Why the Pension Isn’t a Plan — It’s a Warning - Teach Me About Property

Australia has one of the highest average full-time incomes in the world. Right now, the average full-time adult earns $104,765 per year until they reach pension age.

That’s good money by any standard — globally. But here’s the thing no one likes to talk about: All employee income eventually stops. Why? One of two reasons: Health or age.

And when it stops? Most people fall back on the pension.

The Pension Won’t Cover It

The current age pension in Australia pays $513.25 a week.

Sounds okay? Let’s run the numbers.

Say you rent a unit in Liverpool, NSW. Median rent is:

• $540 per week

Add basic groceries —
The average Baby Boomer spends around:

• $170 per week on food

Total?
$710 per week in basic living costs.

Now subtract your pension:

• $513 per week income

That leaves a shortfall of $197… every single week.
And that’s before you pay for electricity, transport, health, or anything fun.

The Cost of Living Shock

You might already be feeling the pinch — even with a full-time income.

• “Have you seen the price of petrol?”
• “Why are eggs $8 a dozen?”
• “How is the power bill $1,246?!”

If you’re stressed about bills now, on $100k+, how do you plan to survive on half that — or less?

The answer is simple: you won’t.

The Income Cliff

This is what we call the income cliff:

• You earn a good income for most of your working life
• Then you retire or get sick
• And your income drops off a cliff — straight down to the pension

This is the end game of playing the poverty game.

What’s the Poverty Game?

It’s the paycheck-to-paycheck life.

• You earn
• You spend
• You repeat
• You never build anything
• And when work stops, so does your income

If you don’t like how that story ends — it’s time to change the game.

Play the Wealth Game Instead

So what’s the Wealth Game?

It’s simple. You:

1. Earn income
2. Save money
3. Use your savings to buy assets (property, shares, etc.)
4. Let those assets grow in value and pay you income

The Wealth Game sets you up for:

• Security in retirement
• Freedom in life
• Wealth for your children and grandchildren

That’s the future worth building.

Final Word: Pick Your End Game

If you stay on the poverty path, the pension is your finish line.
If you switch to the wealth path, generational wealth becomes your legacy