Retirement
Why most retirement tools miss the mark
Most retirement tools give members a false impression of their future retirement outcomes, with a more holistic view required, an expert has said.
Why most retirement tools miss the mark
Most retirement tools give members a false impression of their future retirement outcomes, with a more holistic view required, an expert has said.
According to Fiduciary Financial Services co-founder Andrew Crawford, retirement planning is too focused on building a nest egg instead of looking at retirement in its totality – being health, savings, income and what makes people happy in their retirement years.
“It means that instead of simply aiming to accumulate a big nest egg, broader questions need to be asked about retirement goals that go beyond a dollar amount.”
“Retirement involves being healthy and doing the activities people enjoy, of finding fulfilling ways to replace the time once spent at work while having the peace of mind of being able to afford it,” Mr Crawford explained.
Instead, traditional calculators focus on creating a larger pool for retirement, which Mr Crawford highlights is a flawed system, which could be narrowed down to how much do members need on a fortnightly basis to live the lifestyle they want.

“These planning tools also can ignore the fact people get their retirement income from multiple sources. Aside from super, it can be rent from an investment property, the Age Pension, or drawing down on the equity in their home.
“For example, understanding how much of the Age Pension people are entitled to can make a huge difference. Ensuring they get the maximum is important because it’s effectively a free lifetime retirement income stream.
“It’s often forgotten that people’s spending in retirement will change dramatically in line with their health. As they go from being healthy and active to requiring various levels of care, their spending can drop as much as 40 per cent – having a huge impact on how long and how much retirement income they need,” Mr Crawford concluded.
About the author
About the author
Retirement Planning
Majority of Australians still unsure about their retirement prospects
A recent survey conducted by MFS Investment Management® has shed light on the ongoing uncertainty faced by many Australians regarding their retirement plans. Despite a slight increase in confidence ...Read more
Retirement Planning
Wage growth steadies as businesses navigate economic challenges
In a sign that the Australian labour market may be finding equilibrium, wage growth has stabilised this quarter, according to Employment Hero's latest data. This development comes as employers ...Read more
Retirement Planning
Simplified retirement advice: Key to overcoming behavioural biases, experts say
In a bid to enhance retirement outcomes for Australians, a recent whitepaper by Industry Fund Services, in collaboration with Challenger, has highlighted the importance of simplifying retirement ...Read more
Retirement Planning
Rest launches Retire Ready digital experience to empower members approaching retirement
Rest, one of Australia’s largest profit-to-member superannuation funds, has unveiled a new digital experience aimed at making retirement preparation simpler and more personalised for its members. Read more
Retirement Planning
New Framework Aims to Bridge Australia’s Financial Advice Gap
A ground-breaking framework introduced by the Actuaries Institute promises to revolutionise how Australians access financial support, potentially transforming the financial wellbeing of millionsRead more
Retirement Planning
The downsizer dividend: how Australia’s ageing shift will reshape property, finance and AI strategy
Downsizing is moving from a personal milestone to a system-level lever for Australia’s housing market. As policymakers court reforms and agents eye fresh listings, the real profit pools will accrue to ...Read more
Retirement Planning
Half of Australians financially insecure about retirement as AMP launches new initiative
In a significant move aimed at addressing the retirement concerns of Australians, AMP has unveiled the Retirement Confidence Pulse, a national barometer designed to gauge the financial confidence of ...Read more
Retirement Planning
North introduces Grow to expand Australia's financial advice footprint
In a bid to bridge the gap between the demand for financial advice and its accessibility, North, a prominent platform for superannuation and retirement in Australia, has launched an innovative ...Read more
Retirement Planning
Majority of Australians still unsure about their retirement prospects
A recent survey conducted by MFS Investment Management® has shed light on the ongoing uncertainty faced by many Australians regarding their retirement plans. Despite a slight increase in confidence ...Read more
Retirement Planning
Wage growth steadies as businesses navigate economic challenges
In a sign that the Australian labour market may be finding equilibrium, wage growth has stabilised this quarter, according to Employment Hero's latest data. This development comes as employers ...Read more
Retirement Planning
Simplified retirement advice: Key to overcoming behavioural biases, experts say
In a bid to enhance retirement outcomes for Australians, a recent whitepaper by Industry Fund Services, in collaboration with Challenger, has highlighted the importance of simplifying retirement ...Read more
Retirement Planning
Rest launches Retire Ready digital experience to empower members approaching retirement
Rest, one of Australia’s largest profit-to-member superannuation funds, has unveiled a new digital experience aimed at making retirement preparation simpler and more personalised for its members. Read more
Retirement Planning
New Framework Aims to Bridge Australia’s Financial Advice Gap
A ground-breaking framework introduced by the Actuaries Institute promises to revolutionise how Australians access financial support, potentially transforming the financial wellbeing of millionsRead more
Retirement Planning
The downsizer dividend: how Australia’s ageing shift will reshape property, finance and AI strategy
Downsizing is moving from a personal milestone to a system-level lever for Australia’s housing market. As policymakers court reforms and agents eye fresh listings, the real profit pools will accrue to ...Read more
Retirement Planning
Half of Australians financially insecure about retirement as AMP launches new initiative
In a significant move aimed at addressing the retirement concerns of Australians, AMP has unveiled the Retirement Confidence Pulse, a national barometer designed to gauge the financial confidence of ...Read more
Retirement Planning
North introduces Grow to expand Australia's financial advice footprint
In a bid to bridge the gap between the demand for financial advice and its accessibility, North, a prominent platform for superannuation and retirement in Australia, has launched an innovative ...Read more
