Here’s what our members said about their Retirement Options Service appointment
Read about how Retirement Options Service (ROS) has helped our members in their retirement journey.
Please note: these are real member stories. Names, images and some information has been changed for privacy purposes. These interviews were conducted by a third-party researcher to maintain objectivity.
Michelle
Age: 65
Account: West State Super and Transition to Retirement Pension
Thinking about how or if she’ll be able to retire was a frightening thought for Michelle before her ROS appointment.
“I was terrified I wouldn’t be able to retire. Many of my work colleagues, particularly women, felt like they couldn’t afford to retire.”
Michelle booked into a seminar to get a better understanding of her options. She found the session helpful, but not all the information applied to her situation. At the end of the seminar, she heard about ROS and decided this might be a better fit. Meeting with her ROS consultant, Robin, helped Michelle realise she had the power to make big changes at work.
“Because of what I gained from my meeting with Robin, I have decided I can go part time at work. And if I don’t enjoy that, I can give four weeks’ notice and walk away from my job completely. It’s reduced my stress levels incredibly.”
“My ROS appointment has empowered me to have control over my life. I have control over when I stop working now and I didn’t have that before.”
Tony
Age: 71
Account: West State Super and Gold State Super deferred
Tony felt three heads are better than one when you’re planning for your retirement – which is why he started working with his ROS consultant and his accountant.
Tony started planning for his retirement about eight years ago and has had several ROS appointments with his consultant Darren. He said these appointments helped him to make considered decisions about his unique accounts with his accountant, including withdrawing from his Gold State Super account to maximise his Final Remuneration and making the most of his pre-83 service.
“I now understand the value of the pre-83 service and how that could actually be of benefit to me from a tax point of view. Once I reached my retirement age, I could access some of that money and I could use the pre-83 service to offset some of the tax liability from withdrawing some of the money from the fund.”
Tony is planning to continue to work until the end of the financial year, and then retire in July.
“I’m like a five-year-old waiting for Christmas. Darren’s going to be Father Christmas for me.”
“I’m going to try to live off my savings for as long as possible, before accessing my super. I will certainly make another [ROS] appointment towards the end of the year to review my situation.”
Charlie
Age: 63
Account: West State Super member
When Charlie first heard about ROS, he thought the fee was a bit expensive - but his friend who had recently had an appointment assured him that it was worth it to talk to consultants who know and understand West State Super.
Charlie wanted to make sure he was getting the most value out of his scheme. When he and his wife Jen met with their ROS consultant, Sarah, they covered all the topics the couple wanted to focus on, including where Charlie’s super might be in two years’ time and how Charlie could access his money while Jen continued to work.
“We were very pleased with what we got out of the appointment. It really was value for money. It gave me tremendous confidence that I can afford to retire when I want to. The mechanics of how that works were explained to me in great detail, which I didn’t know before.”
“You should enjoy your retirement while you have it. Some people leave it too late. I’m not one of these people who live for working. Work is a means to an end.”
Margaret
Age: 68
Account: West State Super member, Gold State Super deferred and Transition to Retirement Pension accounts
A part-time employee drawing down from her Transition to Retirement Pension while contributing into her West State Super, Margaret knows her schemes can be complex. Over the years, she has spoken with a couple of different financial planners but has found her ROS appointments the most helpful source of information for her retirement planning.
Margaret has regular ROS appointments with her consultant, Darren, who provides her with straightforward information about her unique schemes.
“The information provided is objective and can be trusted. I don’t have to wonder what the consultant’s angle is. It’s about Darren telling me what the rules are for super and taxation and reminding me what they are helping me to better plan. I always feel I’ve been smartened up after seeing Darren.”
“I still see Darren once a year, just to remind myself what the West State does and what the Retirement Income pension does and whether they need any tweaking.”
Preparing for your retirement
Feeling inspired to learn more about your own situation? We have a range of resources available to help you, wherever you are on your retirement journey.
Book a ROS appointment
Find out more and bookRetirement Options Service is a one-on-one service where you can learn more about the choices we offer you as you get closer to your retirement.
Attend one of our seminars
Find a seminar and registerWe offer a range of seminars in the CBD and around Perth. Our speakers share information and general advice about our products and planning ahead for your retirement.
Register for one of our webinars
Explore topics and registerIf you prefer to learn online, explore our range of webinars. These are generally only 30 minutes long and cover a range of interesting topics.
Need help
- Call us on 13 43 72
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