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

Xpeng X9 Signals a New Electric Family Mover for Australia

21 Jun 2026: Paige Estritori

Australia’s electric vehicle market is broadening beyond compact SUVs and sedans, with Xpeng preparing to bring its X9 electric people mover closer to local showrooms. The brand, which entered Australia with the G6 electric SUV in 2024, now has a local web presence for the X9 and the model has already appeared in Australian approval records, suggesting a launch is moving from speculation to serious preparation. - read more

Leapmotor C10 Long Range Sharpens Australia’s EV Value Equation

21 Jun 2026: Paige Estritori

Leapmotor has given Australian electric SUV shoppers a timely value update, confirming a revised MY26 C10 battery-electric range that focuses on longer range, quicker charging and a simpler line-up. For buyers weighing up an electric car loan, the headline is straightforward: the updated C10 Design Long Range keeps its $49,888 price before on-road costs while adding meaningful hardware improvements. - read more

Businesses Accelerate EV and Battery Finance Amid Fuel Volatility

21 Jun 2026: Paige Estritori

Australian businesses are increasingly treating electrification as a cost-control strategy, not just an environmental decision. Recent reporting on bank lending data shows a sharp rise in finance for green equipment, with NAB saying its green equipment loan uptake between March and May 2026 was almost double the level recorded over the same period last year. - read more

RBA Holds Rates, But Homeowners Should Stay Ready

21 Jun 2026: Paige Estritori

Australian mortgage holders received a brief reprieve on 16 June 2026, when the Reserve Bank of Australia left the cash rate unchanged at 4.35%. After three consecutive increases earlier this year, the pause means many variable-rate borrowers will not face an automatic repayment jump from this particular meeting. However, the message from the central bank was cautious rather than celebratory: inflation remains above target, and further tightening has not been ruled out. - read more

Caravan Parks Turn to Winter Offers as Travel Budgets Tighten

20 Jun 2026: Paige Estritori

Australian caravanners are being given fresh reasons to consider a winter getaway, with some park operators responding to softer demand by making off-season stays more attractive. The latest example comes from Barwon Coast Caravan Parks on Victoria’s Bellarine Peninsula, which is using a bold winter campaign and accommodation incentives to encourage travellers to visit outside the traditional summer peak. - read more

Click for more Finance News