Is This Your Year to Start Planning for Retirement?
Retirement is a milestone that many dream of, but turning that dream into reality requires careful planning.
Whether retirement feels like a distant goal or it’s just around the corner, having a solid strategy in place is essential for achieving financial freedom and maintaining the lifestyle you want.
So, is this your year to take the first—or next—step towards retirement? At Strategem Financial Services, we believe there’s no better time than now to start planning. Here’s why, and how we can help you build a retirement plan that works for you.
Why Start Planning for Retirement Now?
Retirement planning isn’t just about saving money—it’s about creating a roadmap for your financial future. Starting early provides more opportunities to grow your wealth, take advantage of tax benefits, and adjust your plans as life changes.
Even if retirement feels far off, the earlier you begin, the more flexibility you have to shape your future. And if you’re nearing retirement, now is the time to refine your strategy to ensure you’re fully prepared to transition out of the workforce with confidence.
How Strategem Can Help You Prepare
At Strategem, we specialise in helping individuals and families build secure, personalised retirement plans. Here’s how we can guide you:
1. Assess Where You Stand Financially
Understanding your current financial situation is the first step in planning for retirement. We’ll review your:
Income, expenses, and savings
Investments and superannuation
Existing debts and liabilities
This holistic assessment helps us identify gaps and opportunities to get you on track.
2. Maximise Your Superannuation and Retirement Savings
Superannuation is a powerful tool for retirement planning, but it requires careful management. We’ll help you:
Review your superannuation fund and ensure it aligns with your goals
Make the most of contribution limits, including concessional and non-concessional contributions
Take advantage of government incentives, such as co-contributions or the spouse contribution scheme
By optimising your superannuation strategy, you can grow your nest egg and reduce tax liabilities.
3. Create a Plan for Steady Income in Retirement
A comfortable retirement depends on having a reliable income stream. We’ll work with you to:
Develop a budget for your retirement lifestyle
Explore pension options, including account-based pensions and annuities
Structure your investments to generate consistent income while minimising risk
This ensures you can enjoy your retirement years without worrying about running out of money.
4. Ensure You Can Maintain the Lifestyle You Want
Retirement planning isn’t one-size-fits-all. We’ll tailor your plan to support your unique goals, whether that’s:
Travelling the world
Spending more time with family
Pursuing hobbies or passions
Downsizing or relocating
Our goal is to help you achieve financial freedom while maintaining the lifestyle you value most.
Signs You’re Ready to Start Planning for Retirement
Not sure if this is your year to begin retirement planning? Here are a few signs it might be time to take the next step:
You’re in your 40s or 50s and want to ensure you’re on track for retirement.
You’ve recently experienced a life change, such as a promotion, inheritance, or health concern.
You’re starting to think about transitioning out of work within the next 5–10 years.
You want clarity on how much money you’ll need for retirement.
If any of these sound familiar, it’s time to start the conversation.
Case Study: Young Professionals Planning for Semi-Retirement by 50
The Situation
Lauren (36) and Tom (38) are a high-achieving professional couple with a combined household income of $350,000. Over the years, they’ve built an impressive financial portfolio, including multiple investment properties and shares in two successful businesses. Recently, their focus shifted after welcoming their first child, and they’re now determined to prioritise family time. Their ultimate goal? Semi-retirement by the age of 50, allowing them to work less while enjoying financial freedom and quality time with their child.
Despite their success, Lauren and Tom felt overwhelmed about how to structure their finances to meet this ambitious timeline. They turned to Strategem for expert guidance.
How Strategem Can Help
Comprehensive Financial Review
We assessed Lauren and Tom’s existing assets, including their properties, business investments, and superannuation balances, alongside their expenses and financial goals. This provided a clear picture of where they stood financially and what steps were needed to meet their timeline.Optimising Investments
Strategem worked with the couple to optimise their property portfolio, including advice on refinancing some of their mortgages to reduce interest rates and free up additional cash flow. We also reviewed their business investments and suggested diversifying into lower-risk ventures to balance their portfolio.Superannuation Strategy
With semi-retirement in mind, we advised Lauren and Tom to increase their concessional and non-concessional super contributions to maximise tax benefits while growing their retirement savings.Structured Income Streams
Strategem helped the couple plan for future income by combining passive property income, dividends from their business investments, and projected superannuation withdrawals. We also developed a strategy to reinvest a portion of their income into high-growth investments.Education Savings Plan
Given their child’s recent arrival, Lauren and Tom wanted to ensure future education expenses were accounted for. We helped them set up an investment fund dedicated to their child’s schooling, with a clear timeline and funding strategy.
The Outcome
Lauren and Tom now have a clear financial roadmap to achieve semi-retirement by 50. By optimising their investments, boosting their superannuation, and planning structured income streams, they’re on track to significantly reduce their working hours within 14 years.
More importantly, the couple feels confident about their financial future, knowing they can maintain their lifestyle, support their child, and enjoy more family time. They describe working with Strategem as a “game-changer,” giving them peace of mind and clarity about their long-term goals.
Case Study 2: Creating Financial Freedom for Early Retirement
The Situation
John and Lisa, both in their early 50s, had always dreamed of retiring early to spend more time with their grandchildren and pursue their passion for travel. They wanted to ensure they could achieve this without compromising their financial security but weren’t sure if they were on track.
How Strategem Can Help
Budgeting and Cash Flow Management
We worked with John and Lisa to identify discretionary spending they could redirect toward retirement savings, while still enjoying their current lifestyle.Superannuation Maximisation
Both John and Lisa increased their voluntary superannuation contributions and took advantage of government incentives like the spouse contribution scheme.Debt Reduction Plan
We helped the couple create a structured plan to pay off their mortgage within five years, freeing up additional cash flow for retirement savings.Flexible Income Streams
Strategem developed a strategy to combine superannuation pensions and investment income, giving them flexibility in how they accessed their funds during retirement.
The Outcome
With a clear plan in place, John and Lisa were able to bring their retirement timeline forward by three years. They now have the freedom to spend time with their grandchildren and explore their shared passion for travel, all while knowing their financial future is secure. The peace of mind they’ve gained from early planning allows them to enjoy life without worrying about their finances.
Retirement Planning Is A Long-Term Investment in Yourself
Planning for retirement isn’t just about dollars and cents—it’s about peace of mind. With a clear strategy in place, you can approach this next phase of life with confidence, knowing your finances are secure and your goals are achievable.
At Strategem, we’re here to make the process easier, offering expert guidance and tailored advice every step of the way.
We are here to help
If you need further advice, please do not hesitate to contact our office on (03) 5445 4777 and one of our Accountants & Advisors are available to support you.
Contact Us
If you have any concerns about investment scams or would like to learn more about protecting your wealth, book a chat with one of our financial experts today.
