So... what do you do now?

And in today's newspapers, 'Markets keep falling. Should I delay my retirement?'

Apr 12, 2025

Newspapers: Markets keep falling. Should I delay my retirement?
Feature: So… what do you do now?
Podcast: How fast could we recover?
From Bec’s Desk: Pinch me!

Now for a little moment I’ve been hanging out for…
It’s the cover reveal of Prime Time: 27 Lessons for the New Midlife — my brand new book. We gave podcast listeners the first sneak peek on Wednesday (of course), and it shot straight to #1 Mover & Shaker on Amazon from all the pre-orders (thank you so much everyone for getting behind it!). Safe to say, everyone who’s worked on it is absolutely buzzing.

Here’s the trailer — see it for yourself 👇

The book is available for pre-order now on Amazon here.

Preorder now

Curious to know what Prime Time is all about?
Honestly, I think my publisher nailed it with the blurb — it captures the heart of the book perfectly:

From Bec Wilson, hit podcast host and bestselling author of How to Have an Epic Retirement, comes the ultimate guide to modern midlife. We're now living longer, saving smarter, working more flexibly and seeking meaning at every turn. In 27 practical lessons, let Bec guide you on everything you need to know to make your Prime Time count.

The period from your late 40s well into your 70s is what Bec calls your 'Prime Time'. These years can be some of the best of your life - if you make the right choices. Far from winding down, this is the time to truly live.
In this essential handbook, Bec guides you through the key pillars of power, money, health, work, purpose, happiness, family and travel. This isn't just about adjusting to a longer lifespan - it's about creating a richer, more fulfilling life.

Prime Time: 27 Lessons for the New Midlife isn't just a roadmap to retirement - it's a playbook for a life lived with intention, energy, joy, and financial confidence. With Bec Wilson as your guide, you can embrace this incredible stage and truly make the most of your Prime Time.

Money takes centre stage in this guide, with strategies that go beyond the basics. Learn how to make the most of superannuation, invest with purpose, maximise compounding and franking credits, understand spending and layering of income and how to leverage tax concessions. Beyond simply reaching 'enough to retire', Bec shows you how to build flexible financial foundations that will allow you to enjoy these years to the fullest.

Along with the financial foundations, this guide is packed with insights for building purpose and joy into every day, with practical advice for extending or reshaping your career, crafting a purpose-driven 'second act', creating work-life flexibility, strengthening family ties and looking after your changing body.

Ready to make your Prime Time count? Then you need this book now!

So… what do you do now?

It’s one of those questions people ask without thinking.
You’re standing at a party, or chatting to someone new on a walk, and it lands:
“So… what do you do?”

For years, that question was easy to answer.
You said your job title, maybe the company. It told people who you were, what you were about, and often gave you a sense of pride (or, let’s be honest, a bit of an eye-roll depending on the day).

But what happens when you leave that role behind?

When you’ve stepped away from full-time work—or finished work entirely—the question gets… trickier. It can make you pause.
And maybe feel a little exposed.

Because even if you're busy—travelling, grandparenting, caring for loved ones, volunteering, getting fit, or diving into a project—you might not know quite how to sum it up. You might even be trying on a few new hats and not feel comfortable with them yet.

The truth is, this stage of life often comes with an identity wobble.
You’ve earned the freedom, but you’re also figuring out how to fill the space in a way that feels like you. And even harder is communicating that to others.

So here’s your permission slip:
You don’t need a perfect answer.
Not yet. Maybe not ever.

Try saying:
“Bit of this, bit of that. Still working out what this phase is all about.”
Or just smile and say:
“I do whatever I want now. It’s a work in progress.”
And if all else fails, try this one on for size (my favourite):
“I’m working on my Epic Retirement.”

Because let’s be honest—retirement isn’t a full stop. It’s a project. A phase. A lifestyle.
And like all good projects, it takes time, creativity, and a little trial and error to get it just right.

Because the beauty of this stage—whether you’re in your Prime Time or your Epic Retirement—is that it doesn’t have to be defined in one sentence.

You’ve got time to experiment.
To drop things that no longer fit.
To pick up new things that bring you joy, meaning, energy.

So if that question makes you pause, that’s OK. You’re not lost. You’re just reshaping your answer. And that’s the real work of an epic retirement - trust me.

Tell me in the comments what your answer is to this question…

Planning to retire? Here’s exactly how much you can afford to spend

Extract of article published in print in The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, Brisbane Times, WA Today on Sunday 13th April 2025.

If you were planning to retire this year — or next — you might be feeling a bit off right now. One minute, you’re dreaming of lazy mornings, a big holiday, and time to finally do life on your terms. The next, you’re looking at your super balance, watching it shrink, and wondering whether it’s still the right time to step away from work.

Markets are jumpy again. After a few calmer months, global tensions have picked up, with the US back in trade talks and tariffs thundering onto the agenda. Prices are still high, and investment returns have softened just when many people were planning to ease into retirement and rely on the assets that are slipping through their fingers.

It’s enough to make even the most confident planner pause and think: should I wait? But let’s be clear: this isn’t panic time. It’s strategy time.

Delaying your retirement by six months or a year isn’t a failure to launch. In fact, it might be the smartest move you make if you’re brave enough to make the call.

Retiring into a messy market doesn’t just feel uncomfortable – it can throw off your income for decades. And not just because of sequencing risk, which I’ve talked about a lot recently. There’s a bigger idea here: momentum.

If you delay retiring while the market’s unsettled, you give your investments time to recover. You give yourself time to keep contributing to super. And you give your future self more flexibility — more choices later, not fewer.

But it’s not all about numbers. Sometimes, what people really need is space. Space to finish up properly, to rest before launching into a new routine, to mentally shift gears. Retirement isn’t just a date — it’s a whole new rhythm. And right now, for many people, the rhythm feels off.

If your plan was to travel, enjoy long lunches, volunteer, or spend time with grandkids — that’s all still coming. But taking a small pause might mean you enjoy those things more, with less money stress in the background.

Delaying doesn’t have to mean putting life on hold. It can be part of the plan — a final step that strengthens your position and gives you more confidence in what’s ahead.

Why the money part matters right now

Delaying retirement doesn’t just mean “keep working, earn a bit more.” It can change the shape of your whole financial future – especially when markets are wobbly like they are right now. (READ ON… here in The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald. )

How fast could we recover?

In this episode of Prime Time, I’m joined by economist Malcolm Wood, Head of Institutional Research and Asset Allocation at Ord Minnett to unpack the uncomfortable question so many retirees and pre-retirees are quietly asking: How bad is this going to get—and how fast could we recover?

Markets have been shaky. Super balances are bouncing around. There’s a lot of economic noise in the media right now—headlines full of political chaos, tariff announcements, rate cut speculation, and global uncertainty. It’s hard to know what’s signal and what’s just noise.

Malcolm offers a calm, clear, and surprisingly optimistic take on what’s going on—and what it all means for investors, especially those nearing or in retirement.

We dig into the ripple effects of Trump 2.0 and why this version of Trumpism is landing faster and harder than many expected. Malcolm talks through six big themes he’s tracking in the global economy right now, and how they affect everything from currency markets to property prices to your super fund's performance.

We also look at Australia’s economic position, our unique vulnerabilities in a world shifting away from China and towards more protectionist trade settings, and what the potential outcomes of our own looming federal election could mean for market reforms.

If you’re managing your finances carefully in the second half of life—and you’re wondering whether this rough patch will last—this episode is packed with practical insights and a grounded view of where we’re heading next.

LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE OF THE PODCAST HERE:
- LISTEN ON APPLE PODCASTS
- LISTEN ON SPOTIFY

Last of all, if you haven’t read the book, How to Have an Epic Retirement, you can order your copy from Amazon online. Or pick up a copy at your local Big W, Dymocks, or QBD stores. And if your bookstore doesn’t have it - ask them to get it in. It’s still regularly in the Amazon Top 200.

I have a little online store where you can purchase signed copies too.

Before you quit your job and sell the house... read this!

Everything I share here is general information, not personal financial, legal or tax advice. It hasn’t been tailored to your specific life, goals, money situation, or brilliant retirement plans—so before making any big decisions, please chat to a licensed financial adviser or relevant professional who can look at your individual circumstances.

I do my best to keep things accurate and current, but I can’t guarantee it (rules change, governments shuffle things around, and I’m only human). Any figures or examples are just that—examples—to help explain things, and they might not reflect the latest laws or your actual numbers.

Use this as a helpful guide, not gospel.