Retirement
Financial Planner
— Sydney's
Inner West

If you live in Balmain, Rozelle, Leichhardt, Drummoyne, Annandale, or anywhere else in Sydney’s Inner West — and you’re somewhere between 50 and 65 — there’s a good chance you’re asking yourself the same question most of my clients ask when they first walk in the door.

“How much do I actually need to retire? And will I have enough?”

That’s the question I’ve been helping Inner West pre-retirees answer for over two decades. Not with spreadsheets and jargon. With plain English, a farm metaphor or two, and a very clear one-page plan.

Roy and Mary were about two years out from retirement, but they were very nervous. They had some idea of what it would cost them to live once they stopped working but were worried about whether they had enough in super and how long it would last. On top of that, they were also worried about another GFC but didn’t want to put their money in term deposits because the returns were so poor. Most importantly, they didn’t want a significant drop in lifestyle. They’d worked too hard for that. They also wanted to visit at least one new country a year beginning with Europe and Asia because they’d sacrificed so much earlier on due to work and family. Of course, like most grandparents, they wanted to spoil the grandkids with a sneaky trip to the shops without batting an eyelid plus take them on an overseas holiday later on. Hello, Disneyland! I showed Roy and Mary my ‘Cashcows 4 Life’ strategy and how it would grow their money. But most importantly, I was able to show them exactly how much income they would receive every year in retirement, for the rest of their lives. And what did this mean for them? They could retire with certainty. Also, their money would most likely outlive them which means they could pass it on to the kids, if they wanted to.

My typical client lives in the Inner West, owns their home (or nearly does), earns well, and has been quietly accumulating super for years without really knowing if it’s enough.

They’re not trying to get rich. They’re trying to get certain. They want to know they can retire without a dramatic drop in living standards — still turn the air-con on, take the grandkids out, jump on a plane once a year — without lying awake worrying about whether the money will run out.

Sound familiar?

The big multi-office financial planning firms will take your business. But you’ll get a different adviser every few years, a product catalogue disguised as a financial plan, and a fee structure that quietly works in their favour.

At Suncow Wealth, I’m fee-for-service only. No commissions. No product affiliations. No bank behind me. Just advice that’s built entirely around your situation — because that’s the only way it should work.

I’m also based in Balmain, which means I understand the Inner West property market, the kind of households my clients are running, and the specific financial pressures that come with being in this part of Sydney at this stage of life.

Retirement Income That Doesn’t Depend on the Markets

Most people invest like beef farmers. They buy low, hope to sell high, and rely on the markets going up to fund their retirement. The problem? Markets go down too — and if they go down at the wrong time, it can do serious damage to your retirement income.

My approach is different. I call it the 2 Cows Strategy — and it’s built around the dairy farmer model. Instead of selling assets to fund your retirement (beef cows), you build an asset base that generates consistent income regardless of what the markets are doing (dairy cows — milk flow, not muscle).

When you wake up on January 1, a dairy farmer knows within close proximity what their income will be for the year. That’s what I want for my clients. Certainty. Not hope.

If you’re not sure where to start, or you just want a clear picture of where you stand, the One Page Financial Plan is the best first step.

For a flat fee of $660 (inc GST), we’ll sit down together for a ninety-minute discovery meeting right here in Balmain and answer your two most important questions:

✓ How much do you need to retire?
✓ Will you have enough?

Low risk. Low cost. No obligation to do anything more. Just clarity.

→ Ready to get your number? Find out more about the One Page Financial Plan here.

Suncow Wealth is based in Balmain and works with clients across the Inner West and beyond, including Rozelle, Leichhardt, Drummoyne, Annandale, Glebe, Lilyfield, Five Dock, and Haberfield. We also work with clients remotely — it’s the world we live in.

Book Your Discovery Meeting

Email: adam@suncow.com.au
Phone: 0418 785 200

Adam Carey is the founder of Suncow Wealth, a fee-for-service financial planning practice based in Balmain, NSW. He specialises in retirement income planning for Inner West pre-retirees aged 50–65 and is the creator of the 2 Cows Strategy — a simple approach to building retirement income that doesn’t rely on the markets going up. BTW…he doesn’t wear a suit.