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Three ways to access advice for a resilient retirement
04 June 2025
3 min read
Could advice be your secret weapon in retirement? New CFS research shows advised Australians cope better in times of financial volatility.
Did you know there’s a secret weapon when it comes to building financial resilience? Turns out that Australians who have had advice are much more likely to be able to cope in times of market turbulence, according to the 2025 Empowered Australian* report commissioned by CFS.
Confidence is one of the key outcomes financial advice offers.
The opposite is true for one in three of those who have never received advice. Instead of feeling confident about their financial situation, they say it’s affecting their lifestyle and wellbeing.
Something to consider, as while financial markets have bounced back strongly from sharp falls in April, the road ahead may be bumpy.
CFS CEO of Superannuation Kelly Power says financial advisers offer retirees valuable support in these times of market turbulence by providing reassurance that helps them stay the course.
“Recent events on the world stage have triggered significant volatility in sharemarkets,” Kelly says in the 2025 Empowered Australian report. “It’s in times like this where having access to a financial adviser can make a huge difference.”
More money in retirement is the hottest advice topic
Most retired Australians want financial advice, but many aren’t sure how to get it, or if they can afford it. Hot topics include:
- boosting income in retirement
- getting a better return on investments
- understanding eligibility for government benefits, and
- estate planning.
With that in mind, below are three simple ways to access specialist retirement advice that you may not have considered.
1. Tap into free general advice from your super fund
Broad general advice on super and retirement products is made available by super funds to their members.
At CFS, our guidance team is trained to provide general advice about super and retirement savings. You can book a time to discuss your questions for free.
Our team can also provide guidance on different types of financial advice on offer should you need more help, including linking you with financial advisers in your area.
There is also a wealth of information and free tools available on the CFS website.
Book a free consultation with our guidance team for help with your retirement, investment or advice strategy.
2. Use your super or pension to pay for advice
Did you know you can pay for advice directly from your super or retirement savings? Seven in ten Australians don’t know this, according to our report.
With rising costs more of a concern this year than they were a year ago, it’s good to know that comprehensive or in-depth personal financial advice with no upfront hit to the hip pocket is available.
There are some rules around this to protect your super or retirement savings. The advice must relate to how you could use your super to fund or save for retirement, setting up a pension, or managing investment risk to make your money last longer.
Advice could save you thousands of dollars over time without putting a dent in your weekly budget now.
3. Consult a retirement specialist
Specialist retirement advice can help boost your retirement income and ensure you don’t miss out on government benefits.
One-third of all recipients apply for the government Age Pension at least a year later than they could have, research from Retirement Essentials shows – that’s money you won’t get back if you don’t apply on time^.
Other government benefits, such as the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, can be worth thousands of dollars a year in reduced health and medical costs#.
CFS has partnered with Retirement Essentials to offer discounted specialist advice to members. Check your eligibility using the Age Pension calculator.
Need more help?
To discuss your financial advice needs, or if you would like more help with your retirement strategy, start by booking a free consultation with our guidance team.
What’s next?
Aged Care reform
to cost more
The changes aim to improve the quality of Aged Care for all.
* CFS conducted research with 2250 Australians between October and December 2024 on access to financial advice for the 2025 Empowered Australian report.
^ Research on the cost of late applications for the Age Pension and related government benefits from Retirement Essentials and Link Advice, 2024.
# Research on Commonwealth Seniors Health Card uptake from Retirement Essentials, 2025.
Disclaimer
Avanteos Investments Limited ABN 20 096 259 979, AFSL 245531 (AIL) is the trustee of the Colonial First State FirstChoice Superannuation Trust ABN 26 458 298 557 and issuer of FirstChoice range of super and pension products. Colonial First State Investments Limited ABN 98 002 348 352, AFSL 232468 (CFSIL) is the responsible entity and issuer of products made available under FirstChoice Investments and FirstChoice Wholesale Investments. This document may include general advice but does not consider your individual objectives, financial situation, needs or tax circumstances. You can find the Target Market Determinations (TMD) for our financial products at www.cfs.com.au/tmd, which include a description of who a financial product might suit. You should read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Financial Services Guide (FSG) carefully, assess whether the information is appropriate for you, and consider talking to a financial adviser before making an investment decision. You can get the PDS and FSG at www.cfs.com.au or by calling us on 13 13 36.