Tracey – Let’s Talk About Superannuation

Usually, a financial adviser’s blog about retirement would be all about superannuation. Not this one, though! Our independent financial adviser Jordan Vaka has waited until the fourth part of his Retiring Solo series before tackling the thorny, complex topic of superannuation. In this post, he discusses how it can help you retire with confidence, what acorns have to do with financial security and explores some of the complexities that are part of superannuation.

Tracey – What To Do With the House?

In Tracey’s very specific circumstances, I think we can safely call this a great outcome.

Tracey – How Much Does She Need to Retire?

“We’ll answer your questions.”

Tracey told us this was so valuable because all of the questions she wasn’t game to ask were smothering her thinking.

She was unable to think about retirement because every time she did, her brain threw out ten questions she couldn’t answer.

Case Study – Tracey, Retiring Solo

Which is why, Tracey feels incredibly insecure about her financial future and, frankly, scared by the idea of retiring.

The Risks and Rewards of Fire

And these experiences translate into real reluctance to go anywhere near the fire again. “No way – I’m not going to do anything with money, it’s too hard/risky/scary/intimidating/confusing.”

Then their divorce starts.

“Like Walking Through Mud”

Either way, I’m more than happy to have the conversation. Going through a divorce is brutally difficult already – if there’s anyway we can help them get started off on the right foot, then that’s why we’re here.

Meeting a Financial Adviser – Recording Meetings

For a few reasons – it means I don’t have to frantically scribble my way through a meeting (potentially missing the really important, non-verbalised stuff in our discussion).

How Do I Find A Financial Adviser?

But we have one big, unspoken question hanging over this idea – how, on Earth, do you choose a financial adviser?

Something to Share – Feb 2022

For most of my career, people have generally dismissed applying an ethical filter to choosing investments. It was all well and good to have values, the prevailing thought went, but why let them interfere with making money?

Deliberate Ignorance

It’s interesting work. But one thing I’ve found especially useful is ‘deliberate ignorance’.

By remaining in the dark about what’s ‘possible’ via the asset pool, we can instead have a more expansive discussion about what they want their future to look like.