Last Tuesday, I sat across from Margaret, 63, at a cafe on Darling Street. She’d just finished her last day at the inner west council after 28 years. Retirement officially started Monday. “I’m thinking of picking up some part-time work,” she said. “Two days a week, maybe admin or bookkeeping. Just to keep busy.” Then …
Continue reading “Should You Keep Working Part-Time in Retirement? The Balmain Answer”
“How much do I need in super to retire?” That’s the question I hear at least three times a week from Balmain locals. And every time, I have to gently explain that they’re asking the wrong question. Don’t get me wrong – it’s a natural question. When you open your super statement and see a …
Continue reading “Retirement Income vs Lump Sum: Why Balmain Locals Are Asking the Wrong Question”
Let me guess. You’re lying awake at 2am again, running the numbers in your head. Your super balance. Your age. That retirement date you’ve been circling on the calendar. You’ve Googled “how much do I need to retire” approximately 47 times this month. And every article gives you a different answer. Some say $500,000. Others …
Continue reading “How Much Do I Need to Retire? (And Why It Might Surprise You)”
You’re 57. Or 61. Or 63. You’ve been thinking about retirement for years now. Maybe decades. But every time you get close to making a decision, the doubt creeps in. “Am I really ready?” “What if I’ve missed something?” “Everyone else seems so confident about their retirement plan. Why don’t I?” Here’s the truth: Most …
You’re smart with money. You’ve built a career, paid down your mortgage, saved into super for decades. But when you think about retirement, something doesn’t feel right. It’s 2am and you’re lying awake doing the math again. Will you have enough? Should you work longer? What if you run out? This is FORO—Fear of Running …
Continue reading “4 Retirement Mistakes Balmain Residents Make (And How to Fix Them)”
You’ve got $600,000 in super. Maybe a bit more. Maybe a bit less. But you’re somewhere in that ballpark. And every time you look at that number, you feel the same knot in your stomach. “Is this enough?” “Everyone says I need a million.” “What if I run out?” You’ve Googled “how much super do …
Continue reading “What $600,000 in Super Actually Buys You in Retirement (Balmain Edition)”
Let me guess. You’re lying in bed at 2am, doing the math again. Your super balance. Your age. The retirement date you’ve been circling on the calendar. You’ve Googled “how much super do I need to retire” approximately 47 times this year. Each article gives you a different answer. Some say $500,000. Others say $1.2 …
Continue reading “How to Know If Your Super Is Enough (Without Hiring Anyone… Yet)”
You’ve been working for 35 years. Your mortgage is almost paid off. The kids have moved out. You’ve got a decent super balance – not millions, but respectable. But when you think about retiring, something holds you back. “Maybe I need a few more years.” “What if I haven’t saved enough?” “Everyone else seems to …
Continue reading “5 Signs You’re Ready to Retire (Even If You Think You’re Not)”
You’ve done everything “right.” You’ve been putting money into super for decades. You’ve paid down the mortgage. You’ve maybe even seen a financial planner or two over the years. But somehow, you still don’t feel ready to retire. You read articles about retirement planning. You listen to podcasts. You attend seminars. And every expert seems …
You’ve heard it everywhere. Financial magazines. News websites. That mate at the pub who “read somewhere” that… “You need $1 million in super to retire comfortably in Australia.” And every time you hear it, your stomach drops. Because you’re not even close to that number. Maybe you’ve got $600,000 in super. Maybe $400,000. Maybe you’re …
Continue reading “The $1 Million Retirement Myth: What Balmain Pre-Retirees Actually Need”
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