When can I afford to retire?
We model your goals against your super, savings, debts, and Age Pension eligibility. You get a date range, not a guess.
Advice service
Retirement planning, honestly.
When you can afford to stop working, how much income you'll need, and how to turn your super and savings into reliable income for the rest of your life. We help pre-retirees and retirees across Brisbane, Logan, and the Gold Coast answer those questions with a personal, written plan, in plain English, and a fee quoted up front.
Book a meeting
Free first meeting. No obligation.
15+ years retirement specialists
5.0 from 58+ Google reviews
Fee-based · no commissions
AQF Level 8 credential
Akumin AFSL 232706
Scope of work
What we help you work out.
Most people we sit down with are within ten years of finishing work. They've saved reasonably well, but they're second-guessing themselves. Is it enough? What do I do with three old super funds? How much Age Pension will I get? What happens if markets fall the year I retire?
We work through all of that with you. In plain English. No jargon. No pressure to buy anything.
Will my money last?
We project your income over 30 years, stress-tested against poor market years and higher-than-expected inflation.
How do I turn super into income?
We map your options (account-based pension, transition to retirement, annuities) and recommend what fits your situation.
What happens if the market crashes early?
We structure your drawdown and defensive allocation so a down year doesn't permanently hurt your plan (sequencing risk).
How do I maximise my Age Pension?
We run the assets and income tests, then show you structuring options that are compliant and genuinely effective.
Should I pay off my mortgage first?
We compare the return from extra super contributions vs paying down debt given your marginal tax rate and timeframe.
Case study · Pre-retirement
How we helped a Daisy Hill couple retire two years earlier.
$680K
Super across 3 funds
2 yrs
Earlier retirement
Clear
Income stream for life
When they came to us
Five years from retirement. $680,000 in super spread across three funds. No clear plan for how to turn it into reliable income.
What we did
Consolidated their super. Restructured contributions to maximise their tax position. Modelled their Age Pension entitlement to see how super and pension would work together.
Outcome
They're now set to retire two years earlier than they thought, with a clear income stream that covers their lifestyle for the long run.
Composite scenario. Names and specifics changed for privacy. Your situation will differ.
Not sure if you're on track?
A free first meeting works that out in an hour. No obligation, no sales pitch.
Book a meetingFurther reading
Three guides for retirement.
Plain-English reads to go through before or after your first meeting.
Retirement planning
Pre-retirement checklist for Australians in their 50s and 60s
The practical jobs to sort before you stop working — debt, cash flow, super, pension timing.
Read article →
Superannuation
How much super do I need to retire comfortably?
A clearer way to think about comfort, modest living, and how Age Pension changes the number you need.
Read article →
Age Pension
Age Pension in 2026: rates, changes, and what to watch
Useful if part of your retirement plan will depend on the pension, deeming rates, or the tests.
Read article →The process
How we work with you.
Four steps, clear at every stage. The first two are free so you can decide whether we're the right fit before any money changes hands.
Intro call
A quick call to understand where you are and what you want retirement to look like. Free, no commitment, and we'll tell you if we're not the right fit.
Discovery meeting
A proper sit-down (usually 60 to 90 minutes) where we map your goals, your super, your investments, and the gaps. Still no charge.
Your written plan
We build a specific strategy with projections, recommended actions, and a fee you agree to before we start. Everything in plain English.
Annual reviews
We check in every year and adjust for changes in your life, the rules, and the markets. Most of our clients stay with us for the long run.
Retirement income
What it might look like at 65.
Here's what typical Australian households can expect at 65, based on 2026 Age Pension rates and a standard drawdown. These aren't projections of your situation. They're ballpark scenarios to show how super and pension work together.
| Household | Super at 65 | Age Pension | Est. annual income | Lifestyle (ASFA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single homeowner | $300,000 | Full pension | $38,000 | Modest |
| Single homeowner | $600,000 | Part pension | $48,000 | Modest to comfortable |
| Couple homeowners | $700,000 | Full pension | $58,000 | Modest to comfortable |
| Couple homeowners | $1,200,000 | Part pension | $75,000 | Comfortable |
| Couple homeowners | $2,000,000 | No pension | $95,000 | Comfortable, with discretion |
Indicative only. Based on 2026 Age Pension rates, a 4% drawdown, and the ASFA Retirement Standard. Your actual income depends on investment returns, drawdown strategy, and life expectancy.
Fees
What advice actually costs.
Straight numbers up front. No commissions, no trailing surprises. You know what you'll pay before you commit.
Statement of Advice
From $3,500
A written plan, quoted in dollars before you commit. Typical range $3,500–$6,500.
First meeting
Always free
A no-obligation chat to work out whether advice makes sense for your situation.
How I'm paid
Fee-based
Paid by you, not by product commissions. Authorised Rep of Akumin (AFSL 232706).
General information only. Actual fees depend on your individual needs and are quoted in writing before you commit.
Why us
Why clients choose us for retirement.
Experience
15+
Years advising pre-retirees.
Across Brisbane, Logan, and the Gold Coast. Pre-retirement and retirement planning is the core of what we do, not a sideline.
See George's profileRatings
Average from 58+ Google reviews.
Every review is public and unedited on our Google Business Profile. No filter, no cherry picking.
Read them on GoogleFees
Fee-based
No commissions, no kickbacks.
You pay us directly. Every cost quoted in writing before work starts. Authorised Representative of Akumin (AFSL 232706).
How we're paidAlso Springwood office with free parking·Plain English, no jargon·AQF Level 8 credential
Q01 When should I start planning for retirement?
Ideally 10 to 15 years before you plan to stop working. The biggest levers (contribution strategies, debt payoff, investment allocation) need time to play out. That said, it's never too late. A review in the last year of work still finds options most people don't know about.
Q02 How much super do I need to retire comfortably in Australia?
The ASFA Retirement Standard (March 2026) suggests a couple who own their home needs around $690,000 and a single person around $595,000 for a comfortable retirement, assuming a part Age Pension. If you want a modest retirement (essentials but not much discretionary), around $100,000 gets you there for a couple, or $100,000 for a single, with a full Age Pension. Your actual number depends on lifestyle, housing, and how long you live.
Q03 Can I retire on $500,000 in super?
Yes, for many Australians $500,000 works, especially if you own your home outright and qualify for a part or full Age Pension. A homeowner couple with $500K and a full part pension can generate around $55,000 to $60,000 a year, which sits between the ASFA modest and comfortable benchmarks. Whether it's enough for you comes down to your spending, not a generic number.
Q04 How does the Age Pension work alongside my super?
Once you reach Age Pension age (currently 67), Centrelink assesses you under two tests: an assets test and an income test. They pay you whichever gives the lower pension. Your super counts under both tests once you move it to pension phase. We structure your assets to maximise your entitlement within the rules.
Q05 Should I pay off my mortgage before retiring?
For most pre-retirees, yes. Carrying mortgage debt into retirement adds stress and reduces flexibility. But it's not automatic. We compare the after-tax return from extra super contributions (especially with concessional caps and tax-free earnings in pension phase) against your mortgage rate, then pick the move that makes you more money.
Q06 Do I need a financial adviser to retire?
Legally, no. Practically, the decisions involved (super drawdown, Age Pension structuring, tax, estate, insurance, investment allocation) interact in ways that cost real money when they go wrong. If your situation is simple and you enjoy reading MoneySmart, you might not. If it's complex or you just want a second pair of eyes, a one-off plan usually pays for itself.
Related services
Other ways we help.
Superannuation advice
Contribution strategy and fund consolidation.
SMSF strategy
Whether your own fund actually fits.
Insurance advice
Life, TPD, income protection, trauma.
Investment advice
Portfolios and tax-effective structures.
Age Pension guidance
Eligibility, asset tests, optimisation.
Aged care planning
Means-tested fees, family home decisions.
Common questions
The retirement questions clients ask most.
Meet the adviser
George Iacovou — 16+ years, AQF Level 8.
Something else?
Tell us in a quick message and we'll reply.
Meet your adviser
George Iacovou
- AQF Level 8
- AFSL 232706
- FASEA Certified
“I’ve been doing this since 2009. The work I’m best at sits in the decade before retirement, the choices that actually shape what your life looks like after work.”
“I’m fee-based, so I’m paid by you, not by the products I recommend.”
“If advice doesn’t add value for your situation, I’ll tell you that.”
One next step
Let's look at this properly.
The first meeting is free. We'll work out whether advice actually makes sense for your situation — and tell you if it doesn't.
