Aspirations Wealth is a fee-based practice and our professional fees are based on a scale of funds under management. Your initial consultations are free of charge, once we proceed to preparing a Statement of Advice (SOA) a one off SOA fee will apply. For a detailed breakdown of our fee schedule you can read through our Financial Services Guide (FSG).

How much you need to retire really depends on what retirement means to you. Some people envisage retirement as a time where they wind down their work hours, but still have income coming in from part time work. Others see themselves spending time with extended family, travelling, or doing things they have not had time to do while working. Whatever your retirement goals, understanding how much it costs you is the first step. One way to do this is to quantify how much your current lifestyle costs you, as presumably you would like to maintain that lifestyle throughout retirement.

Once you have determined the income you need to meet your desired lifestyle, then you need to check if it is possible for your assets to achieve your goal. If the answer is wildly different from the amount you currently spend to live, then you might need to consider strategies to increase your savings for retirement. This is when advice can be of value.

If you are uncertain around the amount you may need to fund your retirement each year, the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) benchmarks the minimum annual cost of a comfortable or modest standard of living in retirement for singles and couples aged around 67, is reviewed regularly and updated quarterly in line with inflation. The standard accounts for daily essentials, such as groceries, transport and home repairs, as well as private health insurance, a range of exercise and leisure activities and the occasional restaurant meal. Importantly it enables retirees to remain connected to family and friends virtually – through technology, and in person with an annual domestic trip and an international trip once every seven years.  Latest figures can be found via this link:

https://www.superannuation.asn.au/resources/retirement-standard

The standards assume that retirees own their home outright and are relatively healthy.

The key here is not to compare, but to use the retirement standard to ensure you have checked off everything when you are estimating your cost of living. For example, the comfortable standard allows for one international flight every seven years. If you are planning on globe-trotting following retirement, then you might need to up your annual needs to cover travel.

The definition of retirement has changed over the years as have life expectancies. A person retiring at 60 today might need to budget for their assets to last well into their 90’s…potentially longer than their working life. This means you need to not only plan for your needs in early retirement, but also consider the future costs of care should it be required.

Perhaps another way to consider retirement is that you are retired when you are in a financial position to work because you want to, not because you must.

Aspirations Wealth have clients in QLD, NSW, SA and VIC. With the head office based in Miranda NSW, they are the local area experts for the Sutherland Shire.

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The Aspirations Wealth investment philosophy is founded on evidence, discipline, and a long‑term focus on achieving financial outcomes that matter to our clients. We believe successful investing is not about predicting markets, but about building robust portfolios that can navigate uncertainty while remaining aligned to each client’s objectives, risk tolerance, and time horizon.

1. Evidence‑Based Investing

We believe that sustainable investment outcomes are best achieved through an evidence‑based approach. Our portfolio decisions are grounded in rigorous research, empirical data, and fundamental analysis rather than short‑term market noise or speculation. Markets are inherently uncertain, and attempting to consistently time market movements introduces unnecessary risk. Instead, we focus on repeatable processes that have demonstrated their effectiveness over long periods.

This approach emphasises discipline, patience, and informed decision‑making qualities that help investors remain focused during periods of volatility and avoid emotional responses that can detract from long‑term results.

2. Strategic Asset Allocation as the Primary Driver of Returns

We recognise that strategic asset allocation is the most significant determinant of a portfolio’s long‑term risk and return profile. The mix between growth assets (such as equities and property) and defensive assets (such as fixed income and cash) is aligned to each client’s objectives, investment time horizon, and tolerance for risk.

While short‑term market conditions may influence portfolio positioning, strategic asset allocation provides the foundation for capital growth, income generation, and capital preservation over time. We believe that accepting an appropriate level of risk is necessary to achieve higher long‑term returns, and that risk should be taken deliberately and thoughtfully.

3. Diversification as a Core Risk Management Tool

Diversification is central to our investment philosophy and is one of the most effective ways to manage risk. By spreading investments across asset classes, investment styles, geographies, and managers, portfolios are less reliant on the performance of any single investment or market outcome.

We believe diversification improves the reliability of outcomes and increases the probability of achieving long‑term investment goals. Importantly, diversification is applied thoughtfully considering correlations, risks, and portfolio construction not simply by holding a large number of investments.

4. Active Management Where It Adds Value

We believe markets are not always perfectly efficient and that skilled active management can add value, particularly where pricing inefficiencies, structural complexity, or information asymmetry exists. However, we also acknowledge that active management is not appropriate in all asset classes.

Our approach assesses each asset class to determine whether active or passive strategies are most suitable. Investment managers are selected through a robust qualitative and quantitative research process, focusing on people, process, performance, and risk management. The objective is to use the right investment tool for the right purpose within the portfolio.

5. Valuation Matters

We believe that starting valuations are an important contributor to long‑term risk and return outcomes. Asset prices can deviate from fundamental value, and understanding valuation helps inform portfolio positioning, particularly when managing downside risk.

While valuations are not a precise timing tool, they provide a useful framework for recognising periods of heightened risk or opportunity and support prudent decision‑making focused on capital preservation and sustainable returns.

6. A Holistic View of Risk

We recognise that investment risk is multi‑dimensional and cannot be captured by volatility alone. Our approach considers a broad range of risks, including liquidity risk, drawdown risk, manager risk, behavioural risk, and macroeconomic and geopolitical factors.

By assessing risk holistically, portfolios are designed not only to withstand market fluctuations but to remain aligned with investor objectives across varying market environments.

7. Strong Governance and Ongoing Review

Effective investment management requires robust governance and continuous oversight. Portfolios are monitored regularly to ensure they remain consistent with their objectives, asset allocation parameters, and risk profile. This includes reviewing performance, risk characteristics, underlying managers, and broader economic conditions.

Ongoing review ensures portfolios remain fit for purpose as market conditions evolve and as client circumstances change