Strategic retirement income advice for your 'spending years'

Protect your wealth from the ‘bad timing tax’. We help Sunshine Coast retirees generate reliable, tax-effective income so they can spend with confidence.

In retirement

Retirement should be carefree and easy, but many retirees are anxious about this stage of their life. They’re not sure if they’re ready to step away from work, scared to spend the money they’ve worked so hard to accumulate, or terrified about market movements impacting their lifestyle.

With our help, you can stop worrying about the future and start living the retirement you’ve dreamed of today.

Our strategic advice will help you:

Live a comfortable and fulfilling retirement

There’s so much more to retirement than getting the money right (although, of course it helps)!

Using our Path to Prosperity approach, we discuss all of the elements that contribute to a fulfilling retirement. This helps you focus on crafting a life beyond work that is rich with meaning, connection, vitality and enjoyment.

Turn your nest egg into a steady, reliable pay packet

The hardest part of retirement? Losing your salary.

For 40 years, you knew exactly what would hit your account every fortnight. Now you just have a lump sum that feels like it’s shrinking every time you buy groceries.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. We recreate your salary by setting up an automated payment that lands in your bank account every fortnight – just like when you were working. You know exactly what’s coming. You can spend it without guilt because your income is predictable.

This simple shift removes the daily anxiety of managing a lump sum.

Sleep soundly knowing your money will last the distance

Retirement should be the period where you finally stop trading your time for money and start trading your capital for experiences. However, with Australians now commonly living into their 90s, the greatest fear isn’t market volatility – it’s longevity risk (outliving your savings).

As of the latest 2026 ASFA Retirement Standard, a couple owning their own home on the Sunshine Coast now needs approximately $77,375 per year for a truly comfortable lifestyle. This covers more than just the basics; it accounts for the ‘Coast life’, which often includes private health insurance, dining out in Noosa, and having a well-maintained car for leisurely drives to the hinterland.

Our advice aims to safeguard your retirement savings over the long term, keep your cash flowing and ensure you’re living an enviable Sunshine Coast lifestyle.

Maximise Centrelink benefits and the Age Pension

Many retirees leave thousands of dollars on the table because they don’t know what they’re entitled to or can’t navigate the system.

We structure your assets to maximise your payment (legally). This ensures you get every dollar of the Age Pension you qualify for, as well as other benefits such as a Health Care Card.

Draw a tax-free pension

Help you convert your superannuation into to a tax free pension. Not only are the pension payments tax free but also the investment earnings.

The icing on the cake is that if you have some Australian Shares you can even collect the franking credits refunds from the ATO!

Create a safety net

Markets drop. It’s inevitable. But your lifestyle shouldn’t have to.

Here’s our strategy: we keep 1 to 2 years of your living expenses in cash and defensive assets. This is your buffer.

If the market drops 15% tomorrow, you don’t panic. You don’t sell shares at a loss. You simply draw from your cash buffer and wait for the market to recover.

Your fortnightly pay never stops. You keep planning holidays, not checking the ASX.

Minimise estate tax

Super can be heavily taxed when it passes to your kids (typically 17% but it can be up to 32% in some cases!) We use legal strategies to reduce this. We:

withdraw and re-contribute to create a tax-free component
use pension reversions strategically
structure beneficiary nominations correctly
coordinate with your estate plan.

Often, we can save your family tens of thousands in death taxes with proper planning.

Manage paperwork

Retirement should mean freedom, not admin. The paperwork can be deliberately confusing, and keeping up-to-date with rules changes is a full-time job. We keep on top of it for you.

What we do:

Set up your pension account
Help you lodge Age Pension applications
Help you handle Centrelink/Services Australia updates
Manage fund transfers
Deal with account adjustments.

What you do:

Review the plan
Make decisions
Enjoy your retirement.

Reduce complexity

Its hard to enjoy retirement if you have complexity in your life. We can help streamline and reduce the complexity so you can enjoy your well earned rest.

As a side benefit reducing complexity typically reduces the overall cost as well helping to maintain your balance over the long term.

Got questions? We've got answers.

At Sunlit Path, we’re passionate about partnering with ‘Everyday Achievers’ to create the carefree retirement they deserve. These are everyday people who, through decades of hard work, are successful, humble and authentic.

We help those who want a genuine 20-year partnership, not a 20-minute transaction. And like any solid partnership, our relationship needs to be built on trust, shared goals, and transparent communication. That’s why we offer a complimentary ‘Fit Check’ to ensure we’re a good match and can offer you valuable advice for your next phase of life.

If you’re looking for a boutique advocate who understands that a fulfilling retirement is more than just financials, you are in the right place.

Should ask questions (SAQ) - Before you retire

How much can I earn without affecting my Age Pension in 2026?

If you are receiving a part-pension, the Work Bonus remains a vital tool. In 2026, the first $300 per fortnight of your employment income is not assessed under the income test.

Key Update: As of 20 March 2026, the ATO and Centrelink have updated the Deeming Rates. For the first time in years, the lower rate has risen to 1.25% and the upper rate to 3.25%. We help Sunshine Coast retirees restructure their financial assets to minimise the impact of these higher “assessed” income levels.

What is the $2.1 Million "Transfer Balance Cap" indexation?

From 1 July 2026, the General Transfer Balance Cap (TBC) is officially increasing from $2 million to $2.1 million.

If you are already in a pension: You don’t automatically get the full $100,000 increase. You receive a proportional increase based on the highest percentage of the cap you’ve used in the past.
Why it matters: This change allows more tax-free earnings within your retirement phase, which is essential for preserving capital against 2026 inflation.

I have over $3M in super; what is the "Division 296" tax?

Scheduled to commence on 1 July 2026, Division 296 applies a new tax on individuals with a Total Superannuation Balance (TSB) exceeding $3 million.

The Rule: You will pay an additional 15% tax on the proportion of “realised earnings” corresponding to the balance above $3M.
Good News: After significant debate, the 2026 legislation confirmed that unrealised gains (paper profits) will not be taxed—only actual realised income and gains.

Can I still add money to my super once I’ve retired?

Yes, thanks to the removal of the “Work Test” for non-concessional contributions (under age 75).

The 2026/27 Limit: You can contribute up to $130,000 per year (indexed up from $120,000) as a non-concessional contribution, provided your Total Super Balance is below the new $2.1 million threshold.
Downsizing: If you sell your Sunshine Coast property, you can still use the $300,000 Downsizer Contribution regardless of your total balance.

I’m over 60 and semi-retired; can I still put money into my super?

The Current Rule (2025/26): Yes. If you are under 75, you can make voluntary non-concessional (after-tax) contributions of up to $120,000 this year without meeting any “Work Test.” This is ideal for Sunshine Coast retirees who have downsized or received an inheritance and want to move funds into a tax-free environment.

Looking Ahead (from 1 July 2026): Due to indexation, this annual limit is set to increase to $130,000. If you utilise the “3-year bring-forward” rule after July 1, you could potentially move up to $390,000 into super in a single year (up from $360,000 currently).