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Investments

Gotta get comfortable using capital in retirement

Saturday 22nd of April 2023

Recent inflation figures show a welcome slowdown in the pace of price rises. However, even with the recent lift in NZ Superannuation. rates, retirees still need alternative sources of income to fund a comfortable living standard in retirement.

In most cases, this means gradually drawing down accumulated capital, according to Ralph Stewart, founder and managing director of Lifetime Retirement Income.

Inflation, measured by the consumer price index (CPI), rose 6.7% over the year to end March 2023 according to data released by Stats NZ last week. While heading in the right direction compared to 7.2% in December 2022, it remains at levels not seen in almost three decades.

“For retirees, the devil is in the detail,” Stewart says. He notes that some of our retired population’s biggest expenses have increased by more than double the CPI.

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