Retirement Planning in Newcastle
Working out how much you need, and when you can actually stop.
How Much Money Do I Really Need to Retire?
It's one of the biggest questions we get asked, and the honest answer is: it depends on the life you want to live. At Newburn Wealth Advisory, we deliver retirement planning across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens, and the Hunter Valley that starts with your version of retirement, not a generic income target. Whether it's more time on the boat, helping with grandkids or finally taking that long trip, we take the worry out of the numbers so you can focus on what retirement actually looks like for you. You might even be able to retire sooner than you think. To map out your retirement, call us on 0417 481 493.
ASFA Retirement Standard
What Australians Actually Spend in Retirement
The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) publishes benchmark living costs for retirees. These figures are a useful starting point when modelling your own retirement income.
| ASFA Retirement Standard | Annual living costs | Weekly living costs |
|---|---|---|
| Couple – modest | $52,473 | $1,009 |
| Couple – modest (renting) | $69,002 | $1,327 |
| Couple – comfortable | $78,566 | $1,510 |
| Single – modest | $36,434 | $701 |
| Single – modest (renting) | $51,164 | $983 |
| Single – comfortable | $55,923 | $1,075 |
Source: ASFA Retirement Standard, March quarter 2026 — via Moneysmart.gov.au
Built Around Your Lifestyle
Plans modelled on the life you actually want, not a generic income target.
Smart Drawdown & Tax
Coordinated drawdown across super, investments and pensions to keep things tax efficient.
Centrelink & Age Pension
Factoring Age Pension entitlements, transition to retirement and aged care considerations into your plan where relevant.
Tailored advice
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personalised to you
Frequently Asked Questions
Our retirement planning services include:
We help pre-retirees and retirees across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens and the Hunter Valley make confident decisions about when, how and on what terms they finish work.
- Working out how much income you'll need in retirement
- Modelling when you can afford to retire
- Transition to retirement strategies and reducing your hours
- Growing and managing your super in the lead-up to retirement
- Considering Age Pension and Centrelink entitlements as part of your plan
- Considering estate and beneficiary nominations alongside your strategy
Your Retirement Journey
From the Last Decade of Work to the First Decade of Retirement
Retirement isn't a single event. It's a transition that often spans ten to fifteen years, and the decisions you make in your fifties shape the lifestyle you can afford in your seventies. We work with pre-retirees across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens and the Hunter Valley to make those years count: maximising concessional and non-concessional contributions, paying down non-deductible debt, reviewing insurance as it becomes less necessary, and stress-testing your numbers against different retirement ages so you know exactly what's possible.
Once you do retire, the focus shifts from accumulating wealth to drawing it down in a way that lasts. We map out a sequence: which assets to spend first, how much to hold in cash to ride out market downturns, when to start an account-based pension, and how to coordinate with Centrelink so you receive every entitlement you're due. We also help you think through aged care costs and downsizing, so the plan keeps reflecting your life rather than the version of it you had five years ago.