Retirement is different for everyone
For a confident transition to retirement, book a chat with our super specialists.
From opening an income stream to limits on withdrawals, our team can help you prepare.
Book a chat with a super specialist
Case studies blurb
-
Case Study 1 – Linda (Pre-retirement, Age Pension cohort <$200k)
Linda is 60 and works part-time in healthcare while renting privately. Her super balance is $45,000, and she expects the Age Pension to be her main source of income in retirement. She feels time poor and overwhelmed by super and retirement concepts, and is looking for simple, trusted guidance.
Goals
Linda wants to understand her likely retirement costs – especially rent – and clarity on when she can retire. She also wants to know how the Age Pension will support her, what steps she can take now to improve her position, and what to expect at key milestones like age 65 and 67. She wants to know what will happen with her assets if she were to pass away – and what mechanisms she can put in place.
Considerations
As Linda gets closer to retirement, a few simple actions can help improve her financial position. Increasing her contributions – and potentially using a Transition to Retirement (TTR) income stream – could boost her super while reducing tax. Reviewing her insurance and adjusting her investment mix can also ensure her super suits her changing needs as she reduces her work hours.
Understanding whether her expected retirement income covers key essentials like rent, utilities and healthcare is important, as is planning around her Age Pension eligibility at 67. Thinking ahead about when to apply can give her greater clarity and confidence as she approaches retirement.
How Prime Super can help
Prime Super can support Linda with simple, jargon‑free conversations to help her understand contributions, insurance and investment options as she nears retirement. She can also use our calculators to map her essential expenses and see the impact of boosting her super. Our clear online resources explain Age Pension eligibility and timing, and she can learn at her own pace through webinars and short learning tools.
When the time comes, our partner Retirement Essentials can guide her through the Age Pension application process using a simple online process with access to ongoing support from Age Pension specialists. This removes the need to deal directly with Centrelink, something Linda may find overwhelming and stressful, and avoids costly delays in accessing payments.
-
Case Study 2 – Pat (Retirement, Age Pension cohort <$200k)
Pat is 68, rents her home, and has recently retired. Her super balance is $82,000 and she receives the full Age Pension. She is yet to convert her super into an income stream. She is unsure how to start one, what her options are, or how it might affect her government entitlements. Her confidence is moderately low, and she prefers simple explanations.
Goals
Pat wants to know whether she can turn her super into a stable, flexible income to supplement her Age Pension. She wants to feel secure that her withdrawals are sustainable and know she can manage unexpected costs. She also wants to keep the full Age pension.
Considerations
As Pat settles into retirement, a simple budget that captures her key expenses – like rent, utilities and medical costs – can help her understand how much income she needs. She may also want to consider starting a retirement income stream to supplement her Age Pension, while checking how it could affect her eligibility. Reviewing her investment mix, keeping a small cash buffer for unexpected costs, and choosing between online tools or one‑on‑one support can all help her feel more confident managing her retirement income.
How Prime Super can help
Prime Super can support Pat with simple, jargon‑free conversations to explain how retirement income streams work and how they can complement her Age Pension. She can set up a tax‑free income stream and use our Retirement Needs Calculator to build a clear budget for ongoing expenses. For personalised Age Pension guidance, our partner Retirement Essentials can support her through a straightforward online process, removing the need to deal with Centrelink directly and helping to ensure she continues to receive her full entitlements.
-
Case Study 3 – Mark & Sophie (Mature Accumulation, Combination $200k–$600k)
Mark (51) and Sophie (54) own their home with a small remaining mortgage. Their combined super is around $320,000, and they expect to rely on both super and a part Age Pension later in retirement. They want a simple, couple‑focused plan that helps them feel more confident about their path to retirement.
Goals
Together, Mark and Sophie want to agree on a clear retirement timeline and understand what a realistic target retirement income looks like for them. They also want guidance on whether to prioritise paying down their mortgage, how to boost their super in a tax‑effective way, how their investments may need to change as they get older, and what government support may be available later in life.
Considerations
As they plan ahead, a few practical steps can help strengthen their retirement position. Increasing their contributions, through salary sacrifice, personal contributions or spouse strategies, could help grow their super while reducing tax. Reviewing their insurance and checking that their investment mix still aligns with their long‑term goals can also keep their plan on track.
They may also want to weigh up the benefits of paying off the mortgage early, using an offset account, or even downsizing later to improve cashflow and financial security. Understanding when they might qualify for the Age Pension or a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card will help them plan their later‑life income with greater confidence.
How Prime Super can help
Prime Super can support Mark and Sophie through joint conversations with a Member Solutions Manager to explore contribution strategies, insurance needs and investment options as a couple. They can use our calculators to compare different scenarios, from boosting super to assessing mortgage or downsizing decisions, supported by clear explanations of investment options and government entitlements.
They can also access preretirement webinars, make use of our lowcost digital will service, and be referred to specialist advice partners (at a cost) if they require more detailed tax, estate or financial planning support.
-
Case Study 4 – Alex (Early Retirement, Self-funded cohort $600k+)
Alex is 62 and has decided to retire early after a long career in education. He owns his home and has $920,000 in super along with additional investments outside super. Because he’s retiring before age 67, he knows he’ll be fully self‑funded for several years before he can access the age pension. He’s confident with financial decisions but wants practical guidance to help structure his income and make sure his savings last.
Goals
Alex wants to understand how much he can sustainably withdraw in early retirement and how to balance flexibility with long‑term income stability. He also wants clarity on how his investments should evolve as he moves from working to retired life, what to expect at key milestones like ages 65 and 67, and how his non‑super assets fit into his overall strategy. He also wants to ensure his estate planning and beneficiary nominations are current.
Considerations
Moving his super into an retirement income stream can give Alex tax‑free income while keeping part of his savings invested for growth. Reviewing his investment mix, including whether to hold a cash buffer, can help him manage market ups and downs and unexpected expenses.
Because he is retiring early, planning ahead for healthcare, inflation and longevity risk is important. When he approaches 67, he will also need to review his asset levels to understand if he may qualify for a part Age Pension, and if so, know when to apply without missing out on additional income.
How Prime Super can help
Prime Super can support Alex through clear, jargonfree conversations with a Member Solutions Manager to explain drawdown strategies, investment options and how a layered income approach could work for him.
He can use the Retirement Needs Calculator to estimate his expenses and test different income scenarios. Guidance in the Retirement Hub can help him plan for future milestones, including Age Pension eligibility.
Alex can also use our digital will service, and if needed, access referrals to specialist advisers for more complex tax, estate or structuring needs.
|
How much do I need to retire?
Eligibility for the Age Pension and Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
