Know the Rules. Keep More of Your Money in Retirement
My son’s cricket team lost the match because a rule change was not known…
At my son’s district carnival, a special rule said 12 players meant 11 wickets. No one told the coach. The young umpires didn’t know. If we’d known, our best batter could have gone back in. We might have won and played for first place instead of fifth place.
Knowing the rules changes the result
Retirement works the same way. The rules change as you get closer. If you keep playing by the old rules, your outcome can slip.
Real people. Real rule changes.
- John and Olivia: A job change opened the door to move super to a lower-tax setup. That shift meant less tax and thousands more for retirement.
- Harry and Sally: With a 10-year age gap, we used a simple, long-term strategy so they could access pension income they would have missed otherwise. Adding over six figures to their retirement income.
- Sam and Jodie: They planned to sell investment properties. We used unused superannuation contribution limits to reduce capital gains tax. Then kept their super under $500k to accumulate more concessional contributions to use against future property sales. That kept more in their retirement (tens of thousands) and less for the tax office.
- Judy: By using a lifetime pension plus the age pension, she gained significantly more income and the confidence to retire on time.
Most people don’t know these rules. That’s not your fault. The system is complex.
Retirement Planning is more than finding the best investment. It’s about understanding the rules of the game and applying them to your unique circumstances. To boost your retirement balances and pay out more income in retirement.
Don’t take risks you don’t need
In one game, the boys tried to hit big shots when simple singles and twos would do. They lost quick wickets and the match.
Many pre‑retirees make the same mistake. They take more risks than they need because they think they can continue what they have been doing throughout their working years.
When we show people they can reach their goals with less risk, they often choose the safer path.
- Ben and Barbara: They’d won the game without knowing it. Upon review, they could significantly reduce their investment risk. Without the need to experience BIG falls in their balances, they were confident they were not at risk of running out of money.
A hard story
Jerry wanted fast growth. He moved his super into a property scheme without advice. He lost hundreds of thousands and may need to downsize his home. A quick check-in first might have saved him years of stress.
Please don’t guess with your future.
Here’s the simple truth:
- You have one retirement.
- The rules are complex.
- A second set of eyes can protect what you’ve built.
When the game’s won, what’s possible?
In the last game of the tournament, my son’s team had reached their target easily. But there were still a few batters to bat, including my son.
Knowing the game had been won, rather than play conservatively, my son decided to throw the bat.
He missed a few, hit a few in the air (lucky not to be caught several times), tried a reverse sweep that didn’t land and on his last ball, successfully played a ramp shot.
The opposition team got into it too. Putting in three slips and a short gully.
The moral of the story is that when the game’s won, you enjoy yourself more…
Imagine what life could be like if you knew you’d won the retirement game?
- Maybe retire earlier
- Move to part-time hours
- Take less investment risk and reduce your stress in retirement
- Move to a less stressful and demanding job
- Travel more
- Spend more time with family and friends
- Help your children out earlier (give with a warm hand rather than a cold hand – provided it doesn’t hard your retirement lifestyle)
- Spend more on making your life more enjoyable
The list is endless…
Recently, we worked with Tim and Sussie. Keen to retire in two years, but wanted to make sure they had everything in place. Along with knowing they had enough.
Upon a comprehensive review while working alongside them, they have enough. They could now de-risk their super investments, retire earlier and have the confidence to spend more in their retirement years if they wanted.
This is what good advice is…
It’s not about products. It’s about understanding your specific circumstances, understanding all the options so you can make confident financial decisions. We are here to provide guidance gained from over two decades of working with people approaching and transitioning into retirement.
This gives people clarity and the confidence to enter retirement knowing they will be okay.
Want to make sure you are on track for a comfortable retirement and playing by the right rules?
Book your free Retirement Clarity Call by clicking here. No pressure. No Jargon. Just clear steps for your next move – before it’s too late.
A straightforward 3-step framework used to gain clarity and confidence for your retirement:
- Diagnose: Where you are now – the biggest concerns navigating your retirement journey..
- Design: A pragmatic blueprint for safely and confidently navigating your runway into retirement and beyond.
- Deploy: Quick wins and next actions—actions steps to solve your retirement challenges with more clarity and confidence.
If you’re within 1–10 years of retirement, have $500k+ in super and other investments, and want a level-headed second opinion on your readiness, book a Retirement Clarity Call. We’ll pinpoint your biggest risks and show you how to move from “I hope it works out” to “I’m prepared either way.”
Imagine waking up with the freedom to pursue what matters—knowing your finances support it. That’s the power of a thoughtful plan. Schedule your call today.
Glenn Doherty – CFP – Financial Planner | Retirement Planning Specialist |Retirement Planning Made Simple for over 55’s within 7 years of retirement
We work with people in Adelaide and around Australia virtually via zoom!
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Schedule hereAdvice Disclaimer: Any reference in this publication to the provision of advice refers to advice of a generic nature, and should not be taken as product or investment recommendations. Before any action is taken based on the information provided, independent financial advice from a licensed financial adviser should be sought. Financial Freedom Project Pty Ltd ATF GA & DC Doherty Family Trust Trading as Jigsaw Private Wealth is a Corporate Authorised Representative of Spark Advisors Australia Pty Ltd. The information contained in this publication is of a factual nature only and is not intended to constitute financial product advice. Information is current as at date of publication. This is an online information blog. It does not imply an offering of securities.