Inspired Money

26/05/2026

Quick myth-bust: you can have $722,000 in assets and still get an Age Pension.

Most people assume the cut-off is much lower — and they're wrong by a lot. The 2026 thresholds let plenty of Australians with healthy super balances still receive a part pension (plus the very useful Pensioner Concession Card).

We've just put together a plain-English guide to Age Pension eligibility for 2026 — what the new thresholds are, how the assets and income tests work, and two worked examples to show how it actually plays out in real life.

Have a read 👉 https://inspiredmoney.com.au/blog/age-pension-eligibility-australia/

Helping you achieve your goals is what we do.

Age Pension eligibility Australia explained: age, residency, assets and income tests in plain English, with worked examples and current 2026 thresholds.

19/05/2026

Most Australians in their 40s have no idea if their super is on track.

Here's the honest answer.

Industry benchmarks suggest a 40-year-old aiming for a comfortable retirement should have around $168,000 in superannuation right now.

The median balance? Around $108,000 for men and $79,000 for women.

That gap is real — but it's also very closeable. You've still got 20+ years of compounding growth ahead, and your 40s are actually one of the best decades to play catch-up.

Our latest article breaks down exactly where most Australians stand, why most people are behind (and why that's okay), and the practical steps you can take right now, including a worked example showing how an extra $400/month could mean $310,000 more at retirement.

No jargon. No alarm bells. Just clear, useful information.

👇 Read the full guide — link in comments.

01/05/2026

Aged care planning is one of those conversations families keep putting off.

Until they can't anymore.

In our client meetings, we now walk through a live fee estimator together — so families can see exactly what residential care is likely to cost before they're in the middle of a crisis.

It covers fees, accommodation options, RAD vs DAP, and even hardship eligibility. All in real time, all in plain English.

We're also releasing a self-serve version shortly so you can explore the numbers in your own time before we meet. 💚

If this is on your radar — for a parent, a partner, or yourself — reach out and let's book a time.

For discussion purposes only — not financial advice.

28/04/2026

Here's a question almost every Perth local in their 50s and 60s asks at some point:

"Do I actually have enough to retire?"

The honest answer? It's rarely a single number. Enough depends on the life you want to lead — not just the balance in your super.

A simple way to start:

Picture a normal Tuesday five years into retirement. Where in Perth (or WA) are you living? How are you spending the morning? Who are you having lunch with?

That picture is the real plan. The dollars are just there to support it.

From there, three things shape the number:

→ What does a comfortable week cost you now
→ What changes when you stop working (some costs drop, others go up)
→ How long the money needs to last — usually 25 to 30 years

Add in your super, any Age Pension entitlements, and investments outside super, and the picture starts to come together.

If retirement is on the horizon and you'd like a second set of eyes on the plan, our Perth-based team would love to help. Book a free, no-pressure chat at inspiredmoney.com.au.

https://inspiredmoney.com.au/blog/retirement-planning-perth-enough/

Discover effective retirement planning strategies in Perth to achieve the retirement lifestyle you truly desire.

24/04/2026

Today we pause.

ANZAC Day reminds us that the freedoms we often take for granted were paid for by people who never got to enjoy them.

It’s easy to think of legacy as something we build, wealth, assets, plans.

But ANZAC Day flips that idea.

Legacy isn’t what you accumulate.
It’s what you’re willing to stand for.

Courage. Sacrifice. Service.
These aren’t financial concepts, but they shape every meaningful life.

At Inspired Money, we spend our days helping people plan for the future.

But days like this remind us… the future exists because of the past.

So tomorrow, take a moment.

Reflect on what’s been given.
And maybe ask yourself, what will you pass on?

Lest we forget.

16/04/2026

Inflation is rising. Your mortgage repayment isn't.

That's not a coincidence, it's actually one of the quietest financial advantages a homeowner can have.

Here's how it works:

When you lock in a fixed rate, that repayment stays exactly the same, no matter what happens to prices around you. But your income tends to rise with inflation over time. Your property, a real, physical asset, tends to reprice upward, too.

So while your debt stays fixed in dollar terms, your home's value climbs and your real debt burden shrinks.

You're building equity from both directions at once.

Warren Buffett has called the fixed-rate mortgage "an incredible instrument." Ray Dalio describes hard assets financed with fixed nominal debt as one of the few genuine wealth preservation strategies in inflationary environments. That's a rare consensus.

History backs it up. During the inflationary shock of the late 1970s, US mortgage rates peaked at 18%. But homeowners who had locked in 9% rates years earlier saw their real debt burden cut nearly in half, while their property values doubled.

In Australia, our fixed terms are shorter. But the principle is the same.

If you have a mortgage, inflation might be working harder for you than you think.

We've written a full breakdown on our latest blog below.



*General information only. Please seek advice from a licensed financial adviser before making decisions.

Discover how inflation may positively impact your mortgage and interest rates, providing unexpected advantages for homeowners.

08/04/2026

There’s a difference between managing wealth…
and understanding how it’s actually built.

That’s why we're excited to welcome Kyle Sebalja to Inspired Money.

Kyle’s background isn’t just financial advice.

It’s accounting, capital markets, and corporate advisory, including high-level work on capital raises and investment strategy.

He’s seen how money moves before it ever gets to the client.

Now he brings that perspective into financial planning.

His focus is working with clients in the accumulation phase, people who are building toward something and want clarity on how to get there faster.

What stood out to us though?

He has the ability to take complex ideas and make them simple, and that’s one of the most underrated skills in advice.

Welcome to the team, Kyle.

02/04/2026

Volatility isn’t risk, but your reaction to it might be.

Most investors see charts like this and think something’s gone wrong.

Returns jumping up and down. Red months. Uncertainty.

But that is the process.

Here’s what the data shows:

• Volatility is normal, even in strong strategies
• The VIX measures expected movement, not direction
• Periods of market stress have historically led to strong forward returns

Or more simply:

The uncomfortable moments are often where the opportunity sits.

The real risk?

Not volatility...but making the wrong decision because of it.

If your strategy only works when markets are calm, it’s probably not a strategy.

If recent market swings have you questioning things, Shane Mitchell's recent blog is worth a read.

Volatility is simply the range of outcomes.

01/04/2026

Most people fall into financial advice.

Very few stay in it long enough to understand it from every angle.

That’s why we're genuinely excited to welcome Mei Alford to Inspired Money.

Mei’s worked across almost every role in this profession — client services, paraplanning, compliance, practice management, and as a Responsible Manager.

That matters.

Because the best advisers don’t just give advice…they understand what actually happens after the strategy is written.

What stood out to us, though, wasn’t just her experience...it was her philosophy.

She believes small, consistent changes over time can completely transform someone’s financial future — and that advice should be about guiding people through that journey, not just delivering a plan.

That’s exactly how we think about it.

We’re building a team that isn’t just technically strong — but genuinely invested in the people we work with.

Welcome to the team, Mei. We look forward to helping you create the impact you are capable of and that Australians need👏

11/03/2026

Family trusts aren’t a magic tax trick.

They’re a strategic tool — when used for the right reasons.

Too many business owners set one up without understanding:
• the $25k–$38k long-term cost
• the tax reality vs companies
• the ATO red flags like s100A

Sometimes a simple company structure is the smarter move.

Know the strategy before copying what everyone else is doing.




General Advice Disclaimer: This information is general in nature and doesn’t consider your objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider whether it’s appropriate for you and seek professional advice.