Financial Planning in Sydney for Your Retirement
Strategic Financial Advice for
Sydney Professionals and Retirees
Wealthlab is a Melbourne-based financial planning firm that advises Australians aged 50 and over on retirement, superannuation and Age Pension strategy. We work with people across Sydney and New South Wales, with advice delivered online Australia-wide.
If you are approaching retirement in Sydney, you are planning it in one of the country’s most expensive cities. High property values, complex asset positions and Age Pension thresholds all shape the decisions in front of you. We help you turn what you have built into a clear, sustainable retirement income, and we do it without the jargon.
Comprehensive Financial Planning in Sydney
Financial Planning in Sydney That Fits the Way You Live
Living in Sydney shapes the way you think about money. Many of the people we work with here are asset-rich but income-uncertain. You might own property in the eastern suburbs, on the North Shore or in the Inner West. You might have built super steadily over a long career in health, education, trades, professional services or small business. On paper you are doing well.
But retirement in Sydney is not just about net worth. It is about liquidity, tax efficiency and income that lasts. As retirement gets closer, the questions get more practical:
- How do I turn property and super into reliable income?
- How do I reduce tax once I stop working?
- Does downsizing make sense for us?
- Will I qualify for any Age Pension support?
These are the questions we work through with Sydney clients every day. Because values are high here, the margin for a structural mistake is smaller, and getting the sequence right matters.
Many Sydney pre-retirees wonder whether their super is enough for the city’s cost of living. Our guide to what the average super balance looks like at 60 gives a national benchmark, and our explainer on a comfortable retirement in Australia breaks down the current ASFA numbers in detail.
Financial Planning in Sydney
Wealthlab is your expert financial planning partner in Sydney.
A Structured Approach to Retirement Planning in Sydney
For many people aged 55 to 65, moving from building super to drawing an income is the most important financial transition of their lives. It takes coordination, not just projections. In a personal advice engagement we look at:
- Superannuation positioning. Structuring your super for the retirement phase, including pension commencements and tax-efficient income streams.
- Contribution strategies. Making the most of concessional and non-concessional contributions in the years before retirement, where you are eligible.
- Retirement income structuring. Designing income that balances account-based pensions, other investments and the Age Pension.
- Age Pension planning. Assessing eligibility carefully, which matters a lot in Sydney where high property values push many people close to the asset thresholds.
- Cashflow modelling. Mapping realistic scenarios so you can see how long your money could last under different conditions.
All recommendations are documented in a written Statement of Advice, with our fees disclosed upfront in our Financial Services Guide. We are online-first, so you work with your adviser by video and text rather than driving to a CBD office. Wherever you are in Sydney, you get the same team.
Comprehensive Financial Services in Sydney
From retirement planning to wealth management, we provide tailored solutions for your financial future in Sydney.
Strategic planning to help you retire up to 5 years sooner with confidence and financial security.
Optimise your super strategy to maximise growth and minimise tax obligations.
Pension & Centrelink
Age Pension strategy, assets test optimisation, and Centrelink structural advice to get every dollar you qualify for.
Our senior advisers have 25+ years of combined experience. They’ve helped hundreds of Australian families retire with confidence.
Scott Jackson
Founder of Wealthlab and a Senior Financial Adviser since 2012. Scott’s background in economics and 12+ years of advice experience give him the ability to see the full picture and build strategies that actually work.
Outside work: Brazilian jiu-jitsu and a whippet named… the whippet.
Phil Sproule
13+ years in the industry, from managing adviser teams to coaching the next generation. Phil’s real passion is working one-on-one with families, helping everyday mums and dads plan for the retirement they deserve.
Outside work: Beach, camping, fishing, CrossFit.
Daniel
A calm, thoughtful approach to helping clients navigate super, investment planning, and insurance. Daniel works closely with individuals and families to create strategies aligned with what they’re working towards.
Outside work: Outdoors, cooking experiments, live music.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about retirement planning and our services in Sydney.
What does a financial adviser in Sydney cost?
We offer a free initial call so you can understand what is involved before committing to anything. After that, our fees depend on the complexity of your situation, and we give you a fixed quote before any work starts, so there are no surprises and no hidden costs.
What is a comfortable retirement income in Sydney?
According to the ASFA Retirement Standard (March 2026 quarter), a comfortable retirement nationally needs around $51,278 a year for a single person and $72,148 a year for a couple, assuming you own your home. ASFA estimates the lump sum needed at age 67 to fund that lifestyle at roughly $630,000 for a single and $730,000 for a couple, alongside a part Age Pension. Because Sydney’s cost of living, particularly housing, sits above the national average, many Sydney retirees aim towards the upper end of these benchmarks or higher. These figures are set by ASFA and updated periodically. This is general information only.
How do I choose a financial adviser in Sydney?
Start by checking the adviser is licensed and registered. You can look up any Australian adviser on the ASIC Financial Advisers Register at moneysmart.gov.au to confirm their status, experience and any past issues. From there, it helps to find someone who specialises in what you actually need, in our case that is retirement, superannuation and Age Pension strategy for people over 50, and to ask up front about their fees, their approach and how they communicate.
What are the super contribution caps for 2026-27?
For the 2026-27 financial year (from 1 July 2026), the concessional (before-tax) cap is $32,500 and the non-concessional (after-tax) cap is $130,000. Eligible people can bring forward up to $390,000 in non-concessional contributions over three years, subject to their total super balance. The general transfer balance cap is $2.1 million. Current as at July 2026. Source: Australian Taxation Office. This is general information only.
Am I eligible for the Age Pension?
To qualify for the Age Pension you generally need to be at least 67, an Australian resident for at least 10 years (with 5 years continuous), and meet both an income test and an assets test. Your main home is generally exempt from the assets test. The thresholds are set by Services Australia and updated in March and September each year, so it is worth checking the current figures or asking an adviser how they apply to you.
How does Sydney's property market affect retirement planning?
Many Sydney pre-retirees are asset-rich but income-poor, holding a lot of wealth in property that is not generating retirement income. Decisions around downsizing, the government’s downsizer contribution, and how property is structured can all affect Age Pension eligibility. High property values also mean many Sydney retirees sit just above the Age Pension asset thresholds, where small, well-timed adjustments can make a real difference to what they receive.
Do you offer face-to-face or online advice in Sydney?
We are an online-first firm based in Melbourne, and we advise clients right across Sydney and New South Wales online. That means video meetings and the ability to text your adviser and get a real answer back, rather than booking time off to visit a CBD office. You get the same advice team and the same written Statement of Advice as you would in person.
What is the best super fund for me?
There is no single best super fund for everyone. The right fund depends on your circumstances, including the investment options, insurance, fees, your balance and how close you are to retirement. Free government tools such as APRA’s YourSuper comparison on the ATO website let you compare MySuper products on fees and net returns, and a licensed adviser can help you weigh these factors against your own situation. This is general information only and does not consider your personal objectives, financial situation or needs.
Thinking about your retirement in Sydney?
Book a free, no-pressure chat with the Wealthlab team.
We will talk through where you stand and what your options are, in plain language.