Retiring well means making a series of decisions to ensure a financially secure post-work life. One practical step is to work out the income you need each week to survive and thrive when you stop working. If you are one of the many Australians still working and growing your super, knowing more about tailored retirement income products might help to plan. There are two main ways to use super savings in retirement: through products that provide an income stream, and/or through

Volatility is how the return on an asset fluctuates over time. Using the share market as an example, volatility is often measured by changes in the price of a share. When the market is volatile, as it has been recently due to the geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, prices can rise or fall a lot in a short time. These movements mean the value of your investments can change quickly. They might rise in value one day and fall the next. Volatility can make us feel nervous, b

If you have an SMSF, find out how the new Payday Super Regulations will impact SMSFs when Payday Super starts from 1 July 2026. With the Payday Super Regulations starting from 1 July 2026, take the time to see how the changes will impact your SMSF. Contribution allocations: a closer look SMSFs will still have up to 28 calendar days after the end of the month in which a contribution is received to allocate or return super contributions. This has not changed as a result of the

Federal Budget 2026–27: Reform and Resilience… But Questions Remain The Federal Government has positioned this year’s Budget as one of the most significant in decades, focused on navigating the current global uncertainty—particularly higher oil prices—and strengthening the economy over time. From our perspective, while there are some sensible initiatives, we are generally underwhelmed by the overall package. In our view, it is unlikely to fully achieve its stated objectives o

Entering the world of investing can be a life-changer for people of all ages. Here are seven simple steps for beginners to start their wealth journey. 1. Do a financial stocktake Before taking the leap into investing, evaluate your financial position. Assess your income, savings, living expenses and, perhaps most importantly, your personal debts (you may focus first on clearing high-interest credit card debt). An honest assessment will give you clarity about the funds you hav

When we hear the phrase peer pressure , most of us picture a playground dare or a group of teenagers urging someone to do something reckless. It feels loud, obvious, and easy to spot. The truth is that peer pressure does not disappear when you grow up. It grows up with you. As an adult, peer pressure rarely shouts. It whispers. It appears when everyone around you seems to be hitting milestones on a timeline you never agreed to, when coworkers normalise burnout and call it amb

How your super is affected if your marriage or relationship breaks down. Overview If your relationship with your spouse ends, you should be aware of what can happen to the super entitlements of you both. The Family Court and super-splitting laws generally enable super interests (accounts in super funds) or super payments (pensions or annuities) to be split by agreement or court order if a relationship breaks down. There are options for splitting super depending on whether you

The Federal Government increased the Age Pension from 20 March 2026, alongside a gradual rise in deeming rates. Advocacy group COTA Australia says the pension boost will offer relief, but warns updated deeming assumptions may not reflect the realities facing all older Australians. From 20 March 2026, around 2.5 million Australians receiving the Age Pension saw an increase to their payments. At the same time, the Federal Government confirmed that deeming rates will rise by 0.5

Discover ways to answer the common question ‘How much do I need to retire? Learn about retirement costs How much retirement costs depends on what you want out of retirement, and your individual needs and circumstances. The lifestyle you want may look different to another person's, so your living costs will be different. For example, you might prioritise travel, whilst your friends want to stay close to the grandchildren at home. However, there are ways to get an overview of w

If you are trying to get ahead financially, it can sometimes feel harder than it should be. You budget, you plan, and you do your best, yet real progress in paying down debt and building significant savings can feel painfully slow. While managing expenses is important, there is another side of the equation that often makes the biggest difference. Increasing how much you earn. There is only so much you can financially cut back before it starts to affect your quality of life. Y