$80,000 a year, tax-free, just to live “comfortably” after work? That headline number can feel like a punch in the guts, especially when you open your super statement and realise you’re not close. We sit down with superannuation specialist Marco Millardo to break down what sits behind the ASFA Retirement Standard, why the cost of a comfortable retirement is rising with inflation, and how those annual spending targets translate into the lump sums people talk about (around $730,000 for couples and $630,000 for singles under common assumptions).

From there, we get practical. We walk through how to build a retirement budget that actually matches your life, using your current spending as the base, then checking it against tools on the ASFA site and the government’s MoneySmart calculators. We also talk about the “retirement spending curve”: why the first five to ten years can be the biggest spending window, why many retirees underspend out of fear, and how planning in stages can reduce anxiety without cutting joy.

We answer listener questions on transition to retirement, including the 10% annual draw cap and the easy-to-miss tax detail that it’s not automatically in a tax-free environment. We also tackle the big issues that change everything: renting versus owning, mortgage pay-down versus investing, aged care and nursing home costs, and how the age pension can affect the gap you need to fund.

If you’re 50+ and doing the mental maths right now, this is a calm, numbers-based reset. Subscribe, share with someone who’s planning their retirement, and leave us a review so more Australians can find the help they need.

DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg

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Your super balance drops in a fortnight and suddenly every headline feels louder. We sit with that gut-level anxiety and break down what’s actually happening when markets wobble, whether it’s conflict-driven fear, tech disruption, or the messy overlap of both. Then we slow the whole thing down and rebuild the decision-making from first principles: markets fall sometimes, recoveries can arrive quickly, and your time horizon matters more than today’s number on the screen.

We talk practical investor strategy for market volatility without pretending there’s one perfect move. We walk through what a “balanced” portfolio tends to experience versus an all-shares approach, why diversification across cash, term deposits, bonds and other defensive assets can soften the ride, and how an all-weather portfolio is designed to behave when things go bad. If you’re using a super fund option, we explain what you’re relying on the fund to do. If you’re advised, we outline what your adviser should already have built in.

From there we lay out three clear pathways when you feel uneasy: hold tight with quality holdings, reduce risk by selling the weakest positions in stages, or upgrade portfolio quality while staying invested. A caller shares a smarter way to review performance across 12 months and five years, plus how dollar cost averaging can turn volatility into a calmer contribution plan. We also cover sequencing risk for people approaching retirement, and finish with a crucial superannuation question about nominated beneficiaries, estates, and the tax treatment of death benefits.

If this helped you think more clearly about your next move, subscribe, share it with a mate who’s stressing about their super, and leave a review. What’s the one rule you wish you’d learned earlier about investing through market shocks?

DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg

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Total control over your super sounds empowering, right up until you realise you are also the trustee, the compliance manager and the last line of defence against mistakes. We sit down with superannuation specialist Marco Millardo to unpack what self-managed super funds (SMSFs) really are, why Australians set them up, and why plenty of people later decide to wind them down.

We talk through the practical stuff most brochures skip: typical set-up and running costs, why fixed admin and audit fees can hurt smaller balances, and how SMSF insurance often lacks the buying power of group cover in an industry fund. We also dig into the unglamorous reality of being responsible for every decision and every signature, plus the growing risk of scams and illegal early access when you control the bank account.

Listener questions take us into the tricky corners: rolling an SMSF into another fund, managing “lumpy” assets like property, paying expenses correctly, and coping with minimum pension drawdown rules as you age. Marco also explains why defined benefit super funds can be worth their weight in gold, what to think about before giving one up, how SMSF borrowing works via an LRBA, and the tax traps that can hit adult children through non-dependent death benefit tax.

If you are weighing up an SMSF, already running one, or wondering when it is time to simplify, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a mate who loves spreadsheets, and leave us a review with your biggest SMSF question.

DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg

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