Retirement is about more than accumulating wealth: After decades of saving, retirement is the time to confidently use your wealth to support the lifestyle you’ve worked hard to achieve.
6 October, 2026
Are you making the most of your retirement?
First Financial Team
At First Financial, we are in the business of helping Australians forecast, plan and ultimately maximise their retirement years. For most of our working lives, the financial message is pretty straightforward: save more, contribute to super, invest wisely and prepare for retirement.
Often, we see retirement arrive, and suddenly, you’re supposed to do something that can feel completely unnatural. After spending 30 or 40 years accumulating wealth, you need to start using it.
That’s not always easy.
Many people are reaching the end of their lives with significant amounts of super remaining. The recent Government Report on Australia’s intergenerational future unearthed an interesting and somewhat confronting story. It highlighted that for people aged 65 and over who died in 2023–24, the median super balance in the year before death was around $76,000, and around 25% had balances above $250,000.
There can be many reasons for this, including wanting to leave money to family. But the report also points towards concerns about running out of money and the complexity of making financial decisions in retirement.
It raises an interesting question: after working hard to build your retirement savings, do you feel confident enough to enjoy them?
"Many people are reaching the end of their lives with significant amounts of super remaining"
Saving is one piece of the puzzle
Building wealth is akin to training for a marathon or a goal you have set for yourself. It takes discipline. While we are working, we get accustomed to an income, paying our bills and putting money aside for the future.
When you retire, that model is no longer in play. Your income stops, but the bills and everyday expenses don’t. Instead, your super, investments and other assets need to do the heavy lifting.
That change can be confronting. Watching your super balance fluctuate or making withdrawals from an investment portfolio can feel very different from receiving a regular salary.
This is where the discipline of a retirement plan takes over. Rather than looking at your wealth as one large pool of money that you’re slowly using up, you can start looking at how different assets can work together to provide income, growth and financial flexibility.
Retirement doesn't mean you stop investing
One misconception about retirement is that it means it’s time to stop investing for growth and move everything into conservative assets. For many people, that could mean overlooking just how long their investment timeframe actually is.
If you retire in your 60s and live into your 80s or 90s, some of your money could remain invested for another 20 or 30 years. Your investments play an important role throughout retirement.
The challenge is getting the balance right. You may want sufficient cash and defensive investments available to cover shorter-term needs without having to sell growth investments during an unfavourable market. Meanwhile, money you aren’t likely to need for many years may remain invested with a longer-term perspective.
A well-structured portfolio should be designed to do several jobs at once: provide income, retain accessible capital and pursue growth to help protect your purchasing power against inflation.
Know what you can afford to enjoy life after work
You’re meant to enjoy your retirement. Your working life has been leading to the “Golden Years”, and retirement shouldn’t become an ongoing exercise in worrying about whether you can afford to make the most of your time.
By investing in quality financial advice early, you have a clearer picture of what your assets can realistically support. That might involve modelling your expected retirement income and expenditure over many years and considering super, investments, cash, Centrelink entitlements, taxation and other assets.
At First Financial, we also model and test different scenarios. What happens if investment returns are lower than expected? What if inflation remains higher for longer? Could you afford to travel regularly? What happens if you help your children financially? What capital would you like to retain for future health or aged-care needs? How much would you like to leave behind?
There are no concrete correct answers. What matters is knowing how your choices affect the bigger picture.
Your financial strategy should change as your retirement does
A retirement lasting 20 or 30 years rarely looks the same from beginning to end. Your investment strategy shouldn’t be expected to remain unchanged either.
As we’ve seen often over the past few years, markets move, interest rates change, and tax and super rules evolve. Your spending patterns, health, family circumstances and priorities can also look very different at 75 than they did at 65. Regular financial advice provides an opportunity to review your position and make adjustments where necessary rather than relying on decisions made years earlier.
Reviews can involve changing investments, adjusting how you draw income, reviewing your super strategy, or simply confirming that you’re still comfortably on track.
Give yourself permission to enjoy retirement
Our role is to help you enter retirement in good shape and navigate it successfully. Retirement should be about understanding what you’ve built, how it can be invested appropriately and what sort of lifestyle it can sustainably support.
For some people, financial advice is about identifying where they need to be careful. For others, it’s about discovering they can afford more than they thought. At the end of the day, having a financial adviser in your corner ensures you have the information and support you need to make sound decisions that enable you to enjoy your retirement years.
“Our role is to help you enter retirement in good shape and navigate it successfully.”
The financial advice experts
The team at First Financial comprises financial experts who help hundreds of Australians retire well and make informed, intelligent financial decisions. We cover everything from retirement and financial advice, investment and wealth management, superannuation and SMSF, insurance, tax, aged care, legal and lending services.
Contact us for holistic, well-rounded financial management strategies.
Key Takeaways
Your money can continue working in retirement: A balanced investment strategy can provide income, maintain accessible capital and pursue long-term growth to help protect against inflation.
Knowing what you can afford creates confidence: Retirement modelling can help you understand how much you can sustainably spend while allowing for future needs, market changes and your desired legacy.
Your retirement strategy should evolve with you: regular financial advice can help adjust your investments, income, and superannuation strategy as your lifestyle, priorities, and financial environment change.
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Every client journey begins with a conversation. We look closely at where you are now, what matters to you, and what’s possible. Then we structure our advice to match.
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Roadmap
A clear, personalised path to your financial goals.
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Proactive strategies to maximise your tax savings.
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Tailored plans aligned with your goals and risk profile.
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Regular guidance to keep your plan on track.
CLIENT STORY
John
Life Stage:
Retired business owner
Background:
After decades of running a successful pharmacy, John sought financial guidance to simplify decision-making and support long-term planning.
- Navigated the sale of a long-held business
- Wanted simple, honest advice after burnout
- Needed a hands-on adviser he could talk to
- Desired financial guidance aligned with lifestyle goals
- Crafted a strategy that supports relaxed, post-work life
- Offered approachable, plain-English advice
- Maintained an ongoing, trustworthy relationship
- Provided flexibility with investments and cash flow
“I feel genuinely supported by First Financial. I can ask anything, and there’s no pressure, just clear advice and real care. The money’s growing, I’m not stressed about it, and I feel completely at ease for the first time. I don’t miss work, but I’d miss the support I get from First Financial.”
CLIENT STORY
Tim and Adam
Life Stage:
Early retirement and working professional
Background:
When Tim received an overseas medical settlement, he and Adam had just 14 days left in a 90-day window. They needed clear guidance, fast. A referral led them to First Financial.
- Only two weeks left to meet urgent legal and financial deadlines
- Wanted to preserve capital while setting up income for the future
- Needed a plan that supported both retirement and ongoing work
- Hoped to find advice that felt personal, not transactional
- Managed every moving piece, from legal documents to super rollovers
- Designed a strategy that supported both Tim’s retirement and Adam’s career
- Offered clear guidance with steady follow-through, with no stress or pressure
- Built in ethical investing and flexibility, without sacrificing performance
“We’re in totally different life stages, but First Financial built a strategy that supports us both. From urgent legal steps to ethical investing, they handled every detail with calm, care, and real expertise. It’s financial freedom without compromise, and we couldn’t have done it without them.”
CLIENT STORY
Larry and Virginia
Life Stage:
Newly retired
Background:
As retirement neared, Larry and Virginia were ready to enjoy travel, family, and freedom, without uncertainty. A friend recommended First Financial, and from the first meeting, they had a clear plan, a safety net, and people they trusted.
- Wanted to travel and enjoy retirement without second-guessing finances
- Needed a structured income plan with buffers for the unexpected
- Valued guidance that felt honest and human, not overcomplicated
- Needed people they could call and count on
- Created a reliable income stream with a set-aside safety net for the unexpected
- Gave them the freedom to travel and spend meaningfully with family
- Kept advice simple, thoughtful, and tailored to what mattered to them
- Built a lasting partnership based on trust
“We’ve travelled the world, Europe, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, without once stressing about the money. They made everything feel simple and gave us the confidence to live well. We feel secure because we know exactly where we stand, and that peace of mind means everything.”
CLIENT STORY
Jan
Life Stage:
Retired
Background:
Jan's husband managed the finances until entering aged care. Jan gradually stepped into the financial picture with First Financial’s support.
- Needed financial guidance after business sale
- Lacked experience managing complex finances
- Sought consistent income and long-term structure
- Wanted a familiar, reliable relationship
- Provided long-term support through several transitions
- Helped structure income reliably for retirement
- Empowered Jan through education and reassurance
- Delivered calm advice through both grief and growth
“The money just comes in. I don’t have to think about it. And I know they’re always there. They’ve always been there in the background, just quietly making things work.”
CLIENT STORY
Lyn
Life Stage:
Retired widow
Background:
Lyn stepped into financial management for the first time after her husband's passing. With patience and care, First Financial supported her through grief, learning, and empowerment.
- Had never managed finances before
- Was overwhelmed after her husband’s passing
- Needed plain-English explanations and patience
- Sought emotional support and practical clarity
- Offered caring, respectful advice at her pace
- Rebuilt confidence with diagrams, stories, and reassurance
- Supported gradual decision-making around retirement
- Remained a trusted constant through major transitions
“After my husband passed, I was completely unsure where to start. First Financial gave me the space to learn, to ask questions, to grow confident. They drew a diagram that I still have. And now, I sleep well at night knowing I’ve got someone in my corner.”
CLIENT STORY
Graeme and Craig
Life Stage:
Retired and semi-retired
Background:
Referred by friends who were helped through aged care, Craig sought secure financial guidance after inheriting funds.
- Invest inheritance securely without high risk
- Maintain a modest lifestyle with confidence
- Building trust for someone new to advice
- Accessible, personalised advice
- Provided a low-risk strategy with regular income
- Reassured with steady, market-aware updates
- Established trust through responsiveness and warmth
- Delivered calm, expert support through all transitions
“We feel very secure with First Financial, the income just comes in, and we know everything is being looked after. It’s not just safe, it’s smart. We’ve recommended them to others because we genuinely believe in the team.”
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why can it be difficult to start spending my retirement savings?
After decades of saving and building wealth, switching to drawing down your super and investments can feel uncomfortable. A clear retirement plan can help you understand what you can sustainably afford to spend.
Should I keep investing after I retire?
Yes, depending on your circumstances and risk profile. With retirement potentially lasting 20 or 30 years, maintaining appropriate exposure to growth investments may help your savings keep pace with inflation and support your longer-term income needs.
How much of my super should I spend in retirement?
There is no single amount that suits everyone. Your appropriate level of spending will depend on your assets, expected lifespan, lifestyle, investment strategy, income needs and how much capital you would like to retain.
How can I make my retirement income last longer?
A well-structured strategy can combine super, investments, cash and other assets to provide income while maintaining appropriate opportunities for growth. Regular reviews can also help ensure your strategy remains aligned with changing markets and circumstances.
Why should my financial strategy change during retirement?
Your lifestyle, spending, health and family circumstances can change considerably throughout retirement. Markets, interest rates, taxation and superannuation rules also evolve, making regular reviews an important part of long-term retirement planning.
How can financial planning help me enjoy retirement more?
Financial planning can give you a clearer understanding of what your accumulated wealth can realistically support. This can provide greater confidence to spend on travel, family, hobbies and other priorities without constantly worrying about running out of money.
How does First Financial help clients reach their retirement potential?
First Financial develops holistic retirement strategies that incorporate superannuation, investments, retirement income, taxation, Centrelink, and estate planning considerations. We can also model different scenarios to help you understand what your wealth can sustainably support throughout retirement.
Can First Financial help me work out whether I can afford to spend more in retirement?
Yes. First Financial can assess your financial position, lifestyle goals and future needs to determine whether you are on track and how much flexibility you may have to enjoy the wealth you’ve built.