Financial Guidance Boosting Retirement Security

The information on this website is general in nature and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Consider seeking personal advice from a licensed adviser before acting on any information.

The report, anchored in the noteworthy findings from the Challenger Retirement Happiness Index, indicates that Australians who haven't benefitted from professional financial guidance are 39% more likely to feel the pinch of living expenses than the 25% who have been counselled financially.

Insights into the behavior of Australians entering or navigating retirement underscored a common thread – the acknowledgment of the link between financial awareness and contentment. Here's what the research delineated:

• Close to half of Australians over 60 have consulted a financial adviser at some point.
• Seventeen percent are actively seeking advice, while approximately one-third have done so in the past.
• Individuals who proceed without counsel are 40%, significantly more prone than the 26% who've been advised, to believe that rising living costs will undermine their retirement savings.
• The demographic split reveals married individuals over 60 engaging more with professional advisory services (20%) in comparison to singles (12%).

Delving into the geographic spread of financial consultancy, disparities emerge among residents of different states:

1. Residents of NSW, Victoria, and South Australia surpass their neighbours in Western Australia in financial advice seeking – with 19%, 17%, and 27% respectively, engaging advisors, in stark contrast to WA's 8%.
2. Moreover, Queenslanders and Western Australians are more inclined towards financial self-sufficiency or non-engagement, with 29% and 31% respectively, neither having sought nor planning to seek financial advice, compared with Victoria's mere 19%.

A convening of over 1000 Australians over the age of 60 allowed Challenger, in collaboration with the independent research entity YouGov, to unravel the factors influencing retirement satisfaction.

Mandy Mannix, Challenger's Customer Experience Chief Executive, reacted to these findings by drawing attention to a poignant fact – almost half of the survey participants desired greater budgetary safekeeping. This sentiment resonates with the industry's commitment to elevating retirees' later years through enhanced happiness and security.

Published:Monday, 8th Apr 2024
Author: Paige Estritori

Please Note: We do not endorse any specific products or companies. Some content is sourced from third parties, including press releases, and may not be independently verified for accuracy or completeness.

Share this news item:

Finance News

Clear

September Lending Signals Give Boat Buyers a Fresh Checkpoint

10 Sep 2026: Paige Estritori

Fresh September lending signals are giving Australian boat buyers another reason to slow down before signing a purchase contract. As the spring boating season gathers pace, lenders are still competing for well-qualified borrowers, but the gap between the cheapest-looking offer and the most suitable finance structure can be wider than many buyers expect. - read more

Mortgage arrears are a warning for stretched borrowers

10 Sep 2026: Paige Estritori

Fresh attention on Australian mortgage arrears is a reminder that repayment pressure is no longer just a theoretical risk for highly leveraged households. After a long period of elevated interest rates, higher insurance costs, bigger grocery bills and tighter household budgets, more borrowers are finding that even small financial setbacks can make loan commitments harder to manage. - read more

RBA Lending Rate Update Highlights the Real Cost of Personal Borrowing

10 Sep 2026: Paige Estritori

The Reserve Bank of Australia’s latest lending rate statistics are a useful reminder that personal borrowing costs can vary widely, even when the broader cash rate outlook appears steady. For households considering a car loan, debt consolidation loan or unsecured personal loan, the key issue is not simply whether rates are rising or falling. It is whether the loan being offered is affordable, suitable and competitive for the borrower’s circumstances. - read more

Why Towing Compliance Should Sit Inside Your Caravan Budget

10 Sep 2026: Paige Estritori

Recent caravan and RV safety coverage ahead of the spring touring season has put towing compliance back in the spotlight. For buyers, the message is broader than road safety alone. Aggregate trailer mass, gross trailer mass, towball download and payload can all affect whether a caravan is genuinely suitable for a household, a tow vehicle and a budget. - read more

ATO Car Expense Focus Puts Business Vehicle Finance Under the Microscope

10 Sep 2026: Paige Estritori

The Australian Taxation Office’s tax-time focus on work-related car expenses is a timely reminder that buying a vehicle for business use is not only a dealership decision. For self-employed Australians, contractors and small business owners, the way a car is used, financed and documented can shape both cash flow and tax record keeping long after the keys are handed over. - read more

Click for more Finance News