Experienced Retirement Financial Advisors in Sydney
Retirement planning that sets you up for life.
Retirement is a chance to reap the rewards of decades of hard work. With the right advice, financial knowledge, and future-proof planning, Montara Wealth can help you create the retirement you’ve always dreamed about — and as a privately owned advisory not aligned with any bank or institution, our advice is built around you, not a product shelf.
- Tailored retirement investment planning built around you
- Clear financial direction for your future
- Maximise super and tax efficiency long-term
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- Privately owned · Not aligned with any bank
How we build sustainable retirement plans
A well-planned retirement depends on knowing what kind of life you want once your working years are behind you. Understanding when you want to retire — and how you want to spend your time — makes all the difference in setting you up for success.
1. Understanding where you're currently headed
We start by mapping out your current financial position and projecting what your retirement could look like based on your existing savings, superannuation, and investments. This gives you a clear picture of whether you're on track — and if not, exactly where the gaps are — so you can make informed decisions early, not later when options are more limited.
2. Building a strategy for a comfortable retirement
Once our retirement financial planners understand your goals, we develop a personalised wealth strategy designed around how you want to live in retirement — not just a number. Whether that means maintaining your lifestyle, travelling, or reducing financial stress, we map out the steps required to get you there.
3. Making the most of your super and tax advantages
Superannuation is one of the most tax-effective ways to build wealth for retirement, but many people don't fully utilise it. We help structure your contributions, investments and withdrawals in a way that takes advantage of available tax benefits, so you can grow your retirement savings more efficiently and keep more of what you earn over the long term.
As a privately owned financial advisory in Sydney, we work with individuals, families and businesses to create a
comprehensive plan that incorporates investments, savings, retirement planning, and more.
We offer a holistic and strategic approach to advice and help our clients achieve financial stability and security by developing customised financial plans for both short-term and long-term goals.
Montara Wealth is not aligned with any financial institution or bank — meaning our advice is built around you, not a product shelf.
How we work with you as retirement planners
From the first no-cost meeting to ongoing reviews, here’s exactly what working withour retirement advisors looks like.
STEP 01Free introductory meeting with retirement advisors
We start by meeting with you at no cost and with no obligation. This is a chance for us to get to know you, learn about your retirement goals and answer any questions you have. It also gives you an opportunity to see how we work and whether we’re the right fit for you before making any commitment.
STEP 02Upfront fee proposal
After our initial meeting, we’ll provide a clear, transparent fee proposal outlining the cost of our retirement financial advisors in Sydney. You only pay if you’re completely comfortable. If not, you leave with nothing but useful insights.
STEP 03Strategy discussion
Once you’re ready to proceed with retirement planning in Sydney, we’ll sit down in a strategy meeting to dive deeper into what retirement looks like for you. You’ll share your financial picture, lifestyle expectations and future plans, and we’ll help you clarify what a comfortable retirement means for you personally.
STEP 04Modelling your future
We’ll prepare detailed financial models that show different retirement scenarios based on your current finances and lifestyle goals. These models help you see the impact of choices like super contributions, retirement planning investment strategies, or spending patterns.
STEP 05Formal advice from financial planners for retirement
Once your plan is clear, we’ll draft a Statement of Advice (SOA) — a personalised document that outlines our recommended strategy for your Australian retirement plan, the steps involved and how each part works together to support your retirement goals.
STEP 06Paperwork made easy
We’ll prepare all necessary documents and send them to you electronically. This takes the stress out of administration so you can focus on your goals, not forms.
STEP 07 Implementation support
We’ll help put your retirement plan into action, liaising with financial institutions, super funds and other service providers. You’ll be involved in every step, but we’ll do the heavy lifting.
STEP 08Ongoing reviews
Life changes, and so should your plan. Retirement advisors meet regularly to review your retirement strategy, make updates as needed and ensure it stays aligned with your goals, market conditions and any changes in your circumstances.
What we've achieved as retirement planners
As retirement financial advisors, we’re proud to have supported many of our clients on their journeys to retirement. Read more about what it’s like to work with Montara Wealth.
David and Jennifer's story — planning 15–20 years ahead
We start by meeting with you at no cost and with no obligation. This is a chance for us to get to know you, learn about your retirement goals and answer any questions you have. It also gives you an opportunity to see how we work and whether we’re the right fit for you before making any commitment.
What is the biggest mistake most people make regarding retirement?
One of the most common retirement planning mistakes people make is starting too late and not planning early enough for how much income they will need, which limits the power of compound growth in super and investments. Another frequent error is focusing only on accumulating a balance rather than planning a sustainable retirement income strategy that supports the lifestyle they want once they stop working.
What are the 5 golden rules of retirement?
While different financial advisors in Sydney for retirement list them in various ways, many frameworks boil down to core principles like:
- Set clear retirement income goals.
- Assess your current financial situation and super balance.
- Create a savings and investment strategy aligned with your goals.
- Plan a sustainable drawdown or income strategy for retirement.
- Review and adjust your plan regularly to reflect life changes and market conditions.
What is the rule for retirement?
One common “rule of thumb” in retirement planning is the 4% withdrawal rule, which suggests a retiree might safely withdraw about 4% of their retirement savings in the first year and adjust for inflation annually. Another rough guideline often cited is aiming for about 70% of your working income in retirement to maintain a similar lifestyle, though this varies by individual circumstances.
What to do one year before retiring?
About one year before retirement, it’s a good idea to finalise your retirement income goals, review your super and investment strategy, estimate your expected living costs, check your eligibility for any government benefits (like the Age Pension), and make decisions about when and how you’ll transition out of work. This year is also a key time to reduce high‑interest debt and refine your drawdown plans so you can start retirement with confidence. An experienced retirement planner in Australia can help with more personalised advice.
How long will $1,000,000 last in retirement in Australia?
There’s no fixed answer because it depends on spending, investment returns, age at retirement and whether you supplement income with the Age Pension. A common rule of thumb suggests a million dollars might be a useful benchmark, but many retirees draw down at rates that could see it last 20–30+ years if spend‑downs are carefully planned and income needs are moderate. Super retirement planner tools like ASIC’s MoneySmart planner can help simulate different scenarios for your situation.
There isn’t a specific fixed number of years it will last. This will be decided by:
- how much you withdraw each year,
- investment returns you actually achieve,
- your age and life expectancy,
- whether you receive an Age Pension, and
- how your spending changes over retirement.
Many financial planners use rules of thumb like withdrawing around 4% of the portfolio per year, which in basic modelling (historically based on balanced investment returns) is intended to make a portfolio last about 30 years. That’s why some people say $1 million could “last” around 20–30+ years if you spend moderately and invest sensibly. This 4% concept simply defines a rough sustainable withdrawal rate over a typical retirement period.
However this rule is a general guideline, not a guarantee. Actual outcomes vary, and minimum drawdown rules (set by the government) also influence how much you must withdraw from account‑based pensions.
How much do most people retire with?
Average super balances at retirement in Australia can differ by age and gender, but not everyone reaches high balances; many retirees have balances in the hundreds of thousands rather than millions when entering retirement. Benchmarks like the ASFA Retirement Standard help show what might be needed for a modest versus comfortable lifestyle, but actual amounts saved vary widely by personal earning, age, work history and super contributions over a lifetime.
HOW TO GET TO US
Suite 1, Level 6
309-315 George Street
Sydney NSW 2000
(02) 8330 3733
Monday-Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
PARKING AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Montara Wealth is a short walk from Wynyard Station and Martin Place Metro Station, with easy access to trains and buses from across Sydney. Martin Place and Circular Quay stations are also nearby. Secure parking is available at Wilson Parking (Pitt Street) and Secure Parking (Bond Street). For public transport info, visit Transport for NSW or use the TripView app.
GETTING TO US FROM NORTH SYDNEY
From North Sydney Take the M1 Metro from Victoria Cross Station on Miller Street. The trip to Martin Place takes just 5 minutes, with trains every 4 to 5 minutes during peak times. From Martin Place, head south along George Street and we are a 3-minute walk away at number 315.
From Chatswood Board the M1 Metro at Chatswood Station heading southbound. The journey to Martin Place takes around 11 minutes. Exit and walk south along George Street and we are a 3-minute walk at number 315, Level 6.
Feel free to contact us if you need help planning your visit.
Start Today
One of our advisors will contact you to discuss the following:
- Get to understand you and your retirement objectives
- Take you through Montara's approach to your retirement strategy
- Run through any potential costs that would apply
- Free, no-obligation introductory meeting. Your information stays private.
