achieve your financial goals.
Why Looking Poor Could Be the Key to Lasting Wealth + Holiday Hacks
As the year winds down, I like to take a moment to pause, reflect, and plan ahead. Every December, I sit down with a simple booklet called the YearCompass, it’s designed to review the past year and set some goals for the next one.
Holiday Shopping Made Simple: Your Black Friday & Christmas Prep Guide
A small caveat – I tend to do this just for the big items and small ad hoc ones do come up closer to xmas. The system struggles a bit if you are buying multiple items for one person, but you can just add a new line for them.
Financial Insights and Footy Fever
The ASX 200 has shown impressive resilience, up 10% year-to-date. The RBA has maintained the cash rate at 4.35% and S&P Global anticipates AU will follow the U.S. Federal Reserve’s lead in cutting interest rates. It seems we could be in for a gradual easing cycle, with potential rate cuts starting sometime in 2025.
From Barefoot to Barebone: When Financial Heroes Lose Their Sole – The Wealthlab August Newsletter
Scotty Pape, has undergone a transformation that many of his long-time followers such as myself have noticed. Basically if its gotten to a point where my mum is commenting and SO I think it’s worth to highlight in this month’s newsletter.
Tap tap, is this thing still on? – The Wealthlab July Newsletter
ast week, we witnessed what’s being called the “largest IT outage in history” when CrowdStrike, a major cybersecurity provider, experienced a significant service disruption. This event affected millions of devices worldwide and caused widespread issues across various industries.
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From Bad Headshots to Good Advice: Our 10+ Year Throwback
This month’s newsletter is a trip down memory lane. We’ve dug out some old photos and reflecting on what we’ve picked up along the way.
31.07.2025
Financial Consulting
2025 Is Here—Let’s Talk Money, Trump Coins & Financial Reality
Welcome to 2025! New year, same goal—helping you stay on top of your finances without all the noise. But aahh is it too late to
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