Financial
Roadmap
A clear, personalised path to your financial goals.
Retirement Planning
Plan for the lifestyle you want, with expert advice carefully tailored to your goals, income, and timeline. We offer retirement planning that adapts to change and supports every stage of your journey.
Understanding what’s involved
You’ve worked hard to build your life and your wealth. Retirement should be a time to enjoy, not to stress about money. Questions like how much you’ll need, when you can retire, or whether you should be salary sacrificing are all worth asking. At First Financial, we provide clear answers and a personalised approach to retirement planning, built on experience and aligned with your goals.
Retirement no longer means slowing down, tt means having options. We help you plan for financial freedom with a strategy that supports the way you want to live—whether that’s travelling the world or setting something aside for the next generation.
Start sooner, retire smarter
Retirement isn’t a single moment on life’s milestone map. It’s a chapter that can span decades. The earlier you begin preparing, the more options you’ll have to grow and protect your wealth. And with the right strategy, retiring doesn’t have to mean a drop in income. We help you make informed decisions about how to structure your assets and draw income in a way that supports your lifestyle, now and into the future.
Every retirement scenario is different, and the right plan can make all the difference to your outcome. The best way to start is with a conversation about where you are and where you want to be.
A collaborative process with personalised advice
Your lifestyle and aspirations will ultimately shape your income needs in retirement. Because everyone’s vision is different, there’s no single approach that works for every person.
That’s why retirement planning requires an ongoing partnership, so as life evolves, your strategy can adapt with it.
Trust, depth and continuity are the foundation of retirement planning at First Financial.
You’ll have questions, but we don’t just give answers. We offer context, conversation and consistency to support your journey to financial freedom.
“Retirement no longer means slowing down. It means having options.”
YOUR FINANCIAL JOUNEY
Building your financial future
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.
Financial
Tax
Efficiency
Proactive strategies to maximise your tax savings.
Personalised
Investing
Tailored plans aligned with your goals and risk profile.
Ongoing
Support
Regular guidance to keep your plan on track.
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
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
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
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
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
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.”
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I start planning for retirement?
It’s never too early to start. The sooner you begin, the more flexibility and opportunity you’ll have to build and protect your wealth. A strong strategy takes time to grow, and starting early gives you greater control over your financial future.
How much money will I need to retire comfortably?
That depends on your lifestyle, spending habits and long-term goals. We work with you to define what retirement looks like for you, then build a strategy around your desired income and future needs.
Can I still retire if I haven’t saved enough yet?
Even if retirement is close and your savings aren’t where you’d like them to be, there may still be practical strategies we can put in place. It’s never too late to seek advice and improve your financial outlook.
What does retirement planning with First Financial involve?
It begins with a conversation about your goals, finances and aspirations. From there, we create a tailored plan to help manage your assets, draw income effectively, and adapt your strategy as life changes.
What to expect
Introductory Call
Your first contact with us is typically through a phone call. We aim to understand your needs early on, address any immediate questions, and make sure we’re the perfect match.
Discovery Meeting
This meeting will be more in-depth, allowing us to thoroughly understand your situation, financial goals, and priorities. We will clearly explain our fees, so you know what to expect.
Strategy
We’ll take the time to analyse, evaluate, and develop strategies to determine an effective path to achieve your goals and address your priorities.
Recommendations
We take the time to go through your tailored plan, in a simple, straightforward manner. Our goal is to provide clarity and confidence, so you can see a clear path forward.
Implementation
Following your approval, our team will proactively guide the process to implement your recommendations and set you on the path to achieve your lifestyle and financial goals.
Partnership
Our partnership keeps you on track with regular check-ins, clear updates, and next steps. When life changes, we review and adjust your plan so it stays aligned to what matters.