How To Live A Comfortable Lifestyle In Retirement
By Casey Shaw, Financial Advisor
We all have a vision of our perfect retirement. But whether it’s travelling around the country in a luxurious motor home, playing golf every day or spending more time with the grandkids, how do you accumulate enough to pay for your golden years?
How much do I need to live my lifestyle?
Lifestyle is a personal choice. The big question is: How much do you need to save while you’re working to pay your preferred retirement lifestyle?
A good place to start is to calculate how much you need to meet basic living costs. You could use your current expenses as a guide, but keep in mind that these may be quite different during retirement.
What about the age pension?
The age pension is designed as a safety net for those who can’t self-fund their retirement. The payment for a single person represents less than 30% of the average male weekly earnings. A person receiving the base maximum single-rate age pension will receive $907.60 each fortnight, or $23,597.60 annually, while a couple entitled to the full rate will receive a combined amount of $1,368.20 each fortnight, or $35,573.20 annually.
This may be enough to cover basic essential expenses, but most retirees want a better standard of living and are more active in retirement than previous generations. For these people, the age pension won’t be enough. Take this for example.
Living a modest lifestyle
The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) Retirement Standard provides an insight into the cost of different lifestyle options. First prepared in 2004, it benchmarks on a quarterly basis the annual budget Australians need to fund either a comfortable or a modest standard of living in retirement.
The Standard defines a modest retirement lifestyle as “better than the age pension, but still only able to afford fairly basic activities”. The March 2018 ASFA figures suggest that a single person would need $27,368 a year to achieve this, while couples would need a combined income of $39,353.
Upgrading to a comfortable lifestyle
The Standard defines a comfortable retirement as one that enables
“…an older, healthy retiree to be involved in a broad range of leisure and recreational activities and to have a good standard of living through the purchase of such things as: household goods, private health insurance, a reasonable car, good clothes, a range of electronic equipment, and domestic and occasionally international holiday travel”.
The March 2018 ASFA figures suggest that a single person would need $42,764 a year to have a comfortable lifestyle, while couples would need a combined amount of $60,264.
Obviously, these figures are just a guide, and the actual amount needed to fund your preferred retirement lifestyle will depend on the choices you make about the things you want to do. Your financial adviser can help you more accurately determine the amount needed for your retirement based on your goals, needs and preferences.
How much is enough?
Looking at the figures above, it’s clearly apparent that if you want more than a basic lifestyle in retirement, you’ll need more than the age pension to live on. Your superannuation and non-superannuation savings will need to supplement the difference, and in some cases, fully fund your retirement.
The ASIC MoneySmart Retirement Planner calculator, available at www.moneysmart.gov.au, is a useful tool.
The figures generated suggest that to achieve a comfortable retirement, a single person should have about $855,000 and a couple should have over $1,205,000.
These are generic calculations based on a 5% return on investments. Your financial adviser can provide more detailed calculations for your specific situation.
What’s the best way to save?
Superannuation is the most tax-effective way to save for retirement. You can build your super through employer contributions (including salary sacrifice), your own contributions, spouse contributions and government co-contributions.
There are certain restrictions on superannuation contributions and withdrawals, so you may need to supplement your superannuation with other investments such as managed funds, term deposits or property.
In conclusion
Regardless of how much you need, it’s important to start planning early to ensure you have enough to retire on. We can work with you to develop strategies that suit your individual circumstances and help you to look forward to enjoying your retirement dream. Contact us to book an appointment to review your plan.
Casey Shaw is an authorised representative and credit representative of AMP Financial Planning. Blueprint Planning Pty Ltd (ABN78 097 264 554), trading as Blueprint Wealth, is an Authorised Representative and Credit Representative of AMP Financial Planning Pty Limited, Australian Financial Services Licensee and Australian Credit Licensee 232 706.
This article contains information that is general in nature. It does not take into account the objectives, financial situation or needs of any particular person. You need to consider your financial situation and needs before making any decisions based on this information.
If you decide to purchase or vary a financial product, your financial adviser, AMP Financial Planning and other companies within the AMP Group may receive fees and other benefits. The fees will be a dollar amount and/or a percentage of either the premium you pay or the value of your investment. Please contact us if you want more information.
Notes:
Assumption for calculation: value is based on today’s dollars and retiring at age 65. It does not take into account the Age Pension.
Age pension figures quoted include supplements.
Sources:
ASFA Retirement Standard. Available from http://www.superannuation.asn.au. Figures as at March 2018.
Payment rates for Age Pension. Available from http://www.humanservices.gov.au Figures as at 20 March 2018.
ASIC MoneySmart Retirement Planner www.moneysmart.gov.au
The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia Ltd – ASFA Retirement Standard http://www.superannuation.asn.au/resources/retirement-standard/
