In this Australian Retirement Podcast episode, James O’Reilly and Drew Meredith unpack a side of retirement planning spreadsheets cannot solve: what happens when you stop working. Using four retirement archetypes – stayers, leavers, blenders and the disengaged – they explain why people can thrive after leaving work or feel flat, isolated and directionless even when the money looks fine on paper.
The conversation then turns to the practical friction many Australians underestimate. Drew explains why getting money out of an SMSF can take longer than expected, why interim accounts and asset valuations matter, and why winding up or rolling out a fund is rarely as simple as pressing sell. They also tackle the emotional side of the transition, including how connected you are to your current work and how ready you are for what comes next.
James and Drew round it out with listener questions on growth versus defensive assets at 75, reversionary pensions, and what a surviving spouse needs to think about if a death benefit may push them over the transfer balance cap. If you are planning retirement or wondering whether your SMSF still makes sense, this episode offers a clearer framework for both the lifestyle and structural decisions that come with leaving work.
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