Aged care to DOUBLE in 10 years? Plus: Your "balanced" fund isn't balanced at all

In this Australian Retirement Podcast episode, we answer your biggest questions, including, what if aged care costs keep rising? They are already up 30-40%, and accommodation deposits up 9% in 7 months. Plus "Balanced" funds hold 40-80% growth assets - there is no legal definition, is this another failure of the super system? Plus: Skipping generations in wills, asset protection, and living 9 years longer. In this Australian Retirement Podcast episode, your hosts Drew Meredith from Wattle Partners and James O'Reilly from Northeast Wealth expose the "balanced" fund myth. Remember "Compare the Pair"? Two funds both labeled "balanced" can hold 40% vs 80% growth assets. Despite influencing millions of retirement outcomes, "balanced" has NO legal, regulatory, or industry-standard definition. It's marketing, not investment strategy. James delivers shocking health news: Add 9 years to your life with just 7-8 hours sleep, 40 minutes moderate exercise daily, and a healthy diet. Even baby steps work - UK study of 59,078 participants found adding just 5 minutes sleep, 2 minutes exercise, and half a vegetable serving per day adds ONE EXTRA YEAR of life expectancy. The Boomer Briefing tackles three critical questions: "Where There's a Will, Is There a Way?" - With life expectancies increasing, when does it make sense to skip your retiree children and leave inheritances directly to adult grandchildren? Can you reassign your share of your parents' estate to your kids? Legal and tax implications explained, plus testamentary trust strategies. "Wood Miner" asks: How do I protect my investments from litigation and being sued? Is super in accumulation phase better protected than pension phase? Today's big question: "If aged care costs doubled in the next decade - which they might - should retirees be earmarking super specifically for that, or is that just planning for fear?" Topics covered today: - "Balanced" fund myth exposed - No legal definition, 40% vs 80% growth assets both called "balanced" - Live 9 years longer - 7-8 hours sleep, 40 min exercise, healthy diet - Baby steps add 1 year - Just 5 min more sleep + 2 min exercise + half serving vegetables - Skip generations in wills - Leaving inheritance to grandchildren instead of retiree children - Reassigning estate shares - Can you redirect your parents' inheritance to your kids? Tax implications Resources for this episode Five minutes exercise life span study https://www.abc.net.au/news/health/2026-01-15/five-minutes-exercise-life-span/106226314 Ask a question (select the Retirement podcast): https://bit.ly/R-quest Visit TermPlus to learn more https://termplus.com.au/?utm_source=rask&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=retirement&utm_term=general&utm_content=video Rask Resources All services: https://bit.ly/R-services Financial Planning: https://bit.ly/R-plan Invest with us: https://bit.ly/R-invest Access Show Notes: https://bit.ly/R-notes Ask a question: https://bit.ly/R-quest We love feedback! https://raskau.typeform.com/to/ZbfHy6IP Follow us on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rask.invest TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rask.invest DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg