19 May 2026
Retirement is one of the biggest transitions you’ll ever make. After years of building your career and growing your wealth, stepping away from a regular income brings a whole new set of financial decisions to navigate. Managing finances in retirement is more complex than most people expect, and the stakes are high. Having someone experienced in your corner can make a real difference.
Here are three ways a financial adviser can help.
One of the biggest concerns heading into retirement is whether your savings will actually cover the life you want to live. A financial adviser works with you to calculate how much super you’ll likely need, based on your short, medium, and long-term goals, and can help implement a personalised strategy to grow your super, especially in the final years of your working life.
They may also be involved in looking at your full financial picture. This includes recommendations on your investments and structures used, such as a company or family trust to grow your wealth or protect assets. Recommendations can be made on your position and whether this can be optimised heading into retirement.
When planning or positioning for retirement, a financial planner will focus a lot on maximising your super as this structure is purposely built for your retirement needs. It is a structure associated with a concessional 15% tax while you are accumulating which could then transition to a ‘Nil’ tax structure for both the super fund as well as yourself (the retiree) over the age of 60.
A financial planner can also assess any Centrelink entitlements you may be eligible for as well look into any estate planning concerns that you and your family will need to address.
It really comes down to your goals and what you are aiming to achieve. A good financial adviser can help you build a strategy that keeps pace with your life so you get to retire on your terms, with the confidence that your money will go the distance.
Not every dollar in retirement needs to do the same job. Depending on your goals and circumstances, your adviser might recommend a mix of investments, each serving a different purpose.
An annuity can provide secure, guaranteed income payments. An account-based pension which is invested in the market can keep your wealth growing over time within a ‘tax free’ structure. A term deposit or cash account gives you easy access to spending or emergency funds when you need them and without the concern that this capital will go backwards. Your adviser helps you work through the options available and builds a structure that reduces risk from market volatility while still making the most of your investments.
The result is a portfolio built around your goals and your lifestyle, not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Whether it’s a sea change, no longer needing that 4 bedroom house as well as extra living space or moving closer to children, a financial adviser can help you work through the implications of selling the family home and help you make informed decisions about what to do with the proceeds.
For example, eligible Australians can contribute up to $300,000 from the sale of a home ($600,000 per couple) into super as a downsizer super contribution; a strategy worth understanding well before settlement day. There are certain age restrictions, minimum ownership conditions for your main residence and timing conditions which will need to be complied with, but your adviser can help you remove the guesswork, so you can make a move that supports both your lifestyle and your long-term finances..
Some people want to travel. Other will simply look forward to slowing down, the peace of not having to turn up to work, focus on hobbies and simplify. Some are still working out what they actually want retirement to look like. Whatever your version looks like, working through it with a financial adviser means you approach that next chapter with a clear plan, a solid strategy, and a lot less uncertainty.
If you’re starting to think about retirement and want to talk through your options, feel free to reach out. There’s no pressure, just a straightforward conversation about where you’re at and where you want to be.
Disclaimer: Information presented is general in nature and hasn’t taken into account your personal circumstances. You should consider whether the strategies and investments are suitable for you by seeking personal advice from a licensed financial advisor. We do not accept any liability for any resulting loss or damage of the reader or any other person. Past performance is not a reliable guide to future returns.
