Demographic predictions indicate that millions of Aussies will be approaching retirement in the next five years. The challenge for them will be to replace their current salary with a superannuation income stream or government pension or a combination of the two. And the other challenge will be about lifestyle/wellbeing once retirement begins.
In terms of adequacy of savings and general preparedness for this new phase, I am reminded of a Disney cartoon I saw as a child – The Ant and the Grasshopper – which is derived from one of Aesop’s fables.
It must have made a deep impression on me as I still remember it clearly. The ant works assiduously to save and store food during the summer in the knowledge that winter will come; the grasshopper, on the other hand, enjoys the beautiful summer days and occupies himself by playing his fiddle in the sunshine.
The ant warns the grasshopper of his frivolous ways while working steadily to store his food. The inevitable happens and the harsh winter comes on leaving the grasshopper starving and begging for food at the ant’s door.
At this point the heartless ant slams the door on the grasshopper leaving him to his fate in the frigid winter. Both characters represent extremes and I think a hybrid position is preferable. Play the fiddle, enjoy life during the summer years, but at the same time save enough to provide for yourself in the colder years which some would call ‘the golden years’. This is what superannuation is about.
So in the countdown to the R word, it is important to take stock of your financial position and you may need the assistance of a professional, licensed financial planner. If they were to provide personal advice to you this would be contained within a Statement of Advice (otherwise known as a financial plan).
This will start by detailing what you own and what you owe. This statement will look at your primary residence, financial aspects such as bank accounts, share portfolios, rental properties, personal assets and the total of your superannuation accounts.
It will then note your liabilities such as personal loans, mortgage balances, car loans and any other debts you may have. Personal insurance policies will also be considered. The subtraction of your liabilities from your assets will provide a realistic evaluation of your current, and possibly future, financial position.
A good financial planner will also ask you about your planned and anticipated future expenses. Things such as capital repairs to your house, a new car, any medical needs and the frequency of your planned travel will also be considered in any advice provided to you.
And perhaps the most important aspect of the Statement of Advice will have to do with your risk tolerance. Will you keep your portfolio invested in the same manner as it was while you were accumulating super, or will you want to change and either increase or lower your risk during the retirement phase?
In order to do this, you will have to consider the returns you require to meet your financial objectives, how long your funds will be invested, and also how comfortable you are with the possibility of negative investment returns. Is the super fund’s default option right for you, are you aiming for more capital growth (and more risk) during your retirement years, or do you seek more consistent returns with less volatility? And roughly how much income will you need per annum to achieve a comfortable retirement?
These questions are difficult, but help is available through NGS Super Financial Planning. The NGS financial planners are salaried employees and work with you to help achieve the retirement you are after. They work on a fee-for-service basis – you pay a fixed fee for your individual financial plan based on whether it is a limited, standard or complex advice. During your initial meeting with your NGS financial planner and after they get a better understanding of you, your goals and objectives for the future, they will quote a fee to prepare personal advice for you which must be agreed upon by you before proceeding. The peace of mind a tailored financial plan can provide will help you to better enjoy your ‘golden years’. NGS Super can be contacted on:1300 133 177.
Bernard O’Connor(former NGS Super Company Secretary)