A practical benchmark for planning your retirement lifestyle When planning for retirement, one of the most common questions we hear is: 'How much do I actually need? 'The ASFA Retirement Standard helps answer this by providing a clear, research-based benchmark of what it costs to fund different retirement lifestyles in Australia. What is the ASFA Retirement Standard? The ASFA Retirement Standard estimates how much income retirees need to support either a modest or comfortable

For years, the idea of “Blue Zones” captured the world’s imagination. Certain regions such as Okinawa, Sardinia, Ikaria and Nicoya were said to be places where people routinely lived past 100 years old in good health. The promise was simple and compelling: follow their lifestyle, and a long, vibrant life might follow. In recent years, however, that story has become more complicated. A necessary reality check New research has raised questions about the original Blue Zones clai

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

Why More Choice Isn’t Always Better

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

When you think about building wealth, you may picture investments, property and superannuation. But there’s another critical element: insurance. It’s the silent partner in your financial strategy, quietly working behind the scenes to protect everything you’ve built. Strategic asset allocation is the hallmark of a robust wealth plan, using diverse holdings to build long-term financial success. Yet, defending a portfolio against unforeseen events and ensuring a smooth estate tr