As we move into 2026, it’s a good time to reflect on what the past year taught us about retirement planning not in theory, but in practice.
Throughout 2025, we worked closely with retirees and pre-retirees across Bendigo and regional Victoria, helping them navigate changing superannuation rules, higher interest rates, market volatility and important lifestyle decisions. While every client’s situation is different, some clear themes emerged.
Here are the key retirement planning lessons from 2025 that are shaping how we’re advising clients in 2026.
1. Making Better Use of Catch-Up Concessional Contributions
One of the most valuable (and often overlooked) strategies we applied in 2025 was the carry-forward concessional contribution rules.
Many clients approaching retirement had:
· Inconsistent contribution histories
· Years where they hadn’t used their full concessional cap
· Strong cash flow in their final working years
By reviewing contribution history and available carry-forward amounts, we were able to:
· Boost super balances in a tax-effective way
· Reduce personal taxable income in the final years of work
· Improve long-term retirement outcomes without increasing risk
Lesson for 2026:
For those still working in their 50s and 60s, there can be a significant opportunity to boost superannuation, reduce personal tax, and — most importantly — materially improve retirement outcomes by making use of this rule. As a result, reviewing unused concessional contribution caps has become a core part of effective retirement planning, rather than an afterthought.
2. Downsizer Contributions — Especially for Those Moving to Bendigo
Another clear trend we saw in 2025 was retirees relocating from capital cities to Bendigo and surrounding regional areas.
For many, this unlocked a powerful opportunity through the downsizer contribution rules:
· Selling a higher-value metropolitan home
· Purchasing a more affordable regional property
· Contributing up to $300,000 each into superannuation from the sale proceeds
This strategy helped clients:
· Increase super balances even after retirement
· Simplify their overall financial position
· Improve long-term income certainty
Lesson for 2026:
Downsizer contributions are not just about property — they’re about improving retirement flexibility, especially for clients making lifestyle-driven moves to regional Victoria.
Caution does need to be applied as any Age Pension benefits may be impacted.
3. Re-Thinking Investment Portfolios in an Inflationary World
2025 reinforced an important reality: investment strategies that worked a decade ago don’t automatically suit today’s environment.
With higher interest rates and persistent inflation, many clients benefited from:
· Reviewing how defensive assets were positioned
· Ensuring growth assets still played a role in protecting purchasing power
· Avoiding overly conservative portfolios that struggle to keep up with rising living costs
Lesson for 2026:
Retirement portfolios need to balance income stability and inflation protection — not simply reduce risk at all costs.
4. Staying Calm and Rational Through Market Noise
Between global conflicts, elections, interest rate speculation and constant media headlines, 2025 tested investor patience (Thanks Donald!)
Clients who fared best were those who:
· Stayed focused on long-term plans
· Avoided emotional reactions to short-term market movements
· Didn’t try to “time” markets based on political or economic noise
Lesson for 2026:
A calm and disciplined investment approach remains one of the most valuable tools in retirement planning. Our role as advisers is to help clients see through the noise, provide perspective when headlines are unsettling, and protect them from making short-term, emotionally driven decisions that can undermine long-term outcomes — particularly when markets and political events dominate the news cycle.
5. Retirement Is About Living — Not Just the Numbers
One of the most important (and positive) lessons from 2025 had nothing to do with super balances or investment returns.
Many clients reached a point where they realised:
· Retirement isn’t a rehearsal
· There’s no prize for finishing with the biggest account balance
· Quality of life matters
We saw clients:
· Take the holiday they’d been putting off
· Buy the car they’d always wanted
· Reduce work hours instead of stopping abruptly
· Spend more time with family and doing what they enjoy
Lesson for 2026:
Good retirement planning isn’t just about financial security — it’s about confidently enjoying the lifestyle you’ve worked hard to create. You only get one retirement.
Final Thoughts
Retirement planning in 2026 is about being strategic, flexible and realistic.
The lessons from 2025 reinforced that the best outcomes come from:
· Understanding the rules and using them properly
· Regularly reviewing investment strategy
· Staying calm through uncertainty
· And remembering why you’re planning for retirement in the first place
If you’re approaching retirement — or already there — now is the right time to reflect on whether your plan still fits your goals and your lifestyle.