Retirement Essentials

Retirement Essentials Applying for the Age Pension can be a nightmare. Our service helps you understand, apply for and ke

We help our members understand, apply and keep their Age Pension entitlements. Our service guides retirees to complete the application requirements without having to fill out the Centrelink forms (we do it for them!).

Planning a regional move? How Tina and Greg protected their pension when building a country home.
03/09/2026

Planning a regional move? How Tina and Greg protected their pension when building a country home.

Trading a city unit in Melbourne for a sprawling 17-acre regional block sounds like the ultimate retirement escape.

Feeling asset-rich but cash-poor? Four key steps to take control and maximise your Age Pension.
01/09/2026

Feeling asset-rich but cash-poor? Four key steps to take control and maximise your Age Pension.

Tackling the next critical step: ensuring you're getting the most out of your government entitlements and Age Pension.

Over 60 and still working? Here is how to access your super and keep working without fully retiring.
30/08/2026

Over 60 and still working? Here is how to access your super and keep working without fully retiring.

If you are over 60 and still working, you might assume that accessing your super means retiring completely. It does not necessarily.

Thinking of tapping into your property’s value? How Kim and Jeff unlocked home equity for a Noosa retirement.
27/08/2026

Thinking of tapping into your property’s value? How Kim and Jeff unlocked home equity for a Noosa retirement.

For many older Australians, the family home holds significant value that can be safely tapped to fund lifestyle goals or income shortfalls.

Time for a financial spring clean? Easy ways to take control, update your settings, and refresh your retirement income.
25/08/2026

Time for a financial spring clean? Easy ways to take control, update your settings, and refresh your retirement income.

Spring is a wonderful reminder to clear out the clutter, and your retirement finances deserve the same fresh start.

Is deeming lowering your Age Pension payments? All you need to know about how Centrelink calculates your investment inco...
24/08/2026

Is deeming lowering your Age Pension payments? All you need to know about how Centrelink calculates your investment income.

Deeming can sound complicated, but the basic idea is quite simple. How your assets and the Age Pension interact.

The 20 September 2026 Age Pension changes are here: Find out what higher payments, new deeming rates, and updated limits...
24/08/2026

The 20 September 2026 Age Pension changes are here: Find out what higher payments, new deeming rates, and updated limits mean for your wallet.

The good news is that the expected increase to the base rate increase on 20 September is significant. How will this affect you?

Moving a loved one into aged care can feel overwhelming, especially with the complex financial rules around the family h...
20/08/2026

Moving a loved one into aged care can feel overwhelming, especially with the complex financial rules around the family home, aged care deposits, and Centrelink tests. Whether it makes sense to keep, rent or sell the family home depends on who is still living there and how you plan to pay your aged care fees. Since these decisions affect your pension and care costs differently, it is critical to get it right to protect your entitlements and pay any aged care fees in the most efficient way.

Here are answers to five of the most commonly asked questions about navigating residential aged care from our advisers

Proposed changes to Capital Gains Tax from July 2027 will replace the flat 50 per cent discount on assets held for more ...
18/08/2026

Proposed changes to Capital Gains Tax from July 2027 will replace the flat 50 per cent discount on assets held for more than 12 months with an inflation-adjusted cost base. Any capital growth built up before 30 June 2027 will remain under the current rules, making accurate asset records essential for the transition date. Age Pension recipients are exempt from the new 30 per cent minimum tax rate, meaning they continue to pay lower marginal rates on capital gains. While your family home remains fully exempt, timing the future sale of other assets sales could significantly change your overall tax position. You can model different asset sale scenarios and pension impacts using our Retirement Forecaster.

Proposed Capital Gains Tax (CGT) changes from 1 July 2027 could affect the amount of tax you pay when you sell.

While the Reserve Bank of Australia held interest rates steady last week, rising living costs mean many older Australian...
16/08/2026

While the Reserve Bank of Australia held interest rates steady last week, rising living costs mean many older Australians on fixed incomes are feeling the pinch. As a result, some adult children are stepping in to help with housing, medical bills or home modifications. The good news is that if family members pay your bills directly, your Age Pension typically remains unaffected. However, if cash gifts remain in your bank account, they become assessable assets and are subject to deeming rules. You can use our Age Pension Eligibility Calculator to see how a change in your cash balance impacts your fortnightly payments.

An easy way to get and keep your Age Pension. Make sure you get all you are entitled to. Try our free online Age Pension calculator today

Address

100 Walker Street
North Sydney, NSW
2060

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Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

1300 527 727

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