Australians have one of the highest life expectancies in the world and forecasts show that’s only going to increase over the next four decades1.
To put it into perspective, around 40 years ago, the number of Australians over age 85 was 80,000 and in about another 40 years that number is projected to reach around two million2.
While longer life may be welcome news to many, it does raise questions about how people will fund a longer retirement, particularly one that could potentially span 25 years or more.
Longer retirements come at a cost
Increased life expectancy does mean more time to pursue things you’re passionate about, but the catch is, more years in retirement will come with a price tag.
On top of that, research indicates numerous Australians will not have the funds to live comfortably in the years after they’ve finished working3, which is why you may need to consider working for longer to boost your retirement savings.
Meanwhile, if you’re pinning your hopes on living off the Age Pension—that’s if you’re eligible for it—keep in mind the government has proposed increasing the eligibility age to 70 by 20354. And, the money you’ll receive from it will reportedly cover less than a modest lifestyle5.
Considering your health in your later years
Another factor to consider isn’t just working for longer, it’s whether you’ll be healthy enough to keep working for as long as you want or need to.
Health is a key factor when it comes to workforce participation for mature-aged workers, and subsequently in your ability to accumulate super and private savings to fund your retirement.
Research shows the key issue for Australians is that between 60 and 70 years of age, the proportion of people reporting fair or poor health increases, with predictions that by 2035, one in four men and one in five women in their 60s will have poor or at best, fair health6.
More people remain in the workforce
Figures released this year revealed fewer people were retired in comparison to years gone by and that retirement was not necessarily a one-time event, with many people returning to the workforce7.
Statistics showed8:
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28% of men and 48% of women aged 60 to 64 were retired, in comparison to 49% of men and 68% of women a little over 15 years ago
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A significant number of retired people were also returning to the workforce, particularly in the 45 to 54 and 55 to 59 age groups, with as many as 26.7% returning to employment annually
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On top of that, at least 8% of men and 6.9% of women in the 60 to 64 age group were also returning to the workforce each year.
Given Australians across the board are likely to enjoy greater life expectancy into the future, it’s worth giving some thought to your retirement plans ahead of exiting the workforce so that you’re prepared.
The type of retirement lifestyle you’d like to lead, whether you’ll have the funds to pay for it, how healthy you are, and how long you could live, are all considerations.
If you’d like further assistance or information please contact us on 1300 181 707
Source : AMP 18 September 2017
This article provides general information and hasn’t taken your circumstances into account. It’s important to consider your particular circumstances before deciding what’s right for you. Although the information is from sources considered reliable, we do not guarantee that it is accurate or complete. You should not rely upon it and should seek qualified advice before making any investment decision. Except where liability under any statute cannot be excluded, we do not accept any liability (whether under contract, tort or otherwise) for any resulting loss or damage of the reader or any other person.
1, 3, 4, 6 AMP.NATSEM 2015 report, Going the distance: Working longer, living healthier pages 2, 27
2 2015 Intergenerational Report page viii
5 The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia – Retirement Standard paragraph four
7, 8 The Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey 2017 pages 65, 67
