Australian Retirement Podcast

What actually happens to your super when you retire?

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It sounds like there should be a giant red button that says “retirement mode” — but, as usual with super, it’s a little more paperwork-y than that.

In this episode of The Australian Finance Podcast, also shared on The Australian Retirement Podcast, Owen is joined by Tahli Cavagnino, Senior Financial Adviser and co-head of financial advice at Rask Advice, to unpack what happens to your super as you move towards retirement.

General advice warning: This episode contains general information and general advice only. Please consider your own circumstances and seek professional advice before making financial decisions.

We cover when you can generally access your super, what “pension mode” actually means, how super can be taxed before and after retirement, and some of the big trade-offs people face as they approach retirement.

Plus, we answer listener questions on indexed versus active high growth super options, whether people typically change funds when moving into pension phase, and whether you still need an emergency fund once you can access your super.

In this episode

– Owen’s news of the week: why you shouldn’t rush changing super funds

– The importance of reading the PDS/TMD and checking the AFSL before acting

– When Australians can generally access their super

– What it means to turn your super into “pension mode”

– Is it a button, a form, a phone call — or all of the above?

– A simple overview of tax on super before and after retirement

– Why defined benefit funds can be different

– Minimum pension drawdown rates explained

– Do most people withdraw only the minimum from super?

– The retirement mortgage question: super versus debt

– Super versus investing outside super if you want to retire before 60

– Indexed high growth versus active high growth super options

– Whether different super funds suit different life stages

– Whether you still need an emergency fund once super is accessible

Listener questions

– Hot Takes: “For a long-term investor choosing a high growth option inside super, what should they think about when comparing indexed high growth and active high growth managed by the super fund?”

– Barren Jo:

“You’ve mentioned that different style super funds may suit people at different stages. Can you explain this more? Do people typically change super funds when switching to pension mode, and if so, why?”

– WannabeWhale:

“Is an emergency fund necessary when you have access to your super?”

Episode resources

– ⁠Rask Retirement Academy⁠

– ⁠Free report: 5 ways business owners can get back 5 hours a week using AI⁠

– ⁠Join the free Rask newsletter and platform⁠

– Ask a question (select the Retirement podcast)

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You’ll get practical money lessons, investing explainers, retirement resources and tools to help you make better financial decisions over time.

Show partner resources

– Join Pearler using the code "RASKSWITCH" and get $32 of Pearler Credit

– Whatever comes next for your business, power it with Stripe

Rask resources

– All services

– Financial Planning

– Invest with us

– Access Show Notes

– Ask a question

– We love feedback!

Follow us on social media

– Instagram: @rask.invest

– TikTok: @rask.invest

Disclaimer

The information in this episode is provided by The Rask Group Pty Ltd and contains general financial product advice only. It does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs.

Before acting, consider whether the information is appropriate for you and consider seeking personal advice from a licensed financial adviser. You can read our Financial Services Guide at www.rask.com.au/fsg. If a financial product is mentioned, consider the relevant PDS and TMD, where applicable, before making any financial decision.

Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Returns are not guaranteed and capital may be at risk.

The Rask Group Pty Ltd is a Corporate Authorised Representative No. 1280930 of Rask Licensing Pty Ltd, AFSL 563 907.
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In this Australian Retirement Podcast episode, Drew Meredith and James O’Reilly unpack four retirement issues that could affect how Australians access the Age Pension, choose a super fund and manage investment risk.

First, they examine a proposal for better data sharing between Centrelink and super funds. Easier, pre-filled Age Pension applications could help eligible retirees claim sooner, but giving funds a broader picture of your finances also raises questions about privacy, product sales and who benefits from the data.

They also discuss whether people in physically demanding careers—such as nurses, tradies and other manual workers—should qualify for the Age Pension before age 67. The idea may sound fair, but the hosts explore the cost, complexity and unintended incentives that could follow.

Next, Drew and James look at renewed scrutiny of self-managed super funds. SMSFs can offer control and flexibility, yet lower balances, aggressive sales tactics and unsuitable investments can leave members carrying more cost and responsibility than they expected.

Finally, a listener asks why a “balanced” super option can still hold 81% in growth assets. The hosts explain how labels differ between funds, what growth and defensive assets actually mean, and the long-term return ranges investors might expect as risk rises. It is a practical reminder that a fund’s name matters far less than what is inside it.

Episode resources

– Ask a question (select the Retirement podcast)

Show partner resources

– Join Pearler using the code "RASKSWITCH" and get $32 of Pearler Credit

– Whatever comes next for your business, power it with Stripe

Rask resources

– All services

– Financial Planning

– Invest with us

– Access Show Notes

– Ask a question

– We love feedback!

Follow us on social media

– Instagram: @rask.invest

– TikTok: @rask.invest

Disclaimer

The information in this episode is provided by The Rask Group Pty Ltd and contains general financial product advice only. It does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs.

Before acting, consider whether the information is appropriate for you and consider seeking personal advice from a licensed financial adviser. You can read our Financial Services Guide at www.rask.com.au/fsg. If a financial product is mentioned, consider the relevant PDS and TMD, where applicable, before making any financial decision.

Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Returns are not guaranteed and capital may be at risk.

The Rask Group Pty Ltd is a Corporate Authorised Representative No. 1280930 of Rask Licensing Pty Ltd, AFSL 563 907.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Australian Retirement Podcast, Drew Meredith and James O'Reilly unpack the latest Delivering Better Financial Outcomes, or DBFO, changes and why retirees should care. This episode looks past the political acronym to the real decisions facing Australians who want affordable advice, better super prompts and fewer traps as they move into retirement.

Drew and James explain how the reforms could reshape the way advisers charge fees, renew ongoing service agreements and communicate with clients. They also trace how the reforms have evolved since the Hayne Royal Commission and why progress has felt painfully slow.

The conversation then turns to why nudges from super funds and providers matter more than most people think, especially for people who may be eligible for the Age Pension or who have not yet switched super into pension phase when it would make sense to investigate it.

They also tackle the darker side of the system: cold-calling lead generation, poor incentives and the practical risks around self-managed super funds. To finish, they answer a listener question on whether paying for a platform inside an SMSF is worth it, or whether staying DIY can still be the better move.

If you want a calm, practical read on the latest advice reforms, this episode is a smart place to start.

Episode resources

– Ask a question (select the Retirement podcast)

Show partner resources

– Visit TermPlus to learn more

– Join Pearler using the code "RASKSWITCH" and get $32 of Pearler Credit

– Whatever comes next for your business, power it with Stripe

Rask resources

– All services

– Financial Planning

– Invest with us

– Access Show Notes

– Ask a question

– We love feedback!

Follow us on social media

– Instagram: @rask.invest

– TikTok: @rask.invest

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
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Australian Retirement Podcast, Drew Meredith and James O'Reilly begin with a stat that cuts through the noise: retirement confidence has fallen sharply, even after a strong year for investment markets. They unpack why rising living costs still dominate how pre-retirees feel, why good returns do not always create peace of mind, and why confidence is as much an emotional question as a financial one. They also discuss the surprising gap between seeing an adviser and actually feeling ready for retirement.

From there, the conversation turns to property. Drew and James explore whether the old playbook of leveraging into investment properties still holds up for people approaching retirement, especially as negative gearing, capital gains tax settings and holding costs come under more pressure. Rather than making a dramatic crash call, they focus on the practical trade-offs between income, flexibility, debt, and the opportunity cost of keeping too much wealth tied to one asset class when other income options are improving.

The episode finishes with a practical listener question on inherited shares, cost bases and how age pension status can change the tax outcome. If you are weighing up retirement timing, asset sales, or how policy shifts could affect your long-term plan, this episode offers a grounded framework for the questions worth asking next.

Episode resources

– Ask a question (select the Retirement podcast)

Show partner resources

– Visit TermPlus to learn more

– Join Pearler using the code "RASKSWITCH" and get $32 of Pearler Credit

– Whatever comes next for your business, power it with Stripe

Rask resources

– All services

– Financial Planning

– Invest with us

– Access Show Notes

– Ask a question

– We love feedback!

Follow us on social media

– Instagram: @rask.invest

– TikTok: @rask.invest

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
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Australian Retirement Podcast, Owen Rask sits down with Ryan Dinsdale from Deposit Power to unpack a part of the property journey that can quietly shape retirement decisions: how downsizers bridge the gap between selling one home and buying the next.

Ryan explains why the real challenge is rarely just finding the right property. It is timing the two transactions, freeing up enough equity, and avoiding a rushed decision that leaves cash sitting idle or forces a more expensive financing option. The conversation compares the usual paths people think about, including selling first, buying first and using a bridging loan, before breaking down how a deposit bond works as an alternative.

They also explore when a deposit bond may suit retirees and pre-retirees buying off the plan, bidding at auction or trying to keep money in an offset, investments or super for longer. Just as importantly, Ryan walks through the trade-offs, the application process, the fee structure and the safeguards that help buyers understand what they are actually signing up for.

If you are thinking about downsizing, helping family move, or simply want a clearer way to think about deposits, liquidity and flexibility, this episode will give you a practical framework to start with.

This episode was proudly sponsored by Deposit Power.

Episode resources

– ⁠Deposit Power website⁠

– ⁠Deposit Power fee calculator⁠

– Ask a question (select the Retirement podcast)

Show partner resources

– Visit TermPlus to learn more

– Join Pearler using the code "RASKSWITCH" and get $32 of Pearler Credit

– Whatever comes next for your business, power it with Stripe

Rask resources

– All services

– Financial Planning

– Invest with us

– Access Show Notes

– Ask a question

– We love feedback!

Follow us on social media

– Instagram: @rask.invest

– TikTok: @rask.invest

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
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices