For over a decade, governments have struggled to build an effective retirement income system. Retirees have two main choices: draw a pension from super, exposing themselves to market volatility, or opt for a lifetime annuity, which sacrifices flexibility.

Governments want retirees to spend rather than hoard savings, keeping money circulating in the economy. Overcoming ingrained habits and the fear of outliving savings is key. The challenge is balancing security with enjoying retirement.



One way to provide greater certainty is by converting part of your super into a reliable income stream. Traditionally called an annuity, a lump sum provides a guaranteed income for life.

Early annuities were unpopular due to inflexibility. If someone died early, their remaining capital vanished, leaving nothing for heirs. Inflation was another issue: retirees could choose level payments for life or indexed payments, but indexed payments took years to catch up.



With government encouragement, annuities have evolved into more flexible lifetime income streams. These products offer various options, though they can be complex. Providers include Challenger, Australian Retirement Trust, Generation Life, and AMP, each with unique features.

Retirees must decide: fixed-term or lifetime annuity? Joint names for couples? Indexed or fixed payments? A guaranteed period for estate refunds? Centrelink concessions? Market-linked exposure for growth?



Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque in diam id erat facilisis consectetur vitae vel urna.

Ut lacus libero, suscipit auctor ipsum sit amet, viverra pretium nisl. Nullam facilisis nec odio nec dapibus. Integer maximus risus et velit porttitor ullamcorper