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.
Category: Superannuation
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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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.
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.
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.
When Is the Best Time to Retire? (2026 Guide)
When is the best time to retire? Learn how age, superannuation access, and lifestyle goals determine the right time to retire confidently in Australia.
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.
Superannuation vs Pension: What’s the Difference in Australia?
Superannuation and the pension are not the same thing, but most Australians will use both in retirement. We explain the three types of “pension” in Australia, how the Age Pension means test works, and how to structure your super and pension income so you get the most out of both.
Best Age to Retire in Australia (2026 Guide)
The best age to retire in Australia depends on your
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