The vital role of retirement planning in Australia: Why you need a financial advisor

As we navigate through the different stages of life, retirement is a significant milestone that deserves careful consideration. Proper retirement planning in Australia is vital for securing your financial future and ensuring a comfortable, stress-free retirement. The importance of retirement planning, the role of a financial advisor, and how financial planning can help you achieve your retirement goals has been summarised below.

The Significance of Retirement Planning

Retirement planning is the process of setting financial goals and creating a strategy to achieve them during your retirement years. In Australia, a robust retirement plan is crucial for several reasons:

1. A Longer Retirement Lifespan: Australians are living longer, and this means that you need a more substantial nest egg to fund your retirement. Proper planning ensures that you won't outlive your savings.

2. Changing Economic Landscape: The economic environment is constantly evolving, making it essential to adapt your financial plans to cope with fluctuations. Retirement planning helps you stay financially resilient.

3. Age Pension Limitations: Relying solely on the Age Pension is not a sustainable retirement strategy for the majority of Australians. It's crucial to build your own financial resources to maintain your desired lifestyle in retirement.

The Role of a Financial Advisor

A trusted financial advisor is a key asset in your retirement planning journey. They bring expertise and experience to the table, helping you make informed decisions and navigate the complexities of financial planning.

1. Personalised Advice: A financial advisor tailors your retirement plan to your unique circumstances, considering your age, risk tolerance, income, and goals.

2. Investment Strategies: Financial advisors can help you build a diversified investment portfolio that aligns with your objectives, whether it's capital preservation, income generation, or growth.

3. Risk Mitigation: They assist in managing risks, ensuring that your retirement funds are protected against market downturns and unexpected expenses.

The Role of Financial Planning

Financial planning is an integral part of retirement planning. It encompasses a wide range of elements that aim to optimise your financial situation for retirement.

1. Budgeting: A financial plan will help you create and stick to a budget, allowing you to save consistently for retirement.

2. Debt Management: Reducing or eliminating debt is an essential part of financial planning, as it frees up more money for retirement savings.

3. Tax Efficiency: Financial planning helps you make tax-efficient choices in managing your finances, reducing your overall tax liability, and boost your retirement savings as a result.

4. Estate Planning: Ensuring that your assets are distributed according to your wishes and with minimal tax implications is an essential aspect of financial planning.

In Australia, retirement planning is a critical component of ensuring a comfortable and secure future. To navigate this complex landscape effectively, enlisting the services of a financial advisor and implementing a comprehensive financial plan is imperative. These professionals can provide the guidance and expertise needed to make informed decisions and secure a financially stable retirement.

Don't wait, start your retirement planning today to enjoy the retirement you deserve. Contact Precision Wealth Advisers to get started on your journey towards a financially secure future. We are here to help you achieve your retirement goals.

What does automatic insurance inside super really cover you for?

Everyone realises the importance of insuring their car and home, however many seem to overlook the importance of insuring their means to make a living and maintain their lifestyle. Many new clients we meet often tell us they have insurance as part of their super fund and assume that it will meet their needs and be available if they ever need to make a claim. Some of these clients were unaware of what they really had and just assumed that all super funds incorporated insurance cover such as life, TPD and income protection – this is definitely not the case. In fact, most new clients we meet are underinsured for their individual needs and often rely heavily on automatic insurance cover which is usually given to new members of a super fund.

What is automatic default cover?

Automatic (default) cover is insurance that you never applied for yourself, or completed an underwriting assessment to acquire. The cover is typically included with a new super fund account when you sign up as a new member, usually when you join through a new employer sponsored fund. It’s important to note that not all super funds give you automatic cover and you should never assume you have it.

Automatic cover within super funds can also change insurers or terms of the policy at any time, which could result in a disadvantage to you.

Is the cover you have currently enough?

The second major issue with automatic cover is the amount of insurance you are given is generally a one-size-fits-all approach that doesn’t take any of your personal circumstances into consideration.

For example, people with automatic cover could be issued one hundred thousand dollars of life and TPD insurance, and maybe a few thousand dollars a month in income protection which will usually pay a benefit for a maximum of two years. The problem with this approach is that everyone earns different salaries and has different amounts of debt, which will alter the amount of cover needed. If someone couldn’t return to work ever again due to an illness or accident and they were expecting to work for another 25 years, most automatic income protection policies would only replace their income for a maximum of 2 years. What would that person do for the remaining 23 years of lost income? Would one wage cover everything that household needed or would the family (or spouse) be forced to completely change their way of life? This situation may seem unlikely, but it happens every day to people who think they are healthy.

Can you have a quality policy which is underwritten and still funded by super?

Yes, you can have insurance policies which are underwritten at the time of application inside super. You can also opt for more comprehensive policies which are mostly funded by super, with a small portion of the premium paid outside of super for the comprehensive extras (as per current SIS Act legislation). Your personal circumstances, goals and objectives will also determine the suitability of the recommended structure.

Want to know more about quality protection?

Seeking advice about what cover will best suits your needs is very important as not all policies are equal. An adviser can help you identify what level of cover meet your individual needs and will find a solution which fits your budget. Our advice services will look at multiple quality providers which will give you confidence in knowing the cover is in place, should you need to ever make a claim.

Contact us today for a free financial health check which will examine your current financial situation and ensure your insurance needs are being met.

Want a SMSF without ongoing compliance? A Super Wrap Platform may be for you!

A common theme that has emerged in recent years is the popularity of the Self-Managed Super Fund (SMSF).

Some investors choose this option for the control it brings over their investments, others for the ability to invest in direct property; or simply because it can prove to be a cost-effective option (usually for balances over $250,000).

However, many people are unaware of the responsibilities and ongoing compliance burdens related to maintaining a SMSF - or that alternative options are available - which also allow high levels of control over your super investments.

An alternative option to an SMSF is a ‘Super Wrap Platform’

The option is called a ‘Super Wrap Platform’ because it does exactly that, it gives you the ability to invest your super into managed funds, term deposits and direct equities such as listed shares, Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) and Listed Investment Companies (LICs) in one easy and accessible portal.

Super Wrap Platforms have been very popular with clients who wish to invest directly into the market, which can help keep costs down, while still providing strong levels of diversification and growth opportunity.

The beauty of customising your portfolio is that it allows you to ‘sell’ or ‘increase’ selected holdings, without affecting the rest of your investments (unlike the traditional managed fund options used by many super funds). This can be particularly beneficial for people drawing a pension from their super fund and looking for more income, or for those looking to take advantage of currency fluctuations or changes in international interest rates.

We can help you create a customised portfolio that meets your individual needs, and provide ongoing assistance in managing your investments, to ensure you meet you goals and objectives. We will help you identify value opportunities and provide insight to financial markets, which is based on access to comprehensive filtered research and proven results.

Want to know more?

If you would like to know more about Super Wrap Platform options, or feel this is suitable for your individual circumstances, please contact us today for an obligation-free consultation.

Related links: Exchange Traded Funds, Superannuation & SMSF