You’ve spent years building a career, paying bills, raising humans, paying down the mortgage, growing super, and trying to make sensible decisions with the money left over.
Now retirement is moving from being a sometime in the future thing, to a date that’s no longer over the horizon.
You might still enjoy work. Most days. You may want to keep going, but differently. Fewer hours. Less pressure. More choice.
The real question is whether the next few years are being used well.
Work by choice
Know what needs to happen before income becomes optional, whether that means retiring fully, winding back, consulting, changing roles or simply taking back more of your week.
Make the next dollar count
Extra super? Debt reduction? Outside investments? Helping family? Spending a little because life is happening now? We help each dollar find the best job.
Done right, upfront
Super, investments, cash, tax, pensions, annuities, bonds, insurance, entities, and even Centrelink all have settings buried in the detail. We help get them all done right in advance.
We collaborate with your accountant and solicitor so everyone is on the same page and helping you move forward.
Lume Wealth is a Brisbane and Gold Coast financial planning firm providing tailored advice to help Australians get ready for life after work.
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Preparing for life after work
Earlier than most people think. The years leading up to retirement, particularly from your mid-50s onwards, are often the most powerful window to make meaningful decisions around super contributions, tax, investments, and income structuring. The closer you get without a plan, the fewer options you have. Even if retirement still feels a long way off, it’s worth getting a clear picture of where you’re headed.
Yes, and this is actually one of the most common conversations we have. Many people aren’t looking to stop working entirely; they want to work differently. Fewer hours, less pressure, or a change in role. We help you figure out what needs to be in place financially before any of those options become realistic, so you’re choosing from a position of strength rather than necessity.
We model your current trajectory alongside different scenarios, including changes to work hours, super contributions, spending, and investment settings, so you can see clearly what each option is likely to look like. Most people are surprised by what’s actually possible when everything is structured well.
It depends on your situation, but this is exactly the kind of question we’re built to answer. The right answer shifts based on your age, income, tax position, debt levels, personal preferences, and how close you are to retirement. We compare the after-tax impact of each option so you’re not guessing.
Possibly, and it’s worth checking before you assume you don’t. The Age Pension means test works differently than many people expect, and there are also concession cards, supplements, and other entitlements that can make a real difference. Getting the timing and structure right matters. We factor Centrelink into the planning from the start.
Retirement income typically comes from a combination of super (usually via an account-based pension), personal investments, and potentially Centrelink. How you draw it down, in what order, from which accounts, and at what rate, has a significant impact on how long it lasts and how much tax you pay along the way. We help you set this up properly before you need it.
It depends on the fund, the assets, and whether the ongoing administration still makes sense for your situation. SMSFs can be excellent in retirement when they’re set up and run well. They can also become a costly and complicated burden if they’re not the right fit. We can review your existing SMSF, help you use it more deliberately, or work through whether it still makes sense.
This is one of the most common concerns we hear, and it’s a real risk worth planning around. The years just before and after retirement are when market timing matters most. We help you structure your investments so you’re not forced to sell at the wrong time, with enough stability and liquidity to handle volatility without having to make rushed decisions.
Carefully, and with eyes open. Family generosity is a wonderful thing, but helping kids at the wrong time or in the wrong way can have a real impact on your own position. We help you work out what support is possible, when it makes sense to step in, and how to structure any help so it doesn’t compromise your own plan.
We start by getting a clear picture of where you are now and what you’re working toward. From there, we model your options, identify the decisions that matter most in the next few years, and put a plan in place across super, investments, tax, income, and any other moving parts. Importantly, we work alongside your accountant and solicitor so everyone is on the same page.