As Australians increasingly adopt flexible work arrangements as they age, the nation is undergoing a notable shift in its perspective and approach towards employment.

There has been a definite shift in the ages of those in the workforce and remaining in the workforce over the last 30 years.  I think that this has less to do with Australians living longer and the rising cost of living, and more to do with Australians seeking a certain lifestyle that suits them.  And it’s fantastic to see…!!!!

According to the results of the 2021 Census, Australians aged 55-69 made up 680,000 volunteers, 765,000 provided unpaid care (most likely to an ageing relative), 547,000 provided childcare to children who were not their own (grandkids in the main), and 79,000 reported that they were studying.

There’s a lot going on in the new “lifestyle” stage of the lifecycle.

Here are the 3 main points:

A new life stage has emerged

73% of Australian workers aim to work during retirement, tailored to their lifestyle.

A new life stage, “The Lifestyle Years,” has emerged for workers aged 55-69.

Statistics show 2.7 million Australians over 55 are active in the workforce, forming 19% of the total, with a significant increase in the participation rate for workers aged 55-64 over the past two decades.

Over 55s seek flexibility, financial security and connections through work

Australians aged 55 to 69 seek flexible career options that match their passions and keep them active.

About 25% of retirees changed careers in the last five years for various reasons like staying active, reducing stress, and contributing to the community.

Switching careers later in life fosters new work relationships, supports retirement plans, and maintains connections within the wider community.

Over 55s prioritise fulfilment over full-on work

Holidays, Hobbies, Healthcare take precedence over other aspects.

More Australians are desiring reduced stress and increased activity.

Australians want more time for personal passions and family.

It’s all about Australians over 55 choosing work opportunities that enable them to have greater control of their time, a change of pace and move closer towards their financial goals. And it’s brilliant…!

Final Thoughts

At Collective Wealth Advisers, we are huge advocates of choosing lifestyle as your number 1 priority.  Sure, the dollars and cents are important, but if you don’t have clear and articulated goals and sense of purpose in your years after work, then what’s it really all for?

To build a brighter future today, come and speak with us.  We are the retirement planning experts!

This article was compiled using information from the Australians at Work: Over 55s repost, published by Amazon Australia in partnership with Bernard Salt AM 2023.  To read the full repost, click HERE!

Contact us to arrange a meeting to discuss your purposeful retirement objectives.

When it comes to financial planning and seeking professional advice, many people are often deterred by the costs associated with it. The common perception is that financial advice is an expense, and one that can be avoided to save money. However, it’s crucial to change this mindset and start considering financial advice costs as an investment in our future rather than just a cost. Here’s why:

Financial Guidance Can Secure Your Financial Future

The primary reason to view financial advice as an investment is that it can have a profound impact on securing your financial future. Financial planners are experts in helping you make informed decisions about your money, investments, and financial goals. By engaging with their expertise, you’re taking steps to ensure that you’ll have a more stable and prosperous financial future. In this context, the cost of financial advice is an investment in building a secure and comfortable life for you and your loved ones.

Maximizing Returns on Investments

One of the key roles of a financial advisor is to help you make wise investment decisions. They can provide insights into opportunities, strategies, and asset allocation that can lead to higher returns on your investments. These returns can significantly outweigh the cost of the advice, essentially turning it into a profitable investment.

Risk Management and Wealth Protection

Financial advisors also play a crucial role in risk management. They help you diversify your investments to reduce risk, source insurance policies that protect your assets and income, and create contingency plans for unforeseen events. By paying for these services, you’re essentially safeguarding your wealth and minimizing potential losses.

Tailored Solutions for Your Goals

A financial advisor creates a personalized financial plan tailored to your unique goals and circumstances. This customized approach ensures that your financial resources are directed toward achieving what matters most to you. In essence, you’re investing in a roadmap that leads you to the life you desire.

Financial Education and Empowerment

A significant part of financial advice involves education. Financial advisors don’t just make decisions for you; they explain the reasoning behind them. This educational component empowers you to make more informed choices in the future, reducing the risk of costly mistakes. Investing in financial advice is, therefore, an investment in your financial literacy and capability.

Long-Term Financial Stability

Building long-term financial stability often requires expert guidance. Financial advisors assist in managing debt, creating savings plans, and planning for retirement. By paying for their services, you’re investing in your own financial stability and peace of mind for years to come.

In most cases when people engage with a financial planner, their expectation is quite clear – they are seeking guidance on investment matters, ensuring they have adequate planning measures in place, and looking for Education around their financial situation so that they can make good decisions to help them achieve their goals and objectives. 

But there are benefits of engaging with a financial planner that go far beyond just that. 

Multiple studies in relation to the benefits of financial advice have found that good advisers deliver positive mental health benefits to their clients. Research from IOOF found that respondents who received ongoing financial advice experienced 13% greater levels of overall happiness, a 23% increase in peace of mind, and were 19% less likely to have arguments with loved ones.    

Financial advice isn’t just about accumulating wealth. The process of exploring and defining your objectives, creating a plan to meet these objectives and gaining clarity and comfort on your financial situation will generally lead to a much higher sense of well-being and this is proven to have a positive effect on personal relationships. 

A greater sense of well-being 

When there is clarity on what it is you really want out of life, there is also a sense of control. The byproducts of this can be a reduction in anxiety and depression, an increased resilience in your personal and work life and overall enhanced satisfaction. It’s no secret that having a sound financial base is important, and it makes sense that this will provide more Peace of Mind in our day-to-day lives. 

A positive effect on personal relationships 

Good relationships are basic fundamental of human happiness. All good relationships, whether personal or at work, are built upon trust. And this is no different for a client’s relationship with their financial advisor. 

When there is trust, there is openness. For financial advisors, this openness is incredibly important and leads to clients discussing very personal issues within their lives that concern them. Good advisors will listen. They will address a client’s concerns and anxieties with common sense and practical strategies to help. This can be an amazingly therapeutical for clients who are struggling in their financial or personal lives. 

Another area often overlooked can be the self-satisfaction and boost in self-confidence that comes along with establishing a strategic plan based on goals and objectives. Continual progression towards one’s goals and objectives can provide an incredibly powerful boost to their sense or worth and wellbeing. 

In the immortal words of Bob Dylan, ‘the times, they are a-changin’.

Financial planning is becoming less and less about the dollars and cents and more and more about personal well-being. Embracing this change will be the key to ensuring that good financial planners provide not just great strategic financial advice, but also strategies and education that will be personally and emotionally life changing for decades to come. 

(Note: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal or financial advice. It is always recommended to consult with qualified professionals regarding your specific personal needs.)

As you plan for retirement, there is one essential element that often goes overlooked – estate planning. While retirement planning typically focuses on financial considerations and lifestyle goals, creating a comprehensive estate plan is crucial for ensuring your assets are distributed according to your wishes and that your loved ones are well taken care of. 

In this blog, we share valuable insights into estate planning and provide suggestions to help you establish your own estate plan or will. While financial advisers can offer expert advice and guidance during the estate planning process, we always recommend you prepare your estate plan with a specialist estate planning solicitor.

What is Estate Planning?

Estate planning refers to the process of making arrangements for the management and distribution of your assets and wealth upon your passing. It involves creating a comprehensive plan that addresses the legal, financial, and tax aspects of your estate. By engaging in estate planning, you can ensure that your assets are protected, your loved ones are provided for, and your wishes are respected.

Importance of Estate Planning for Retirement

Estate planning holds significant importance during retirement. It allows you to have control over how your assets are distributed, minimising the potential for family conflicts and legal complications. 

Here are some key reasons why estate planning is crucial for retirees:

Asset Preservation: An estate plan enables you to protect and preserve your assets, ensuring they are utilised in line with your intentions.
Beneficiary Designation: Through estate planning, you can designate beneficiaries for your assets, such as financial accounts, properties, and investments. This ensures that your assets pass on to the intended individuals or organisations.
Tax Efficiency: Proper estate planning can help minimise the tax burden on your estate, maximising the amount available for distribution to your beneficiaries.
Health Care Directives: Estate planning allows you to establish advanced directives, such as a living will or a medical power of attorney, to ensure your medical preferences are honoured in case you are unable to make decisions for yourself.

Overview of Our Approach

At Collective Wealth Advisers, our goal is to help you feel confident in your choices, provide education around specific options, and ensure your plan caters to your specific needs and goals. 

Our process involves the following steps:

A. Understanding Your Financial Situation

We begin by gaining a deep understanding of your financial situation. This includes assessing your assets, liabilities, income sources, and any existing estate planning documents. By assessing your financial landscape, we can identify opportunities, from an estate planning perspective, that aligns with your unique circumstances.

B. Identifying Your Goals and Objectives

Next, we work closely with you to identify your goals and objectives for your estate plan. This includes considering your desired asset distribution, beneficiaries, philanthropic interests, and any special considerations you may have. Your goals will guide your estate plan and should reflect your values and aspirations.

C. Developing a Customised Estate Plan

Financial advisers assist in developing a customised estate plan, providing guidance, education, and recommendations for necessary legal documents. We empower you with knowledge and advice to make informed decisions. With our expertise in tax-efficient strategies and current laws, we ensure a legally sound plan that aligns with your financial goals.

D. Reviewing and Updating Your Estate Plan

We recognise life’s dynamism and the potential for evolving circumstances. To address this, we advise regular reviews of your estate plan to maintain its currency and alignment with your changing needs. Our scheduled assessments consider financial changes and family dynamics and estate planning laws. By keeping your plan up to date, you retain control and can make necessary adjustments to safeguard your assets and loved ones.

What Happens to Superannuation in Estate Planning?

When it comes to estate planning, considering the fate of your superannuation is crucial. While superannuation doesn’t automatically form a part of your estate, it’s an essential asset that needs careful consideration. When developing an estate plan, determine how you want your superannuation to be distributed upon your passing. This can be achieved by nominating beneficiaries or establishing a binding death benefit nomination. 

By addressing superannuation in your estate plan, you can ensure that your hard-earned retirement savings are allocated according to your wishes and provide for your loved ones in the most effective and tax-efficient manner. 

Choosing the Right Approach for Your Estate Plan

When it comes to estate planning, there are different approaches to consider. Understanding the advantages and factors associated with each approach can help you make an informed decision. Here are three common approaches to estate planning:

A. Will-Based Approach

A will-based approach involves creating a last will and testament, which outlines how your assets should be distributed upon your passing. The advantages of a will-based approach include:

Simplicity: A will is relatively straightforward to create and modify, making it accessible for many individuals.
Cost-Effective: Compared to other estate planning tools, a will is often less expensive to establish.
Executor Nomination: A will allows you to designate an executor to manage the distribution of your assets.

While a will can serve as a basic estate planning tool, it may have limitations. Some factors to consider with a will-based approach include:

Probate Process: Assets distributed through a will typically go through the probate process, which can be time-consuming and costly.
Privacy Concerns: Wills are generally public documents, so the details of your estate plan may become accessible to the public.
Limited Control: A will may not provide the same level of control and flexibility as other estate planning tools, such as trusts.

B. Trust-Based Approach

A trust-based approach involves establishing one or more trusts to hold and manage your assets. The advantages of a trust-based approach include:

Avoiding Probate: Assets held in a trust can bypass the probate process, allowing for a more efficient distribution to beneficiaries.
Privacy and Control: Unlike wills, trusts are typically private documents, preserving the confidentiality of your estate plan. Additionally, trusts offer greater control over the timing and conditions of asset distribution.
Asset Protection: Trusts can provide safeguards for your assets, protecting them from creditors and potential legal challenges.

While trusts offer numerous benefits, they may require more complex setup and ongoing administration. Consider the following factors with a trust-based approach:

Initial Costs: Establishing a trust can involve higher upfront costs compared to creating a will.
Ongoing Management: Trusts require ongoing management, including funding the trust, updating beneficiary designations, and ensuring proper asset ownership.
Professional Guidance: Working with an experienced estate planning attorney and financial advisor can help ensure the proper establishment and management of trusts.

C. Combination Approach

A combination approach involves utilising both wills and trusts to create a comprehensive estate plan. This approach allows you to capitalise on the advantages of both tools. The advantages of a combination approach include:

Flexibility: You can tailor your estate plan to include specific assets in a trust while using a will for others, offering a flexible and customisable solution.
Probate Avoidance and Asset Protection: By strategically designating assets to trusts, you can minimise probate involvement and provide additional asset protection.

When opting for a combination approach, it’s essential to consider the following factors:

Complexity: Managing a combination of wills and trusts requires careful coordination and ongoing maintenance.
Professional Guidance: Due to the intricacies involved, working with professionals who specialise in estate planning is highly recommended.

Working with a Financial Adviser for Estate Planning

When it comes to estate planning, seeking guidance from a qualified financial adviser can be immensely valuable. Here are the benefits of consulting with a financial adviser:

Expert Advice: Financial advisers possess extensive knowledge in estate planning, including legal, financial, and tax considerations.
Personalised Recommendations: A financial adviser will assess your individual circumstances and provide tailored recommendations for your estate planning needs.
Peace of Mind: By consulting with a professional, you can gain peace of mind knowing that you have received sound advice to guide your estate planning decisions. 

Final Thoughts

Estate planning is a vital component of retirement preparation that should not be overlooked. By creating a comprehensive estate plan, you can safeguard your assets, ensure the smooth transfer of wealth, and leave a meaningful legacy. Whether you choose a will-based approach, a trust-based approach or a combination of both, a financial adviser’s role in offering advice and recommendations is instrumental in helping you navigate the complexities of estate planning and make informed decisions that align with your specific circumstances. Take control of your estate planning today and secure your financial future for generations to come.

(Note: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal or financial advice. It is always recommended to consult with qualified professionals regarding your specific estate planning needs.)

When most people think of retirement, they imagine days spent in the sunshine, travelling, and spending time with loved ones.
But there’s also something else to think about — tax planning. Retirees often wonder how to reduce taxes, maximise their retirement funds and avoid unpleasant surprises. Let’s delve further into these issues here.

Overview of Retirement Tax Laws and Regulations

Retiring in Australia means that you need to be aware of specific tax laws and regulations. Taking the time to do your research now can save you a lot of stress later on.
Whether you’re just about to retire or have already done so, it’s essential to understand how your pension and investments will be taxed and what deductions or concessions are available.
The Australian Tax Office (ATO) offers a range of retirement tax planning options, so it’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with them to have tax-free income in Australia.
For example, the government mandates a superannuation guarantee that helps secure retirement incomes. At the same time, pensioners may be eligible for a senior tax offset, maximising how much seniors can earn without paying tax
While there may be no tax payable on your pension income, some of your investments may still attract tax, so you should speak with an accountant or financial adviser if you’re unsure about anything.

Tax-effective Investment Strategies for Investors

It’s essential to take a holistic approach to tax planning to reduce taxes while taking advantage of any available tax breaks. Consider the following.

– Pre-tax Super Contributions. Pre-tax or before-tax super contributions allow you to save money on taxes while building your retirement fund. By making additional contributions to your super directly from your salary before taxes are applied, you can lower your taxable income, reduce your tax bill, and build your retirement savings.

– Investment Strategies. There are several other tax-efficient investment strategies for retirees. These include investing in shares or managed funds with high rates of franking (tax credits), using the CGT discount on investments held for more than 12 months, and taking advantage of any available negative gearing benefits or capital gains concessions.

– Estate Planning. Many high-net-worth retirees also benefit from estate planning. That may involve establishing trusts and other structures to ensure assets are distributed effectively during and after retirement.

By working with a qualified financial planner or accountant, you can ensure that you’re taking full advantage of all available concessions while minimising the risk of any potential disputes down the line.

Best Practices for Retirement Planning

Retirement planning can seem overwhelming, but the key is to break it down into manageable steps. Understanding your retirement objectives, knowing your cashflow requirements and seeking professional advice are the keys to establishing a great retirement plan!

Choosing the Right Retirement Plan

The first step in retirement planning is choosing the right plan. Several options are available, including superannuation funds, annuities and direct investments. Each has benefits and drawbacks, so you’ll need to assess your needs and risk tolerance when deciding which is best for you.

Cash Flow Requirements

Understanding your cash flow needs now and your cash flow needs in retirement are crucial. Allow for general day-to-day living expenses and other objectives such as travel, and don’t forget the all-important ’emergency’ fund to cover any unforeseen issues.

Regular Progress Reviews

Reviewing your investments, cash flow and objectives regularly with a financial planner will allow you to continue to meet your retirement goals over the long term. Making required adjustments to your portfolio due to economic conditions, new legislation, or other opportunities will ensure you stay on track.

Latest Retirement Planning and Tax Optimisation Trends

You may already know the financial planning strategies and tax optimisation opportunities for retirees in Australia, but what about the latest trends and insights?

Budget 2022-23

The recent 2022-23 budget brought an array of ways to optimise your retirement tax planning. From pension payment caps, superannuation fund criteria changes, and amendments to the taxation of SMSFs, the budget’s decisions impact retirees.

Do retirees pay capital gains tax in Australia?

Retirees are eligible for a CGT discount on any capital gains accrued since September 2019. This can mean valuable savings when dealing with capital gains from the sale of assets such as investments or real estate. So, yes – retirees pay capital gains tax in Australia, although this is limited.

Pension and Superannuation Changes

The government has proposed increasing payments available under specific pension schemes and changing how you can use your super funds in retirement. Pension is not a taxable income in Australia. The pension is designed to allow retirees more flexibility in accessing and managing their funds in retirement.
Stay on top of these changes to take advantage of all possible tax optimisation opportunities. With informed decisions, you can reduce your overall tax burden while enjoying all that retirement offers.
With careful planning and expert guidance, optimising your tax situation after retirement is possible. This way, you can make the most of your hard-earned money.

Final Thoughts

Everyone’s retirement plan is different, and understanding the tax laws that apply to retirees is critical to a successful retirement.
With the right approach, retirement planning and tax planning can go hand-in-hand. Considering all the important factors can help you make smart choices – ensuring your money stretches a lot further.

For a clearer picture of what retirement holds for you, contact us at Collective Wealth Advisers, today.