Financial advisers Gold Coast locals trust

Moving to retire involves several decisions at once: when to sell your current home, the tax implications of the sale, whether you’re eligible to make a downsizer contribution to super, what your new lifestyle will really cost and how you’ll draw an income in retirement. The Gold Coast offers a wide range of retirement lifestyles, from beachside apartments to homes in the hinterland, and costs vary accordingly, so your plan should be built around the lifestyle you actually want.

Common strategies in the final years before retirement include catching up on concessional contributions if you have unused cap from previous years, reviewing your fund’s investment option as you approach retirement and thinking about the timing of any non-concessional contributions. If you’re selling a long-held home, a downsizer contribution may also be relevant. Eligibility rules apply, so it’s worth getting advice before you contribute.

The key documents are a current will, binding death benefit nominations on your super and enduring powers of attorney. Depending on your family, you may also want to consider testamentary trusts. Common questions include blended families, assets held in different names and how to control or protect what your beneficiaries receive. Your solicitor prepares the legal documents, and we make sure your plan and your super line up with them.

It’s the question we’re asked most. The answer depends on your super, your investments, whether you’re eligible for the Age Pension and the lifestyle you want. We build a cash flow plan that shows what you can expect to live on, then structure your investments so income keeps flowing even when markets are volatile.

There’s no single number. It depends on your super and savings, what you spend each year, any Age Pension entitlement and how long your money needs to last. A sound plan uses conservative projections that hold up over 25 to 30 years or more, and tests what happens if markets fall early in retirement. We’ll show you the earliest date that works, and what difference working a little longer would make.

The Age Pension is income- and assets-tested, so many retirees qualify for a part pension rather than the full amount, and eligibility can change as your assets and income change. Age Pension age is currently 67. Your family home is generally exempt from the assets test, but other assets and income count. We’ll model what you’re likely to receive and how it fits with your super and investments.