Pre-retirees
Professional financial guidance designed to help you prepare for retirement, protect what you have built and step into the next chapter with confidence.
The decisions you make in the years before retirement have more impact than almost anything you do after it
Effective investment management is not about chasing returns — it is about building a strategy that is right for your situation and maintaining the discipline to stick to it through all market conditions.
We provide direct access to John Milner, a Certified Financial Planner (CFP™) with over 30 years’ experience, supported by independent research from Consilium and academic oversight from Professor Ben Marshall at Massey University.
By Collaborative Consulting
Most people spend more time planning a holiday than they spend planning their retirement. We work closely with pre-retirees to make sure the transition is deliberate, well-structured and built around what they actually want their retirement to look like.
Whether you are five years out or fifteen, now is the right time to start. Our team of certified financial planners is here to guide you at every step.
Related insurance and financial protection services
With Collaborative Consulting by your side, we can help across a broad range of protection and financial planning needs.
Make sure your KiwiSaver is in the right fund, contributing at the right level and properly integrated with your retirement plan.
Build a clear plan for how you will draw income from your assets once you stop working, so your money lasts as long as you need it to.
A comprehensive financial plan that ties your investments, insurance and retirement goals together into one coherent strategy.
Why Choose Collaborative Consulting
Personalised advice for New Zealanders approaching retirement
With decades of experience in the New Zealand market, we understand the unique challenges and opportunities facing people in the years before retirement. We work closely with every client to understand their specific situation and develop a plan that genuinely fits their life.
A plan built around your retirement date
We map out exactly what needs to happen between now and when you retire. Every investment, insurance and income decision is made with your target date in mind.
KiwiSaver and investment optimisation
We review your KiwiSaver, your investment portfolio and your overall asset mix to make sure everything is positioned correctly for the transition ahead.
Risk reduction as retirement approaches
The closer you get to retirement, the more important it is to protect what you have built. We adjust your investment strategy to reduce unnecessary risk without sacrificing the growth you still need.
Income planning before day one
We build your retirement income strategy before you retire, not after. That means you step into retirement with a clear, tested plan already in place.
Preparing New Zealanders
for the retirement they have worked for
People who work with an adviser are more than twice as likely to be on track with their retirement savings than those managing it alone. We help you make the most of every year between now and retirement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have a question about preparing for retirement? We are happy to help. Get in touch.
When should I start planning for retirement?
The earlier you start, the more options you have. But the five to ten years before retirement are the most critical period. This is when your decisions around investment risk, KiwiSaver contributions, debt repayment and income structuring have the greatest impact on your retirement outcome. If you have not started planning yet, now is the right time. We work with clients at every stage of the pre-retirement journey and can help you identify what needs to happen first.
How much do I need to retire comfortably in New Zealand?
The right number depends entirely on your lifestyle expectations, your existing assets, your health and how long you expect to live. A general rule of thumb is that you need around 70 to 80 percent of your pre-retirement income each year. But rules of thumb are not financial plans. We work through your specific situation in detail, including the role of NZ Super, and give you a clear, personalised target to work toward.
Should I pay off my mortgage before I retire?
For most people, entering retirement debt-free is a significant advantage. It reduces the income you need each month and removes a major financial obligation from your retirement plan. That said, the right answer depends on your interest rate, your investment returns and your overall financial position. We assess this as part of your broader retirement plan and give you a clear recommendation based on your numbers, not a generic rule.
How do I know if my KiwiSaver is on track?
Most people do not know until it is too late. The key questions are whether you are in the right fund for your age, whether you are contributing enough to maximise employer and government contributions, and whether your projected balance will actually fund the retirement you want. We review all three as part of our pre-retirement advice. It is one of the most impactful things we can do for clients in this stage of life.