Australian Retirement Podcast

What happens if you retire and the share market falls just as you start drawing on your savings? On the Australian Retirement Podcast, Owen Rask and Tahli Cavagnino unpack the three-bucket retirement strategy: a way to think about spending now, keeping a reserve and investing for a longer retirement. They begin with the shift from earning a salary to relying on a portfolio. Tahli explains sequencing risk: selling investments to meet living costs during a market downturn can make a recovery harder. The first bucket covers near-term spending needs, often with a cash buffer. But holding too much in cash can bring its own risks, including inflation and missed long-term growth. The second bucket is the defensive reserve, where bonds and other income-focused assets may help support the cash bucket. The third is for longer-term growth, commonly including shares. Owen and Tahli work through a hypothetical couple’s retirement spending to show how the buckets interact, when they might be topped up and why a poor market year requires a different response from a strong one. This is not a set-and-forget formula. The hosts discuss how to review and rebalance, what happens if bonds and shares fall together, and the trade-offs for people managing their own super. They also explain why a bucket strategy may be possible within an industry fund without opening multiple accounts, although the options and effort required vary. If you are approaching retirement or already drawing an income, this conversation offers a clearer framework for the questions to take to your super fund or financial adviser — and a reminder that peace of mind matters alongside the numbers. Episode resources – ⁠Accounts Leaderboard: Compare the latest Australian savings account interest rates⁠ – ⁠Ask a question (select the Retirement podcast)⁠ Show partner resources – ⁠Join Pearler using the code "RASKSWITCH" and get $32 of Pearler Credit⁠ – ⁠Whatever comes next for your business, power it with Stripe⁠ Rask resources – ⁠All services⁠ – ⁠Financial Planning⁠ – ⁠Invest with us⁠ – ⁠Access Show Notes⁠ – ⁠Ask a question⁠ – ⁠We love feedback!⁠ Follow us on social media – Instagram: ⁠@rask.invest⁠ – TikTok: ⁠@rask.invest⁠ Disclaimer The information in this episode is provided by The Rask Group Pty Ltd and contains general financial product advice only. It does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting, consider whether the information is appropriate for you and consider seeking personal advice from a licensed financial adviser. You can read our Financial Services Guide at ⁠www.rask.com.au/fsg⁠. If a financial product is mentioned, consider the relevant PDS and TMD, where applicable, before making any financial decision. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Returns are not guaranteed and capital may be at risk. The Rask Group Pty Ltd is a Corporate Authorised Representative No. 1280930 of Rask Licensing Pty Ltd, AFSL 563 907. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you leaving retirement to chance—or letting an assumption quietly shape a decision you may regret? In this episode of the Australian Retirement Podcast, Owen Rask and financial adviser Tahli Cavagnino turn seven common retirement mistakes into practical questions you can ask today. They begin with planning too late: why waiting until 60 can leave less time to adjust your savings, super and spending expectations. From there, they question the idea that property will always deliver the same growth and income, especially if too much wealth is tied up in one asset. Owen and Tahli look at the risks of carrying debt into retirement without a repayment strategy, reacting too quickly to tax headlines, and counting on shares to deliver a fixed return every year. They explain why understanding trade-offs and diversifying across assets matters more than predicting exactly what markets or policy will do next. They also tackle the quieter mistake of doing nothing because the choices feel overwhelming. A smaller first step—checking your super, reviewing debt or mapping a retirement budget—can be more useful than waiting for a perfect plan. Finally, they explore why retirement costs are rarely a straight line: travel, health and aged care can arrive at different times. Planning for later-life expenses matters, but so does giving yourself permission to enjoy the years you have now. Listen for a calmer, more flexible way to prepare for retirement without letting fear make every decision. Episode resources – ⁠⁠ASFA Comfortable Retirement Standards⁠ – ⁠Rask Wealth Checker – ⁠Ask a question (select the Retirement podcast)⁠ Show partner resources – Join Pearler using the code "RASKSWITCH" and get $32 of Pearler Credit – Whatever comes next for your business, power it with Stripe Rask resources – All services – Financial Planning – Invest with us – Access Show Notes – Ask a question – We love feedback! Follow us on social media – Instagram: @rask.invest – TikTok: @rask.invest Disclaimer The information in this episode is provided by The Rask Group Pty Ltd and contains general financial product advice only. It does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting, consider whether the information is appropriate for you and consider seeking personal advice from a licensed financial adviser. You can read our Financial Services Guide at www.rask.com.au/fsg. If a financial product is mentioned, consider the relevant PDS and TMD, where applicable, before making any financial decision. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Returns are not guaranteed and capital may be at risk. The Rask Group Pty Ltd is a Corporate Authorised Representative No. 1280930 of Rask Licensing Pty Ltd, AFSL 563 907. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What actually happens to your super when you retire? ⁠Try our free wealth checker tool⁠ ⁠Get financial advice⁠ It sounds like there should be a giant red button that says “retirement mode” — but, as usual with super, it’s a little more paperwork-y than that. In this episode of The Australian Finance Podcast, also shared on The Australian Retirement Podcast, Owen is joined by Tahli Cavagnino, Senior Financial Adviser and co-head of financial advice at Rask Advice, to unpack what happens to your super as you move towards retirement. General advice warning: This episode contains general information and general advice only. Please consider your own circumstances and seek professional advice before making financial decisions. We cover when you can generally access your super, what “pension mode” actually means, how super can be taxed before and after retirement, and some of the big trade-offs people face as they approach retirement. Plus, we answer listener questions on indexed versus active high growth super options, whether people typically change funds when moving into pension phase, and whether you still need an emergency fund once you can access your super. In this episode – Owen’s news of the week: why you shouldn’t rush changing super funds – The importance of reading the PDS/TMD and checking the AFSL before acting – When Australians can generally access their super – What it means to turn your super into “pension mode” – Is it a button, a form, a phone call — or all of the above? – A simple overview of tax on super before and after retirement – Why defined benefit funds can be different – Minimum pension drawdown rates explained – Do most people withdraw only the minimum from super? – The retirement mortgage question: super versus debt – Super versus investing outside super if you want to retire before 60 – Indexed high growth versus active high growth super options – Whether different super funds suit different life stages – Whether you still need an emergency fund once super is accessible Listener questions – Hot Takes: “For a long-term investor choosing a high growth option inside super, what should they think about when comparing indexed high growth and active high growth managed by the super fund?” – Barren Jo: “You’ve mentioned that different style super funds may suit people at different stages. Can you explain this more? Do people typically change super funds when switching to pension mode, and if so, why?” – WannabeWhale: “Is an emergency fund necessary when you have access to your super?” Episode resources – ⁠Rask Retirement Academy⁠ – ⁠Free report: 5 ways business owners can get back 5 hours a week using AI⁠ – ⁠Join the free Rask newsletter and platform⁠ – Ask a question (select the Retirement podcast) Want to keep learning? If you’re trying to get your money sorted — without needing a finance degree and three coffees — ⁠⁠join the free Rask newsletter and platform⁠⁠ You’ll get practical money lessons, investing explainers, retirement resources and tools to help you make better financial decisions over time. Show partner resources – Join Pearler using the code "RASKSWITCH" and get $32 of Pearler Credit – Whatever comes next for your business, power it with Stripe Rask resources – All services – Financial Planning – Invest with us – Access Show Notes – Ask a question – We love feedback! Follow us on social media – Instagram: @rask.invest – TikTok: @rask.invest Disclaimer The information in this episode is provided by The Rask Group Pty Ltd and contains general financial product advice only. It does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting, consider whether the information is appropriate for you and consider seeking personal advice from a licensed financial adviser. You can read our Financial Services Guide at www.rask.com.au/fsg. If a financial product is mentioned, consider the relevant PDS and TMD, where applicable, before making any financial decision. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Returns are not guaranteed and capital may be at risk. The Rask Group Pty Ltd is a Corporate Authorised Representative No. 1280930 of Rask Licensing Pty Ltd, AFSL 563 907. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Australian Retirement Podcast, Drew Meredith is joined by Caite Brewer, a Queensland barrister who specialises in wills, estate disputes and superannuation. They unpack the estate-planning mistakes that can create years of conflict after someone dies, including DIY wills, informal wills, probate disputes, family provision claims and poor communication inside families. Caite explains why a will written on a napkin can sometimes still be valid, what solemn form probate actually means, and why executors, blended families and warring siblings can end up in court for years. The conversation also dives into superannuation, binding death nominations and family trusts. Drew and Caite explore why super is often treated differently from the rest of an estate, how small SMSF paperwork errors can derail a plan, and why specialist advice matters when family wealth is spread across wills, trusts and super. They also discuss elder abuse, the warning signs families miss, and the practical steps that reduce the risk of disputes. The biggest takeaway is simple: communicate early, keep documents current and get proper estate-planning advice before a crisis forces the issue. If you want a clearer understanding of wills, inheritance disputes, probate, super death benefits and the real-world risks of poor succession planning, this episode is a practical starting point. Episode resources – Ask a question (select the Retirement podcast) Show partner resources – Visit TermPlus to learn more – Join Pearler using the code "RASKSWITCH" and get $32 of Pearler Credit Rask resources – All services – Financial Planning – Invest with us – Access Show Notes – Ask a question – We love feedback! Follow us on social media – Instagram: @rask.invest – TikTok: @rask.invest DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Australian Retirement Podcast episode, your hosts Drew Meredith, from Wattle Partners, and James O’Reilly, from Northeast Wealth, pull back the curtain on what actually happens between “let’s get some advice” and the document landing on your desk 10 weeks later — and why proper modelling involves a lot more than three columns on a spreadsheet. They also talk through a confronting client story where test-driving the retirement budget cut spending by nearly 40 per cent, and answer two big listener questions on healthcare buffers and complex SMSF property holdings. Topics covered today - Markets at all-time highs while every news headline says the world is broken — what the disconnect means for retirees - The Atlassian whipsaw and what it says about AI panic in big tech valuations - Why a statement of advice takes four to ten weeks: research, third-party authorities, modelling, quality control - Three-input modelling versus proper multivariate modelling — and why most calculators sit at the lazy end - Test-driving your retirement budget: the “rip the band-aid” case study that cut $180,000 of spend down to $110,000 - Why the most underrated job of an adviser is forcing the trade-off conversation - Hugh’s question: how much should you buffer for healthcare costs before the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card kicks in at 67? - Mr No Idea’s question: $12 million property portfolio, an SMSF property in Mernda, and why this is firmly in personal-advice territory - Retirement location reality-check — Queenscliff wind, Queensland surf breaks, and why you should rent before you buy Episode resources – Services Australia — Commonwealth Seniors Health Card – ATO myGov — review contribution caps and balances – ASIC Moneysmart — retirement planner – Ask a question (select the Retirement podcast) Show partner resources – Visit TermPlus to learn more – Join Pearler using the code "RASKSWITCH" and get $32 of Pearler Credit Rask resources – All services – Financial Planning – Invest with us – Access Show Notes – Ask a question – We love feedback! Follow us on social media – Instagram: @rask.invest – TikTok: @rask.invest DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode was originally featured on the Australian Investors Podcast. In this episode, Owen Rask sits down with Senator Andrew Bragg for a wide-ranging conversation about the Federal Budget, housing supply, tax, productivity and why so many Australians feel the country has become harder to get ahead in. Rather than getting stuck in party talking points, they focus on the practical questions investors, business owners and workers are asking right now: what happens when policy makes it harder to build homes, why does productivity matter so much for living standards, and how do taxes, regulation and incentives shape whether Australia creates more wealth or simply fights over what already exists? Andrew explains why he believes cutting housing supply is one of the worst policy choices Australia can make, how rising rents, higher rates and broader cost-of-living pressure are changing the national mood, and why small business, private investment and simpler rules still matter if Australia wants to stay competitive. The conversation also touches on super, the role of large institutions, and why clearer economic thinking matters more when confidence is low. Owen pushes on the bigger picture too: whether Australia has lost ambition, why the policy debate feels less honest than it should, and what needs to change if Australians want better opportunities over the next decade. If you want a plain-English discussion about housing, tax, productivity, competitiveness and the long-run direction of Australia, this is a timely episode to queue next. Episode resources – Ask a question (select the Retirement podcast) Show partner resources – Visit TermPlus to learn more – Join Pearler using the code "RASKSWITCH" and get $32 of Pearler Credit Rask resources – All services – Financial Planning – Invest with us – Access Show Notes – Ask a question – We love feedback! Follow us on social media – Instagram: @rask.invest – TikTok: @rask.invest DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Australian Retirement Podcast episode, Drew Meredith and James O'Reilly tackle one of the trickiest questions for Australians heading into retirement: if you still have a large home loan in your 50s, should every spare dollar go into the mortgage, or could super actually be the better lever? Using a real-world case study, they unpack why maximising personal deductible super contributions can sometimes leave retirees in a stronger position than aggressively paying down the loan, particularly when catch-up concessional caps and tax deductions come into play. They also explain the risks: super is locked away, markets are never linear, and the right move depends on cash flow, time horizon and confidence in the plan. The episode also explores a new push to make pensions easier to start, including the idea of defaulting older Australians into pension products later in life. Drew and James dig into where that could help, where it could go too far, and why personal choice still matters. Plus, there’s a practical conversation on how retirees can use AI in everyday life — from planning trips and social activities to making day-to-day admin easier. If you’re weighing up mortgage versus super, thinking about pension timing, or just want to retire with more clarity, this is a sharp and practical listen. Episode resources Ask a question (select the Retirement podcast) Show partner resources Visit TermPlus to learn more Have the chance to win a 5k travel voucher. Take the TermPlus survey here (last entry 31st of May) Rask Resources All services Financial Planning Invest with us Access Show Notes Ask a question We love feedback! Follow us on social media Instagram: @rask.invest TikTok: @rask.invest DISCLAIMER: ****This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Australian Retirement Podcast episode, your hosts Drew Meredith, from Wattle Partners, and James O'Reilly, from Northeast Wealth, react to Treasurer Jim Chalmers' Federal Budget bombshell - the biggest shake-up to property and investment tax in a generation. Negative gearing has been axed for future purchases of established property. The 50% CGT discount is gone, replaced by an inflation indexation model. And for the first time, a 30% minimum CGT rate is being layered in - mirrored by a matching 30% minimum on discretionary trust distributions - aimed squarely at older Australians who'd otherwise pay less tax in retirement. Even pre-1985 assets, untouchable for over 40 years, are being dragged into the tax net. Drew and James talk through what's grandfathered, what isn't, what the 1 July 2027 start date means, and why anyone running income through a family trust needs to revisit their strategy. If you like this Australian Retirement Podcast episode on the Federal Budget, you'll love the series. Don't forget to subscribe for weekly shows on Apple, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. Topics covered today The headline changes from Chalmers' Budget Negative gearing - what's been axed, what survives, and the new-build carve-out The death of the 50% CGT discount and the move to inflation indexation The new 30% minimum CGT rate - and why retirees are the real target The 30% minimum tax on family trust distributions Pre-1985 assets brought into the tax net for the first time What's grandfathered and what to do before 1 July 2027 Episode resources Ask a question (select the Retirement podcast) Show partner resources Visit TermPlus to learn more Have the chance to win a 5k travel voucher. Take the TermPlus survey here (last entry 31st of May) Rask Resources All services Financial Planning Invest with us Access Show Notes Ask a question We love feedback! Follow us on social media Instagram: @rask.invest TikTok: @rask.invest DISCLAIMER: ****This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices