Ask Paul: We want to retire early on $140k a year
By Paul Clitheroe
Q. My husband, 47, and I, 40, have three investment properties: one in Sydney (worth $950,000), another in Melbourne ($600,000) and the third in Brisbane ($600,000). They provide 3.3%, 3.8% and 3.6% rental yield.
Our loans amount to $972,000 with an offset account of $972,000, therefore there is no interest payable.
Combined we have $340,000 in super, shares worth $5500 and savings of $400,000.
We move with work, therefore currently rent. Our annual expenditure is $140,000 and savings $100,000. Our goal is to have $140,000 passive income after tax.
We want to spend more time with our two school-aged kids. Our risk profile is low to medium.
Both parents are on pensions and do not have the knowledge to guide us financially, although they are beautiful people.
We feel we could retire sooner but are not sure how. What do you recommend and in what time frame?
The sooner the better! - Bindi
A. Good work, Bindi. A key to financial success is goal setting, and I love the idea of retirement "as soon as possible".
Coincidentally my column in the April issue of Money is about exactly this situation.
But in your case I can be more specific, as you have given me a fair bit of detail.
You have total assets of about $2.9 million, which at your age is fantastic.
But as you need to plan for a lifespan of around 40 to 50 years, you really need to have an amount of money that gives you the $140,000 a year you need, plus inflation, for many decades.
History says that it is realistic to assume that you can earn about 4% to 5% above inflation on a well-diversified portfolio, so to have $140,000 a year plus inflation, while your capital keeps pace with inflation, you really would need about $3.7 million to $4 million and a home.
So you are very much on track. The next step is to decide on where you would live in the long run. This could be one of your current properties or one you buy as an investment now and move into it when you stop work.
I reckon you need about another $1 million in investment assets, plus a home, before you will have that "inflation-proof" $140,000 a year.
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