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Roadmap
A clear, personalised path to your financial goals.
29 April, 2021
Sea, city or country: how to decide where to retire
First Financial Team
Retirement isn’t a time where you surrender yourself to old age. It’s a new chapter, without the worries of work and filling most of your days with the goal of earning a living, because you’ve spent 40 years already doing this.
Retirement is freedom to live the way you’ve always dreamed. It’s liberation, relaxation and, daresay, even fun. Yes, fun. With the average life expectancy being 83.64 years (with that number trending upwards), retirement is rich with experiences and ticking off more of your ‘bucket list’.
To retire comfortably, it’s necessary to start reverse-engineering your dream life, post-work.
This is the stage of your life where it’s okay to be a little bit selfish. The kids have their own independent lives, so you can look at the things you’ve always wanted to do with your time, like volunteer or learn a new skill. There’s no one-retirement-fits-all plan – the beauty of this time is you get to call the shots.
What kind of lifestyle do you imagine?
Reflect on the life you’d always envisioned for your retirement. What feels right for you? What makes you excited, inspired, comfortable and confident? Think about how much money you’ll need to maintain this lifestyle.
Consider your hobbies, a business, kids and grandkids, pets, friends, community, health, the weather, convenience and safety. This will guide one of the most important questions: where will we retire?
The beach, city or nature?
Where you live will have a major impact on your retirement. Whether you remain in your family house, downsize in the same community or move altogether, where ‘home’ is for you will influence how your retirement plays out.
A retirement village in the city suburbs is extremely different to a beach house by the ocean.
Beach towns, for example, attract more people during the summer months. Are you happy living in an area that has a high-season, or would you prefer a more remote, private lifestyle? Do you expect to have regular visitors? If so, make it easy for them to travel to you.
Do you like getting outdoors in your spare time? Are you more of a mountain-hike person, or perhaps an avid camper? In your search, look for locations that are close to National Parks so that you can easily satisfy your desire to be close to nature.
Or maybe you plan to continue city-based activities during the week and help your kids with babysitting. A residential development on the city’s outskirts, alive with a connected community, could be your lifestyle preference.
Let your reflection guide you
It’s worthwhile doing a test-run in a couple of different places. Book a visit to each region to get a feel for life there.
What’s the community like? How’s the weather year-round? Are there areas well located to public transport, health facilities and shopping centres? If you plan to do casual work or volunteer, are there opportunities present? Is it easy for people to come and visit?
Talk to as many people as possible. Connect with other retirees, spark up a conversation at a café, and drop into the police station to get a sense of how secure the neighbourhood is.
Living somewhere is very different to taking a holiday. Invite family and close friends over for the day, so you can get their thoughts, too.
Once you settle on an area, it’s a good idea to rent first (if you plan to buy a house again)… that way it won’t be a big deal if you change your mind, one year in.
Retirement, your way
Your retirement will look different to that of your friends. We can help you plan and design it, so it serves your lifestyle. Sea, city or country, our team of retirement specialists will make it your new reality. Contact us today.
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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
Graeme and Craig
Life Stage:
Retired and semi-retired
Background:
Referred by friends 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.”
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
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
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
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.”
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