Caloundra & the southern Sunshine Coast
Retirement planning on the Sunshine Coast, with someone who listens
Easy to talk to, and explains things in a way you can understand.
Good retirement planning in Caloundra and across the Sunshine Coast starts with being heard. As a local financial planner, Simon listens first, because everyone's situation is different. Your first meeting is by phone or video call and works through a simple retirement checklist. From there, Simon walks you through your super, retirement income and the Age Pension step by step, explained in plain English.
The Fit Check is a general chat to see if we're a good match.
Simon Pederson, M.Fin, B.Bus (FP)Founder and Lead Retirement Planner
Read what Sunshine Coast clients say about working with Simon, in their own words, on Adviser Ratings.
Sound familiar?
Most people who call Simon aren't in a mess. Life's been busy, and the questions have quietly piled up.
Not sure if you have enough super to retire?
Been putting off thinking about retirement?
Want someone to explain it in a way you can understand?
You don't need to have it all worked out before you call. That's what the first conversation is for. Often, the first step is simply understanding where you stand.
Retirement planning across the Sunshine Coast, whatever stage you're at
From Caloundra to Mooloolaba and beyond, the questions change as life does. Your super, income, the Age Pension, tax and your estate sit together in one plan.
Planning to retire
Pre-retirement planning
Still working and wondering when you can stop? Work out how much you need, when you could finish up, and whether a transition to retirement strategy suits you.
Pre-retirement planning
In retirement
Retirement income streams and the Age Pension
Already retired? Turn your super into a regular income, use tax-effective pension options where they suit you, and check what Age Pension you may be entitled to.
Retirement income streams
Life changes
Divorce, losing a partner or TPD
When life changes without asking, there's no rush. Take it one step at a time, at a pace that suits you, with each decision explained before you make it.
Financial advice after divorce, loss or TPD
Entering aged care
Aged care financial advice
RAD or DAP, the fees, the family home and the Age Pension. Simon works through the rules and the paperwork with you and your family.
Aged care financial adviceWhat it's like working with Simon
Choosing a financial planner in Caloundra or anywhere on the southern Sunshine Coast mostly comes down to one thing: whether you can talk to them.
- Start with our retirement checklistYour first meeting is by phone or video call, working through our retirement checklist together so you can both see where you stand. It's general information, not personal advice.
- As much or as little detail as you wantSome people want the diagram. Some just want the answer. Ask anything, as many times as you like.
- The same person every timeYou deal with Simon directly, from the first call to every review. No call centre, and no handing you on to a junior.
- A small client list, capped at 100Simon keeps his client list small, so there's time to get to know your whole story.
- No pressureNo sales pressure. We quote a fixed dollar fee for your advice before any work starts, based on its complexity and scope. Ongoing fees and any other payments, such as life insurance commissions, are set out in our FSG.
- Knowledgeable, and down to earthOver 15 years helping people plan for retirement and live well in it, explained in a down-to-earth way, without the jargon.
- More than the numbersSimon's Path to Prosperity approach helps you plan a fulfilling life after work, not just a balance.
How it works
Three steps, with Simon at every one.
A 30-minute Fit Check
A relaxed chat by phone or video call, working through our retirement checklist together to see where you are and what you'd like help with. It's general, not personal advice, and it helps us both see if we're a good match. If we are, Simon explains the next steps and the cost before anything goes ahead.
Your plan, in writing
Simon gets to know your finances and goals in detail, then puts his advice in writing. You take it home and sleep on it. Later meetings can be face to face at The Wharf Mooloolaba, at your home, or by video.
Reviews as life changes
Financial markets, the economy, legislation, family and your circumstances all change from year to year. If you choose ongoing advice, we review your plan with you each year. Fees are set out in our FSG.
Where we meet
Your first meeting is by phone or video call, working through our retirement checklist together. It's general information, not personal advice. After that, you can meet Simon face to face at our office at The Wharf, Mooloolaba, at your home, or keep meeting online. Wherever you meet, everything is explained in plain English.
We work with people in Caloundra, Caloundra West, Aroona, Dicky Beach, Currimundi, Wurtulla, Warana, Alexandra Headland, Mooloolaba and across the Sunshine Coast.
In clients' own words
Every review of Simon on Adviser Ratings is there to read in full. Read all of Simon's reviews on Adviser Ratings.
Kathy, Mountain Creek, QLD
From there Simon laid out the path forward, step by step, in a way that I could understand. I trust Simon, and we have created a great relationship during our meetings. I can ask him anything. If I am not sure he will explain it in a way I understand.
Garth, Buderim, QLD
Simon was able to present his recommendations in a "down to earth" manner that particularly resonated with my wife and me — they made sense and we felt that he had taken on board our "plans" for the early years of our retirement, whilst still catering for the longer term.
Kellie, Bli Bli, QLD
We are very grateful for his experience and straight forward approach and will recommend him to anyone who needs to get their future in order.
Jacqui, Caloundra West, QLD
Simon's wealth of knowledge, personal approach, ensuring our understanding of all aspects of our plan, welcoming questions, providing clarification…
Alexander, Caloundra, QLD
He is extremely knowledgeable and proficient when presenting to us the workings of our financial investments and goals.
James, Wurtulla, QLD
I find Simon easy to work with. Simon is helpful, understanding and very knowledgeable when I ask questions and for advice.
Robyn, Aroona, QLD
Simon is friendly and very professional and is a wealth of knowledge of different aspects of financial planning and investments. Simon has the ability to explain complex financial concepts easy to understand, and he is very approachable…
Annette, Burrum Heads, QLD
Simon has shown excellent knowledge and has the ability to tailor this to suit each person's needs. He listens and explains things in language his clients can understand.
Grant, Mountain Creek, QLD
Simon is a very honest and pleasant human being and makes you feel at ease from the beginning…
Kathy, Mountain Creek, QLD
From there Simon laid out the path forward, step by step, in a way that I could understand. I trust Simon, and we have created a great relationship during our meetings. I can ask him anything. If I am not sure he will explain it in a way I understand.
Garth, Buderim, QLD
Simon was able to present his recommendations in a "down to earth" manner that particularly resonated with my wife and me — they made sense and we felt that he had taken on board our "plans" for the early years of our retirement, whilst still catering for the longer term.
Kellie, Bli Bli, QLD
We are very grateful for his experience and straight forward approach and will recommend him to anyone who needs to get their future in order.
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Jacqui, Caloundra West, QLD
Simon's wealth of knowledge, personal approach, ensuring our understanding of all aspects of our plan, welcoming questions, providing clarification…
Alexander, Caloundra, QLD
He is extremely knowledgeable and proficient when presenting to us the workings of our financial investments and goals.
James, Wurtulla, QLD
I find Simon easy to work with. Simon is helpful, understanding and very knowledgeable when I ask questions and for advice.
Robyn, Aroona, QLD
Simon is friendly and very professional and is a wealth of knowledge of different aspects of financial planning and investments. Simon has the ability to explain complex financial concepts easy to understand, and he is very approachable…
Annette, Burrum Heads, QLD
Simon has shown excellent knowledge and has the ability to tailor this to suit each person's needs. He listens and explains things in language his clients can understand.
Grant, Mountain Creek, QLD
Simon is a very honest and pleasant human being and makes you feel at ease from the beginning…
Sunshine Coast retirement guides
Plain-English answers to the questions Simon hears most. Prefer a checklist? Download the Retirement-Ready checklist.
Common retirement planning questions
How do I know if I have enough super to retire?
It depends on the life you want, whether you own your home, and how much Age Pension you might receive. Our Sunshine Coast guide walks through local benchmarks for singles and couples.
Will downsizing affect my Age Pension?
It can. Your home is exempt from the assets test, but money left over after a sale usually isn't. If you plan to use some of the sale money to buy, build or renovate your next home, Centrelink can exempt that part from the assets test for up to 24 months (sometimes longer), and it's deemed at the lower rate under the income test. Other sale money counts under the assets test and is deemed at the normal rates. Money you put into super as a downsizer contribution still counts once you've reached Age Pension age. Read Will downsizing affect my Age Pension? for how it works.
What happens in the 30-minute Fit Check?
It's a relaxed conversation by phone or video call about where you are and what you'd like help with. It's general information, not personal advice. If we're a good match, Simon explains the next steps and the cost before anything goes ahead.
Do you only see clients in Caloundra?
Most of Simon's clients live in Caloundra and the southern Sunshine Coast, up to Mooloolaba. Simon works as a financial advisor right across the Sunshine Coast, and video calls work wherever you are.
What's still on your mind?
Maybe it's when you could stop work. Maybe it's what selling the house would mean for the pension, or how Mum's aged care gets paid for. Whatever it is, it's worth a conversation. Ring Simon, or pick a time that suits you.
Or call Simon on (07) 5327 3495