Rwdfinancial's List: Retirement

"Top-notch financial advisers worthy of respect used to tell clients that only 50 per cent of their assets should be invested in superannuation. After all, you can’t cash in super until you retire and the system changes so often that it’s impossible to know how it will work in 20 years – let alone 40 – when you finally quit work."

"The nation’s most powerful retiree group is willing to consider cuts to the $36 billion aged pension bill in the upcoming federal budget, opening the door to changes to indexation and means testing ."

"PRE-RETIREES are missing out on thousands of dollars of potential tax savings each year by failing to embrace one of superannuation's "best-kept secrets" – a transition to retirement strategy."

"Australians will have the oldest pensionable age in the world if the federal government lifts it to 70."

"Legislative risk is the big concern as the Government shifts the super goalposts, writes John Collett."

"It is clear from the budget the age pension is going to play less of a role in many people’s retirement years."

"The budget has focused attention and created some anxiety about the government fringe benefits entitlements regarded so highly by many retirees."

"Gwyn Thornton never expected to go back to work in her late 60s. But sometime after her 68th birthday in 2008, she and her husband found themselves taking jobs at their local Bunnings store."

"Retirees will look back on the next six to seven months as “the good old days”; a time when not only were pensions paid tax-free from account-based super funds to those over 60, but they could lock in income tests for government benefits generous enough to entitle many to the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card or a part government age pension that came with a health card."

"One of the realities of superannuation is that benefits and concessions are there by the grace of government. As easily as they are granted, they can be taken away or revamped."

"Savers will be pushed into ever-riskier property and costly stock investments to offset slumping deposit rates if the Reserve Bank of Australia cuts official interest rates next week."

"It's all very well for those with a mortgage to gloat, but a rate cut doesn't suit everyone."

"An oncoming wave of ageing Baby Boomers is turning the superannuation industry's focus from wealth accumulation to maximising income in retirement."

"Vanguard Investments Australia has been awarded 2015 Fund Manager of the Year by Morningstar Australasia."

"Australian financial advisers can add about 3% in net returns for their clients by focusing on key wealth management topics such as asset allocation, behavioural coaching and cost-effective implementation."