People often assume that when they sit down with a financial planner, the conversation will be technical.
Tax rules. Investment markets. Government changes.
In reality, the most common question I’m asked isn’t about any of that.
It’s usually a version of this:
• Do I have more than the average person?
• What does the average actually have?
• Am I going to be okay?
What they mean is;
Can I have a comfortable retirement?
Why “Average” doesn’t matter
Wanting to compare yourself to others is completely normal. We all do it.
But “average” tells you nothing useful.
The average person doesn’t spend what you spend, live how you live, retire when you want to retire, or need their money to last as long as yours does. Not one person I have ever advised has been “average”.
Two people can have the same savings and very different outcomes.
So asking “Am I ahead of the average?” is the wrong question.
There is only one question worth answering when it comes to retirement:
Can my savings sustain my income from the day I retire until the day I die?
That’s it.
Not how big the pot looks.
Not what your neighbour has.
Not what the markets do this year.
You don’t retire on a lump sum.
You retire on income.
A good retirement usually means your bills are covered, you have choices, you’re not constantly checking balances, and you’re not worrying about running out. Some people do that with modest savings. Others don’t, despite having far more.
The difference is planning.
The most confident clients I work with aren’t the wealthiest.
They’re the ones who know what they can spend, what happens if things don’t go to plan, and that their money will last.
Once you have that clarity, the comparison with “average” disappears.
And that’s when retirement starts to feel manageable — and actually enjoyable.
If you’d like to know, with confidence, whether your retirement income is sustainable, let’s talk.
