Bec Wilson's Blog, page 16

Retirement Diaries: The #1 retirement bucket list holiday through Canada, Alaska and the USA with Suzanne Keir

I’m gradually transitioning this podcast over to being a Youtube series. So if you want to enjoy it regularly, please, follow my Youtube channel here. Today’s is served on both podcast and Youtube though. 

A trip on the #1 retirement bucket list holiday through Canada, Alaska and the USA with Suzanne Keir

Suzanne and her husband David, both in their pre-retirement, squirrelled together all their annual and long service leave and took an epic pre-retirement sabbatical to the number #1 destination on the epic retirement bucket list - Canada and Alaska, before continuing on into America. They chose to do the trip as a 7 week sabbatical from their jobs, and they enjoyed it so much Suzanne returned and put in notice to her employer that she wanted to retire. 

So today we’re talking travel, hearing about this truly epic journey, and all the highlights and experiences Suzanne and David had along the way. This will give you FOMO!  We also chat with Suzanne at the end about her imminent retirement and what she hopes lies ahead. 

You can watch it on Youtube below!

HIGHLIGHTS:

2.45 The big holiday overview. Join us as Suzanne talks us through how they did it, where they went and some of the experiences they had along the way. They picked off all the bucket list items, from Gold Class on the Rocky Mountaineer, to a lake-view room at the Fairmont Hotel on Lake Louise, seeing the Hubbard Glacier, Cruising the Inside Passage of Alaska co-incidentally with a Santa-Claus Convention on board. Then, they hired a car and toured some of the most magical parts of country California, through Yosemite, to a magical town called Groveland, overlooking El-Capitan, down to San Franciso; before flying to Chicago and staying in a haunted hotel. In Chicago they did a food and wine tour, ate lots of Italian. 

Then, from Chicago it was up to Niagara where they stayed in The Embassy Suites which overlooked the falls from their bedroom, and at night they change colour with a light show. David even did the zipline over the falls. Next it was off to Salem, doing the tour of the history of the witches and on to Boston for three days, touring the city for a few days. After that they spent five nights in New York, where they hired ebikes and rode all along the Hudson, to Battery Park, the Brooklyn Bridge. Then, onto Washington for two days of adventures.

Their last stop was Jackson Hole, a beautiful country town, where they spent several days, did two little tours, saw bears in the wild and saw the sights. 

One of my favourite tips is her recommendation that in every capital city, make the effort to book a guided tour. She explains the benefits of doing this so clearly! 

19.00, Suzanne admits she’s come back from the holiday and announced her plans to retire at the end of the year. And she talks about making this decision. 

She’s taking golf lessons, and a few of her friends are all retiring at the same time. She has lots of playmates. 

21.20 Our fast five with Suzanne Keir 

Some fun answers and here she talks about her retirement ambitions of driving a caravan around Australia and staying in it for three months at a time at the beaches. 

Setting goals for your epic retirement

Goal setting is a powerful process that fuels our desire to strive and keeps us curious and motivated. So it’s really important in the lead up to, and in retirement. In this phase of life, having an intentional sense of purpose and curiosity is crucial. You might be surprised how often it is overlooked though! So today I’m going to suggest a 3 step process that’s easy to work through, to get you started on setting some goals for your retirement. There’s a much longer goal setting exercise in the book.

Goal setting for retirement can be a little different to what most people expect or live through in their prior years. It is no longer just deciding what to strive for, or it doesn’t have to be, you can take it one step further. As you approach retirement, I suggest you ask yourself three fundamental questions that shape how you approach this phase of life and set your plans with the answers.

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But before you dive into the questions, stop and contemplate that retirement can mark a significant shift in identity. It can be your transition from being defined by "what you do" and your job title, to contemplating "who you are" and linking that to what you want to do next. Many people I’ve interviewed say its valuable to pause, reset, and comfortably re-identify with "who you are" or "who you want to be" in this stage of life before determining how to fill your time with activities. Often, this requires a you to reflect on what truly motivates you and energises you all over again, consciously.

As I said above, it can be good to approach goal setting for retirement as a three-step process, dedicating attention to reconsidering your vision of yourself before putting action plans in place. So what are the three steps?

Step 1: Re-explore your identity or ask yourself, 'Who do you want to be?'

I know this seems very profound and profound isn’t for everyone, but stay with me. Before diving into the specifics of what activities or pursuits to spend your time on in retirement, I want you to take the time to reconnect with what you think might be your true identity, beyond work, especially if you’ve lost track of it. Tackle the more challenging step of reflecting on your values, passions, and aspirations for yourself. Consider the qualities that define you and what brings you joy. Who do you want to be in this new phase of life? What will your attitude be? And what will that mean for how you approach life activities, challenges and bumps? Embrace the opportunity to redefine yourself beyond your past career accomplishments attitudinally and set yourself a vision. Understanding and accepting your evolving identity and setting who you want to be will pave the way for a more consistent, fulfilling retirement that can become your identity in this next stage and help keep you consistent in your pursuit of your goals.

Step 2: Exploring your motivations and energisers

Once you have worked through who you want to be, you can focus on understanding what motivates and energises you. The more passive income sources of retirement offer you the freedom to pursue activities based on personal fulfilment rather than financial or external expectations. So take time to think about the things that excite you, the experiences you've always wanted to have, the areas of interest you've been eager to explore and the people you want to be there for. Consider the hobbies, passions, or causes that ignite a sense of purpose within you and the things that put you in 'the zone'. This exploration phase is essential for crafting meaningful goals that align with your authentic self.

So take the time to understand your motivations and energisers, and you lay the foundation for setting compelling goals for retirement.

Step 3: Putting some tactical actions in place

Only once you have this clarity should you decide the 'things you will do' in your retirement to become the person you want to be. And with this clarity about who you want to be, it should be much easier to see and define. As things change and you get older, you can adapt quickly, trimming your sails but not changing direction if you know who you want to be at the core.

Your more tactical goals should reflect your desired identity and your motivators and energisers and point you toward the people, activities and pursuits that bring you joy, fulfilment, and a sense of purpose.

Establishing short-term and long-term goals is essential to provide structure and direction to your retirement journey.

Short-term goals act as stepping stones toward your larger aspirations. They can be centred around immediate interests or projects you want to pursue. These goals provide a sense of achievement and progress as you navigate your early retirement years. Long-term goals, on the other hand, lean into the broader vision for your retirement. They may involve significant milestones, such as travelling to specific destinations, being a part of philanthropic endeavours, being interwoven in the lives of loved ones or learning new skills.

It's important to note that goals are not set in stone and can evolve. If you know who you want to be in retirement, you then have the flexibility to adapt and explore new paths to get you there. I encourage you to embrace having the ability to reassess and modify your goals as your interests and circumstances change.

So I ask you today - the three big questions you should ask yourself…

Who will you be when you are retired?

What will motivate and energise you?

And then, what will you do to bring that to life?

This goal-setting can play a healthy role in shaping a fulfilling and ‘epic’ retirement.

Hope you enjoy it! I dive a lot further into goal setting in the book, How to Have an Epic Retirement, breaking down the types of goals you might want to consider having across the 6 pillars of retirement.

Some helpful examples

Ted, who was interviewed for the book, decided he wanted to be an ‘awesome grandpa’ early and spent his retirement working consistently on this mission, looking for opportunities to engage with his grandchildren and taking incremental actions to build up his relationship with them while they were young and impressionable. Now 76, he has a wonderful relationship with his now teenage grandkids, and they with him.

Karen had a personal passion for reading and wanted to anchor herself in her community, and build valuable, meaningful relationships with friends to give her a sense of purpose. Over many years she created and organised a bookclub that brought many people joy. It later evolved into a group of ladies who lunch regularly and a lot of wonderful friendships, online and off and who have a genuine interest in each others’ wellbeing and happiness.

Groundbreaking discovery in ageing reversal - Did scientists just unlock the fountain of youth?

This breakthrough discovery holds enormous potential. It could pave the way for new treatments that combat age-related diseases and even help repair injuries more effectively.

In an astonishing breakthrough, scientists have unveiled a groundbreaking new approach to turning back the clock on aging within the human body. This groundbreaking revelation, made just last month, promises to not only rejuvenate our cells but also provide a powerful tool in the fight against age-related afflictions like diabetes, heart disease, dementia, and cancer.  This cutting-edge breakthrough may well be one of the most significant advances in ageing and longevity science today.

It’s a discovery that not many in Australia are talking about, but one I think is significant and worth all more of our attention and understanding. So I’m taking a dive into it today.

A team of researchers from Harvard Medical School, collaborating with experts from the University of Maine and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), has introduced an entirely new approach to reawaken cells and roll back the effects of ageing. This achievement, previously achieved only through advanced gene therapy, marks a significant leap forward.

The scientists achieved this feat by developing a special mixture of chemicals, often referred to as a "cocktail," that has the power to rejuvenate aging cells. This cocktail of chemicals was carefully designed to have a positive impact on the cells' behaviour and function. Imagine it like giving cells a special treatment to help them feel younger and more energetic.

Article continues on Epically, our sister newsletter, designed around longevity, and helping people live longer, better quality lives. Read it here.

Retiring in 10-15 years time? Here’s how to prepare now

I write a weekly column for Sunday’s Money Section in Nine Newspapers. This article appeared in The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Brisbane Times and WA Today on Sunday 6th August 2023 in both print and digital. Read the full article here.

I’ve spent a lot of time on talkback radio this week talking about my new book, How to Have an Epic Retirement. The No.1 question people ask is: if you are preparing for retirement in 10-15 years’ time, when should you start thinking about it, and what would you do?

My answer? If you want to have the financial confidence to retire in 10-15 years’ time, you need to think about your goals and ambitions, about your budget, and get comfortable with how to shape a financial position to fit, ideally sooner rather than later.

Thank you for reading Epic Retirement. This post is public so feel free to share it and invite your friends to read it too.

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One of the most powerful levers you have in growing your retirement savings before retirement is time and the power of compound investment. Superannuation, invested well, at an average return of 7-10 per cent a year, can double in value every seven to 10 years through passive compound interest alone.

Most people don’t realise this and take it seriously only with four to six years to go. While that’s still a reasonable amount of time to improve your financial situation, if you can motivate yourself 10-15 years earlier and take a few critical steps, you could put yourself in a far better position.

The list of things you can do 10-15 years out from retirement isn’t especially tricky, but it does require some dedicated effort on your part. So do it once, check in once a year and know that your strategy is off to a running start.

Article continues on Sydney Morning Herald website. Read the full article here.

From Bec’s Desk: How to Have an Epic Retirement: now back in stock

It’s been an exciting week, with How to Have an Epic Retirement selling out last week on both Amazon Australia and Booktopia. It certainly was a solid achievement for the book in its first ten days. I’m pleased to report it is now back in stock at Booktopia and Amazon won’t be far behind!

And it is also available wherever books are sold, including: Big W, Collins, David Jones (some stores), Dymocks. QBD, Target, Newslink (Airports), Relay (Airports), WH Smith (Airports), Bookface (NSW), Harry Hartog (NSW, Qld, SA, ACT), and The Book Warehouse (NSW). There’s also a long list of regional booksellers which you can see on my website here.

In the news

The media coverage of the book has been sensational with TV, newspapers and talkback radio embracing it. In fact, the conversations about how to have an epic retirement have been heard all over the country on regional and metro talkback. You can listen to and watch some of the wonderful interviews about the book on my website here. Some recent clips I’ve added in recent days include these beauties, and I’m adding more almost daily:

An interview with Virginia Trioli on the ABC Melbourne Morning Show with callers, texts and load of community engagement;

This livestream interview with Cuppa TV host, Luke Cook.

An interview with ABC NSW Drive host Anna Moulder on her ‘Tuesday Book Club’ again, with callers and texts.

About the book

How to Have an Epic Retirement is filled with practical information, examples and questions covering the six key pillars of great modern retirement:

Time

Building your financial confidence

Looking after your health

Understanding how happiness is created and finding fulfilment

Living out your travel dreams

Your home and how your needs change in all the different phases of retirement

It’s the first book of its kind to explain in detail how the systems that support a new age and modern retirement in Australia work, making what can be a complex topic seem easy to navigate.

Booktopia is currently offering a special 30% discount as one of their Fathers’ Day Top Picks! Or, you might prefer to order on Amazon here.

Buy now online

Retirement Diaries Podcast: Living life with the goal of being a ‘Super Alive Centenarian’ with Robyn Everingham

Robyn is an ambitious and healthy modern retiree who is squeezing the juice out of life. She talks about her cognitive and physical health goals and what she does to try and become a centenarian.

Listen to the podcast here or watch it on YouTube below. And don’t forget to subscribe to our Youtube channel for more.

And that’s it for this week! Pop on over to the newsletter on the website and leave a comment or give it a reaction. And be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram here.

Leave a comment

Make it epic!

Bec Wilson Xx

Retiring in 10-15 years’ time? Here’s how to prepare now

This article appeared in The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Brisbane Times and WA Today on Sunday 6th August 2023 in both print and digital. Read the full article here.

I’ve spent a lot of time on talkback radio this week talking about my new book, How to Have an Epic Retirement. The No.1 question people ask is: if you are preparing for retirement in 10-15 years’ time, when should you start thinking about it, and what would you do?

My answer? If you want to have the financial confidence to retire in 10-15 years’ time, you need to think about your goals and ambitions, about your budget, and get comfortable with how to shape a financial position to fit, ideally sooner rather than later.

One of the most powerful levers you have in growing your retirement savings before retirement is time and the power of compound investment. Superannuation, invested well, at an average return of 7-10 per cent a year, can double in value every seven to 10 years through passive compound interest alone.

Most people don’t realise this and take it seriously only with four to six years to go. While that’s still a reasonable amount of time to improve your financial situation, if you can motivate yourself 10-15 years earlier and take a few critical steps, you could put yourself in a far better position.

The list of things you can do 10-15 years out from retirement isn’t especially tricky, but it does require some dedicated effort on your part. So do it once, check in once a year and know that your strategy is off to a running start.

Build a vision

If you don’t start thinking about what your own part-time or full-time retirement might look like before you get there, you might find it hard to motivate yourself to do the financial work early enough.

Become a bit more alert to what you might like your retirement to look like. Start to talk about and picture the holiday destinations you might visit and some projects and activities you might pursue when you have a more passive income. Think about where you’d like to live and start incrementally piecing together a vision for this stage ahead of time.

Take advantage of superannuation concessional contributions

Take the time to learn about superannuation concessions and how to use them. I know – it’s not the most riveting subject. But learn the basics and you’ll find that you can contribute up to $27,500 a year to your superannuation at just 15 per cent tax (and your employer is already putting some of this in).

Article continues on Sydney Morning Herald website. Read the full article here.

Retirement Diaries: Living life with the goal of being a "Super Alive Centenarian" with Robyn Everingham

This week we speak with passionate wife, mother and grandmother, Robyn Everingham, who has made the commitment to being a ‘Super Alive Centenarian’. She’s been researching, exploring and trying out ways to improve her physical and cognitive health with apps and tech. And today we talk about her journey and very personal lessons learned along the way about measuring key health metrics, being curious in her use of health apps; and having a good attitude to her health and longevity. Here's some key points in our conversation. 

Please note, you can listen to this show as a podcast, but it is also available to watch on Youtube!

3.20  Tell us about your curiosity and your sense of purpose. Robyn talks about her journey to prioritise personal development in every stage of life. 

3.51 Life is about squeezing the juice out at every angle according to Robyn

4.20 Robyn wants to live to 100. She talks about why she believes she can and what she’s doing to achieve this. And we find out WHY Robyn wants this. 

5.45 Robyn’s three keys to enable her to live to 100 and talks about her passion for fitness and hiking

6.00 passion for hiking around the world, and her favourite trails in the US and the UK, including her recent trip to the UK hiking. 

7.10 Robyn discusses what led her to wanting to understand longevity better

7.20 How she got into riding on Peloton, and the competitiveness and inspirational community she sees on the Peloton app that keeps her hungry. 

9.15 Her husband’s health scare and atrial fibrillation and how they have led her on a journey to better monitor heart health metrics, and what she’s learned personally about it over time. 

10.00 What is atrial fibrillation and what has Robyn learned about measuring and monitoring as the partner of someone who suffers it. 

11.15 Heart rate variability (HRV) and measurement, what it is and how to measure it in real life and why Robyn monitors that for her own health. 

12.25 Her own learnings about HRV and stress and keeping her system in homeostasis. 

14.50 Her experience with intermittent fasting. 

15.30 Robyn is concerned about strength as she ages. And she tells us what she does regularly to try and prevent a decline in her strength and fitness. She also talks about the differences between hers and her husband’s health programs. 

17.40 What does Robyn do for cognitive health. She discussed why she chose Lumosity to test out as an app and how she’s used it to improve her problem solving skills.  You can read more about this on this article on Robyn’s blog Age with Attitude here. 

20.00 We discuss how long Robyn has been working on her health and longevity and trying out tech. 

20.44 The things she’s learned form others and international markets about the use of functional health tech globally, and her real experience of monitoring her own numbers. 

21.20 What does Robyn measure regularly? HRV, VO2 Max, Body Composition and what is she learning. 

23.25 - Our Fast Five!

Important Disclaimer: The information provided in this video/podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered as medical or financial advice. Viewers are advised to consult with qualified professionals for personalized guidance on medical or financial matters. We do not assume any responsibility for actions taken based on the content of this video. Please seek expert advice from licensed medical practitioners or financial advisors for your specific needs.

How to Have an Epic Retirement is now in bookstores

It’s been an exciting week. This week we’ve sold Amazon Australia out of books! The team at Hachette assure me they’ll be back in stock within days though. And in the meantime, you can place your order through Booktopia here or pick up a copy at any major bookseller, including Big W, Collins, QBD, Dymocks, Harry Harthogs and many other stockists which you can see on my website here.

Find out more about How to Have an Epic Retirement, the book, here.

THIS WEEK’S EPIC RETIREMENT NEWSLETTER - IN CASE YOU MISSED ITLAST SUNDAY’S SYDNEY MORNING HERALD ARTICLECan you afford to retire now?

Whether you’re coming up to retirement or envisioning it in your distant future, the prospect can be daunting – often due to one issue: money.

As we approach the years when retirement is the logical next step, the question on everyone’s mind is, “can I afford to retire now?” I’m going to take a deep dive into how we answer that question, as individuals, because the decision is a personal one that requires you to think about and understand the crucial aspects of retirement readiness.

Read the whole article here in the Money Section of the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Brisbane Times.

Tell me your stories, join our community

I’m super-keen to tell real stories of people living their own epic retirements. If you have a story to tell, please reach out. I’d love to chat.

If you haven’t already, join our Facebook group to be a part of interesting conversations about retirement, with other pre and post retirees.

Media coverage of How to Have an Epic Retirement

I’ve been battling to keep up with the posting of stories that have been in the media in the last week or two about How to Have an Epic Retirement. I have truly been blessed with the most enormous media interest. Many thanks to all the media who have talked about the book.

If you’d like to listen to some of the radio shows that have featured the book, or see our appearance on the Today Extra, or read the excerpt that featured in The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, simply visit our website here. I’ll keep adding stories and clips as they come in.

Truth serum: The science behind each of the popular anti-ageing supplements

(Remember this newsletter is more than just one article, so if the article isn’t of interest, keep scrolling down 😁 - You’ll want to hear my news!)

Marketing supplements and medicines to the middle-aged and older generations seems to be a well-played game, capitalising on our fears of ageing and physical decline. The vitamin and pharmaceutical companies have mastered the art of enticing us with promises of eternal youth and vitality, but is there any scientific truth behind these claims, or is it all just smoke and mirrors? 

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Marketing supplements to those of us who are middle aged is a well-played game of appealing to our fears of ageing.

Today I feel compelled to take a deep dive into the scientific evidence behind some of the most well-marketed anti-ageing supplements. Many of them are targeting me directly on Facebook, and I sometimes feel myself wanting to write loud truthful remarks on their ads. I don’t. Instead, I’ll take my frustration out by telling you the truth about the science that sits behind each. Brace yourselves, as I separate fact from fiction and uncover the real story behind these wonder compounds.

Curcumin - The golden spice with a twist

Curcumin, the potent polyphenol found in turmeric, has long been hailed for its medicinal properties. From managing oxidative and inflammatory conditions to aiding in exercise-induced inflammation and muscle soreness, its list of potential benefits is impressive. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin play a crucial role in promoting overall health. However, here's the catch: taking curcumin alone does not lead to the expected health benefits as it has very poor bioavailability. The culprit lies in its poor absorption, rapid metabolism, and quick elimination. But don't lose hope just yet! Combining curcumin with enhancing agents, such as piperine an ingredient found in black pepper, can dramatically increase its bioavailability by up to 2000% according to some scientific studies. There’s plenty of supplements on the shelf that combine the two - you just have to look for them.

My take:  While curcumin shows great promise, it's wise to seek formulations that include piperine for optimal results. Don't be fooled by incomplete marketing claims about circumin itself. My dad is a great believer in circumin - says it helps with many of his complaints, from gut-health to arthritis niggles.

Collagen - The fountain of youth or a fleeting mirage?

Collagen has turned into a hot-selling supplement that claims to work wonders for our hair, skin, and nails – the keys to eternal youth, they say. The idea of a simple pill promising to reverse ageing signs without side effects is mighty tempting, don't you think? Google Trends shows that collagen searches have been soaring since 2014, but let's dig deeper to see if there's any real science behind it.

At first, collagen popped up in skin creams and serums, even dermatologists doubted its effectiveness when applied topically. You see, collagen fibres are too large to penetrate the outer layers of our skin effectively. Even those shorter collagen chains, called peptides, didn't quite live up to the hype. Still they market it! 

Now, oral collagen supplements have taken the stage in the form of pills, powders, and certain foods. People believe they are more easily absorbed by our bodies, thanks to collagen peptides or hydrolysed collagen, breaking it down for better uptake. These supplements pack amino acids, the building blocks of protein, and some even throw in skin and hair-friendly nutrients like vitamin C, biotin, and zinc.

As for the research on collagen supplements, most of it revolves around joint and skin health. Some randomised controlled trials did show improvements in skin elasticity and joints seemed to benefit, especially in cases of osteoarthritis or athletes. But, hold your horses; human studies are still limited. What's more, many of these studies are funded, or partly funded, by industries with vested interests, which clouds things up and makes it hard to figure out if collagen supplements are genuinely worth their hefty price tags.

My take: It could be beneficial, it might not be. The scientific research about absorption is simply not there on humans at this point in time so the jury is still out. I take collagen supplement powder daily out of hope that my skin will stay young and my hair thick. I’m an optimist - I know the science isn’t behind it - yet.  

Coenzyme Q10 - The cellular energy booster

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), also known as ubiquinone, plays an essential role every cell in our body, in cellular energy production. But it is also garnering significant attention for its potential anti-ageing properties. 

One of the key aspects of CoQ10's anti-ageing allure lies in its role as a potent antioxidant. As we age, our bodies are exposed to an increased number of free radicals – unstable molecules that can cause cellular damage and contribute to ageing and age-related diseases. CoQ10, acting as an antioxidant, helps neutralise these free radicals, safeguarding our cells from oxidative stress and potential harm.

Animal studies exploring the effects of CoQ10 have produced promising results, suggesting that this compound might have the ability to extend lifespan and promote age-related health improvements. Researchers have observed positive effects on various physiological processes, metabolic pathways, and mitochondrial function, which play a vital role in cellular energy production and overall vitality.

However, as with any exciting scientific discovery, we must exercise caution. While the animal studies on CoQ10 provide valuable insights, human studies are still relatively limited, and more research is needed to establish the direct effects of CoQ10 on ageing in humans. And, you’ll probably want to dive deeper into the specific claims being made about what anti-ageing benefits it is having. Some studies have explored its impact on heart health, migraines, and neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. While early research looks promising, robust and well-controlled human trials are necessary to determine its efficacy in these specific areas.

My take: There’s some very promising science out there, but you’ll have to watch this space and get more personalised health advice from your doctor on this one. As of now, CoQ10 remains a promising supplement, but not a definitive anti-ageing elixir.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids - The brain's best friend?

Omega-3 fatty acids have emerged as star players with potential benefits for brain health, cardiovascular well-being, and inflammation reduction. These polyunsaturated fats, specifically EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), hold promises of cognitive support, especially for older adults. While some studies suggest omega-3 supplementation may enhance cognitive function and reduce the risk of neurodegenerative diseases, the evidence is still evolving, and more comprehensive research is needed.

In the realm of brain health, omega-3 fatty acids have attracted considerable interest due to their structural role in brain cell membranes and influence on neuronal signalling pathways. These nutrients are believed to promote synaptic plasticity and enhance communication between brain cells, potentially contributing to improved cognitive function and memory retention. However, while early studies offer encouraging findings, the ideal dosage and duration of omega-3 supplementation for optimal brain health is not well understood at all.

Beyond the brain, omega-3 fatty acids have been linked to cardiovascular benefits. Research suggests they may help lower triglyceride levels, reduce blood pressure, and decrease the risk of heart disease. In addition to this (if that wasn’t enough), their anti-inflammatory properties play a crucial role in promoting cardiovascular health. The devil, inflammation, is implicated in various age-related conditions, including heart disease, arthritis, and diabetes, so the anti-inflammatory effects of omega-3 fatty acids hold significant potential for mitigating age-related health issues across all these diseases.

My take: The research on the benefits of Omega 3 fatty acids is compelling. How much should you take? That’s anyone’s guess. I take good quality Omega 3 supplements daily. 

Resveratrol - A glimpse of real promise

“Drink more red wine” and “eat more dark chocolate” and “consume more antioxidants” the articles say in media, goading you to get more resveratrol into your diet. And in theory it’s a great idea. In practise - not so much.

Resveratrol is a natural polyphenol, or plant compound that is found in about 70 different types of plants, chiefly grapes and nuts. It has been noted for its bioactive effects in protecting the body from inflammation, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and metabolic diseases. It is also said to have powerful anti-ageing vasorelaxant, phytoestrogenic and neuroprotective capability. Whoa! Resveratrol could be one of the most promising supplements of the future. 

The piece of information often left out of marketing is that these observations have been deduced from in-vitro studies, which means, studies performed in test tubes, outside the human body, primarily and in in-vivo studies, or studies performed on the human body, resveratrol does not show similar effects. 

This is because resveratrol is insoluble, and the small amounts which you do digest metabolises very quickly in the human body. At this point in time, scientists find that it is very difficult to make bioavailable. It’s an important challenge facing pharmaceutical companies and it means anyone telling you to seek out resveratrol for anti-ageing is not telling the whole story. 

My take: Watch this space. When pharmaceutical companies finally figure out how to make Resveratrol bioavailable, it will be a very interesting product to evaluate. Until then, don’t believe the marketing. 

NMN and NAD - The cellular energy boosters

Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN) and its derivative, Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD), have emerged as exciting prospects in the quest for anti-ageing solutions, thanks to their pivotal role in cellular energy production. NMN acts as a precursor to NAD, a coenzyme essential for various cellular processes, including DNA repair and energy metabolism. It’s complex stuff. However, like any promising discovery, the truth behind their anti-ageing potential requires a much closer look.

This probably requires a whole article of its own. But because the supplement sellers are starting to promote it online, I feel a desire to dive in a little further. 

As we age, NAD levels decline, leading to cellular dysfunction and ageing-related changes. NMN supplementation aims to boost NAD levels, potentially countering age-related decline and supporting overall health. In preclinical studies, NMN has shown promising results, extending lifespan and enhancing metabolic health in certain animal models. These findings have captured attention and ignited interest in NMN and NAD as possible anti-ageing agents. While early evidence is encouraging, it's crucial to tread carefully and keep expectations in check. Human studies exploring NMN and NAD's effects on ageing are still VERY limited, and the long-term implications are yet to be fully understood. 

My take: Before considering NMN and NAD as anti-ageing supplements, consulting with healthcare professionals is crucial. The potential benefits are certainly intriguing, but it’s not well understood. So individual health considerations, potential interactions with medications, and personalised dosing guidelines must be carefully assessed.

Two pharmaceutical products to watch

Alongside the supplements that can be readily purchased over the counter, there’s also two very interesting and important pharmaceutical products you might want to learn more about, each of which I dive more deeply into in How to Have an Epic Retirement’s health section. 

Rapamycin - The ageing pathway regulator

Metformin - The potential fountain of youth

Neither are yet approved as ageing medicines, but all are being talked about rather actively. 

Fell like you learnt something today? Well, pop on over to the website and give this post a like. And feel free to share it with your friends. I want everyone to learn how to have an epic retirement. And don’t forget to buy the book.

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From Bec’s desk

We did it! We sold Amazon out of my book in just a week! And I have you to thank for that! So thank-you! thank-you! thank-you! I hope you enjoy it!

How to Have an Epic Retirement hit bookstores last Wednesday, and every day since has been an adventure.

You may have seen me on the TV or heard me on radio! So many of our Aussie regional and commercial talkback radio stations have embraced talking about the ingredients of an epic retirement this week. It’s been a wild ride. One I’m very grateful for!

And this morning I woke to a community member telling me that Amazon Australia has now sold out 😳 of copies of How to Have an Epic Retirement - for now! Great problem isn’t it. Apparently they’ll be restocked soon. Thankfully Booktopia still have it in stock (link here) and you can still find it in almost all major booksellers including Big W, Dymocks, Collins, QBD, David Jones, Target, Harry Harthogs, and so many more (see them all on my website here).

And in further news today, that little one week rush of book sales has put How to have an Epic Retirement up as an Amazon Bestseller - #1 in the category of Personal Retirement Planning (and a few others).

And so I leave you this week happy and grateful. I hope you have your copy and have started working through it. Don’t forget to leave me a review on Good Reads. If you’re waiting on the audiobook, it shouldn’t be long. I finished reading it into the microphone earlier this week - another interesting part of the experience of writing a bestseller (I can now say ‘bestseller’ can’t I 😜).

Remember, we’re looking for the best ways to live longer, healthier, better quality lives in the second half and I want to hear your stories - so email me!

Buy the book now

And for another week - make it epic!

Bec Wilson Xx

Can you afford to retire now?

This article appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Brisbane Times in print and digital on Sunday 30th July 2023. You can read the full article here.

Whether you’re coming up to retirement or envisioning it in your distant future, the prospect can be daunting – often due to one issue: money.

As we approach the years when retirement is the logical next step, the question on everyone’s mind is, “can I afford to retire now?” I’m going to take a deep dive into how we answer that question, as individuals, because the decision is a personal one that requires you to think about and understand the crucial aspects of retirement readiness.

Let’s walk through the things you need to think about to decide if you can afford to retire now. Click through to read the rest of this article on The Sydney Morning Herald here.

Looking around the web this week

Super funds slammed over failure to plan for ‘silver tsunami’, Hannah Wootton, Australian Financial Review - Did you realise your superfund was meant to be helping you prepare for a comfortable retirement?

Wondering what Barbie should look like at 83? She was born at the age of 19, 63 years ago. Check out my Instagram (and follow me while you’re there) to enjoy these terrific AI generated images of Barbie, both in and out of the box.

Bec Wilson - Epic Retirement Bec Wilson - Epic Retirement on Instagram: “This is the real #Barbie today. She’s 83 years old, retired, unmarried and unbothered and she’s now a feminist icon! ⭐️I’ll bet she’s having an epic retirement! ⭐️ Barbie was born in 1959 at the age of 19.
—
FOLLOW for more epic retirement ❤️ double tap if you love it
SHARE to spread the word Images created by @mickeygogo using AI
#retirement #silver #epicretirement #modernaging #modernageing #greyhair #olderwoman #olderwomen”July 30, 2023

Have a great week. If you haven’t already, join our Facebook Group here for conversations with others approaching and in retirement and talking about it.

See the sources for this article on the website version here.

Thanks for reading Epic Retirement! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

DISCLAIMER: The information in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplements or making significant changes to your health regimen. Individual responses to supplements may vary, and it's crucial to consider personal health circumstances. The article does not endorse any specific product or supplement. Use at your own discretion and discontinue if any adverse reactions occur. The authors are not liable for any consequences resulting from the information provided. Always prioritise professional medical guidance for your health decisions.

Thanks for reading Epic Retirement! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

REFERENCES

Salehi B, Mishra AP, Nigam M, Sener B, Kilic M, Sharifi-Rad M, Fokou PVT, Martins N, Sharifi-Rad J. Resveratrol: A Double-Edged Sword in Health Benefits. Biomedicines. 2018 Sep 9;6(3):91. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines6030091. PMID: 30205595; PMCID: PMC6164842.

Naveet Pannu, Archana Bhatnagar, Resveratrol: from enhanced biosynthesis and bioavailability to multitargeting chronic diseases, Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, Volume 109, 2019, Pages 2237-2251, ISSN 0753-3322, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2018.11.075.

Avila Rodríguez, MI, Rodríguez Barroso, LG, Sánchez, ML. Collagen: A review on its sources and potential cosmetic applications. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2018; 17: 20–26. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.12450

Kim D-U, Chung H-C, Choi J, Sakai Y, Lee B-Y. Oral Intake of Low-Molecular-Weight Collagen Peptide Improves Hydration, Elasticity, and Wrinkling in Human Skin: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study. Nutrients. 2018; 10(7):826. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10070826 

Troesch B, Eggersdorfer M, Laviano A, Rolland Y, Smith AD, Warnke I, Weimann A, Calder PC. Expert Opinion on Benefits of Long-Chain Omega-3 Fatty Acids (DHA and EPA) in Aging and Clinical Nutrition. Nutrients. 2020 Aug 24;12(9):2555. doi: 10.3390/nu12092555. PMID: 32846900; PMCID: PMC7551800.

Hewlings SJ, Kalman DS. Curcumin: A Review of Its Effects on Human Health. Foods. 2017 Oct 22;6(10):92. doi: 10.3390/foods6100092. PMID: 29065496; PMCID: PMC5664031.

Chen S, Gan D, Lin S, Zhong Y, Chen M, Zou X, Shao Z, Xiao G. Metformin in aging and aging-related diseases: clinical applications and relevant mechanisms. Theranostics. 2022 Mar 6;12(6):2722-2740. doi: 10.7150/thno.71360. PMID: 35401820; PMCID: PMC8965502.

It's here - How to have an Epic Retirement is now in bookstores

How to Have an Epic Retirement is finally out there waiting for you to pick up a copy from bookstores and book retailers all over Australia. It’s only the third day in stores and already I’m receiving messages with pictures of people holding up their copies after buying them or having them delivered! What a buzz. (Please keep it up - what fun!)

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I’m incredibly proud of the book, having put a lot of hard work into the research that sits behind the six pillar epic retirement framework the book walks people through. It is built on the ten years of experience I had speaking to, surveying and understanding the issues of modern retirees who want more out of life than the generations before them. And it required the review of many scientific papers too.

I want to thank Hachette Australia for bringing the book to life. What a wonderful process it has been.

And I’m positively delighted at the response. The media has been very kind and welcoming this week.

Radio legend Spencer Howsen kicked off the week with a Sunday feature interview on 4BC Weekends. He’d read the book from cover to cover and had several pages of questions to ask me. It was a (wonderful) drilling! listen here

Then Tuesday I chatted with Jo McManus at 6PR in Perth about the steps to take to have a happy retirement. Jo offered her own personally-learned tips for travelling Boomers too.

On Wednesday, The Sydney Morning Herald and the Age published in both print and digital, an extract from the Money Section of How to Have an Epic Retirement. What a dream come true.

The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age ran an extract from How to Have an Epic Retirement on launch day, Wednesday the 26th July 2023

And, on the same day, I did a long interview with 4BC Afternoons radio host Sophie Formica who called it ‘the bible’ for retirement. Sophie has a keen interest in the space of modern ageing, so this is an incredible complement.

Thursday’s big highlight was an appearance on The Today Show - Today Extra, with David and Sylvia sitting in front of the Epic Retirement sunrise that you can see on the book cover - watch here.

And in other shows I don’t have audio from yet, an incredibly fun interview with Nick Healey from ABC Radio Victoria on the Statewide Drive Program last night; a cracker of a talkback conversation with Meech Philpott from ABC Tropical North Breakfast program and a chat with Stan Shaw from ABC Perth Breakfast Show this morning. What a huge delight!

And finally, Better Reading has already published their podcast with Jane Tara, in Be:Better their non-fiction, self-help - enjoy that here.

And I hope there’s plenty more to come - I could talk forever on how to have an epic retirement. There’s so many things people can learn that no doubt will improve their quality of life in retirement. If you want to listen to some of the media interviews, you can find them on my website here.

A huge thanks to you for all your support of the book - it really is wonderful to see the interest in it after all these months of hard work researching it, writing it and putting it together.

You might have noticed I’ve paused the Retirement Diaries podcast for a couple of weeks. It’s just while we launch the book. I’m a bit of a believer in do one thing and do it well! It’ll be back bigger and better than ever in a week or two.

Now, enough of this. Let’s get you some useful tips below to help you have an Epic Retirement. Have a wonderful week. And please, find something to delight in this week and post it in our Facebook Group here. Or comment on the story below.

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Make it epic.
Bec Wilson Xx

Get your copy of How to Have an Epic Retirement

How to Have an Epic Retirement is now on sale in almost all major booksellers. Online, you can purchase from both Book Epic Retirement">Amazon and Booktopia. And major stores stocking the book include: Big W, Collins, David Jones (some stores), Dymocks. QBD, Target, Newslink (Airports), Relay (Airports), WH Smith (Airports), Bookface (NSW), Harry Hartog (NSW, Qld, SA, ACT), and The Book Warehouse (NSW). There’s also a long list of regional booksellers which you can see on my website here.

How to Have an Epic Retirement is filled with practical information, examples and questions covering the six key pillars of great modern retirement:

Time

Building your financial confidence

Looking after your health

Understanding how happiness is created and finding fulfilment

Living out your travel dreams

Your home and how your needs change in all the different phases of retirement

It’s the first book of its kind to explain in detail how the systems that support a new age and modern retirement in Australia work, making what can be a complex topic seem easy to navigate.

Purchase online now

Our super funds won’t help us with retirement, so it’s time to take control

My column in last weekend’s Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and the Brisbane Times seems so long ago now, but it’s on a really important topic.

Australian superannuation funds made a commitment to the regulators last year to look after consumers approaching and in retirement better. It’s called the retirement income covenant… I’m passionate about this space.

Planning for your golden years can be thrilling, but the retirement landscape is changing quickly, and not everyone is keeping up. As more Baby Boomers approach retirement, there is a growing concern that super funds aren’t doing enough to guide Australia’s retiring generation through this exciting but overwhelming phase of life.

Regulators have this week called for urgent action after a scathing review by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission and the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority, which assessed how super funds are implementing the retirement income covenant. This covenant, set up in 2022, requires superannuation funds to assist members who are close to retiring or have already stopped working to improve their retirements. The report highlights that many Australians are unnecessarily holding back spending on their retirements, potentially leading to a lower living standard than what could be achieved with proper financial planning. It says the Australian community needs better assistance in using their superannuation savings effectively to create a good life in retirement.

APRA deputy chair Margaret Cole emphasises the importance of super funds providing assistance to their members as they plan for a sound financial future. If you’re approaching retirement yourself, you understand how challenging it can be to navigate the complex financial information in both pre- and post-retirement phases.

Unfortunately, many people at this stage of life are unaware that superannuation funds are mandated to help their members achieve good retirement outcomes, which means they might not even realise they are missing out.

So, where does that leave you? If you’re feeling overwhelmed and unsure of where to start, fear not! Let’s tackle this together and kickstart your retirement planning process while also demanding more support from the super fund sector. Here are seven steps to get you started: (more on the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Brisbane Times).

Read the whole article, which includes a list of tips for kickstarting your own retirement planning process, here.

And if you are looking for the Epic Retirement budget template that I refer to in the article, you can download it here.

Make it epic this week

And that’s where I leave you today. Have a wonderful weekend. Welcome to our new readers too - so many wonderful new readers. Don’t forget to forward this to your friends! I am happy to help people prepare for an epic retirement, however I can.

I’m developing an epic pre-retirement education program. If you work at a company that could offer this to your members (ie a superfund or a financial adviser or something else) I’d love to chat. Please, reach out.

And, if you buy the book, please send me your photo! I want to make a wall full of wonderful pictures.

Bec Xx

Our super funds won't help us with retirement, so it's time to take control

This article appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age in print and digital on Sunday 23rd July 2023. You can read the full article here.

Planning for your golden years can be thrilling, but the retirement landscape is changing quickly, and not everyone is keeping up. As more Baby Boomers approach retirement, there is a growing concern that super funds aren’t doing enough to guide Australia’s retiring generation through this exciting but overwhelming phase of life.

Regulators have this week called for urgent action after a scathing review by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission and the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority, which assessed how super funds are implementing the retirement income covenant. This covenant, set up in 2022, requires superannuation funds to assist members who are close to retiring or have already stopped working to improve their retirements.

The report highlights that many Australians are unnecessarily holding back spending on their retirements, potentially leading to a lower living standard than what could be achieved with proper financial planning. It says the Australian community needs better assistance in using their superannuation savings effectively to create a good life in retirement.

APRA deputy chair Margaret Cole emphasises the importance of super funds providing assistance to their members as they plan for a sound financial future. If you’re approaching retirement yourself, you understand how challenging it can be to navigate the complex financial information in both pre- and post-retirement phases.

Unfortunately, many people at this stage of life are unaware that superannuation funds are mandated to help their members achieve good retirement outcomes, which means they might not even realise they are missing out.

So, where does that leave you? If you’re feeling overwhelmed and unsure of where to start, fear not! Let’s tackle this together and kickstart your retirement planning process while also demanding more support from the super fund sector. Here are seven steps to get you started: (Read them in The Age here).

This article offers readers access to our Epic Retirement budgeting template, which we explain in detail in the book, How to Have an Epic Retirement. You can download the budgeting template free, here.

Touring holidays, not just for the very old and the very young

I always thought touring holidays were for the very old and the very young. But what about active, energetic touring in your 40s, 50s and 60s, before you get old or slow down? It wasn’t something I’d given a lot of thought to until last week, when my husband and I left our nearly adult kids at home and headed on a tour of  the Red Centre. And it was far from what I expected. 

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When we’re young we embrace the idea of travelling in tour groups for the excitement of doing challenging things with ‘people like us’. Companies like Contiki have raised a whole generation of adventurers striving to fit 6-10 countries into 28 days, trekking mountains, experiencing cities and partying their butts off in every town. At 25-30, we seem to grow out of this type of travel, or I did, anyway. Once I had kids and could afford to travel again after, I lurched into independent travel, hustling kids and my extended family on destination holidays, getting our thrills with activities like skiing and hiking but only picking off a couple of places to see at a time.

I didn’t see myself picking up touring again until I got ‘older’ (47’s not older is it? - I prefer to think I’m in my prime!). My thoughts were that as you age, touring is certainly an easier way to travel. Someone lifts your bags on and off the bus, walks you through destinations carefully looking after you, and you get dropped right at the door of your hotel each day and can be tucked in bed at a suitable time for the next day’s adventures. 

But I’m not older and I’m perfectly happy to carry my own bags. In addition, I prefer to hike the hilltops, see the sunrises and adventure blindly through the backstreets of cities. How could touring fit with that? Turns out it can! 

The last time my husband and I went on a touring holiday was when we were 23, trekking through Africa for four weeks. 24 years later, here we were, joining a small group tour with Intrepid Travel through the West Macdonnell Ranges, Uluru and Kings Canyon. We opted for the ‘comfort’ level which saw us stay in hotels - not keen to sleep in tents in the dark of winter this time - we might be keen to in the right place, at the right time of year. But other than that we really weren’t sure what to expect. So let me give you a quick wrap and some piccies. 

Day one saw us join a group of nine people, politely meeting in the hotel foyer to introduce ourselves and get to know our guide, Maurice, a 51 year old Dutch Australian who had moved to the Red Centre purely to host hiking and active tours. As we got to know each other, we realised how diverse, yet how interesting our group was, all between 45 and 69 in age, five were travelling solo and two travelled in pairs, ourselves included. Most of them had travelled with Intrepid before and had wonderful tales to tell of the people they’d met and the adventures they’d enjoyed throughout the world. They trusted this company like young people trust Contiki. We were two of only three Intrepid first-timers on the tour. It felt like we were headed off with a good lot. 

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Day two and three saw us warming up to the group, learning the names and interests everyone had as we looped the West Macdonnell Ranges, stopping to spend time in the most picturesque places along the way visiting Simpsons Gap, climbing up the range in Ormiston Gorge, enjoying the lookout over to Mt Sonder and walking through the Ochre Pits before heading on the long drive to Kings Canyon. Our guide was also our coach driver, and whilst he led the group, he also became one of us. 

On the way we visited an indigenous cultural experience, and learnt about the children’s stories, bush medicine and foods, witchetty grubs, jewellery making, dot painting and tools from local first-nations guides.  This was engaging, interesting and well-organised. I think all Australians would benefit from learning a little more about indigenous culture the way this is taught. From here we headed to a beautiful outback resort to enjoy the sunset in the outdoor bar, complete with live music. And by this time, we were all quite friendly with our tour buddies

Day four and we were up at dawn headed to climb Kings Canyon and it was the opposite of my expectations. This was where I really got the point that Intrepid’s tour really was geared to ‘people like me’ - moderately active, adventurous, curious people in their 40s, 50s and 60s. Perhaps not super-active, but able to push through 7kms of hiking up loose stone stairs and across the rock face capably. The guide insisted that those who were not as comfortable with the rather challenging climb take a lower concourse and meet us in three hours, and said without any uncertainty that he was leading the climb as that was what he was there to do. And that he did - with so much knowledge of the local area, indigenous history and flora and fauna that we were deeply engaged. In fact many of us were positively astounded that this Dutch Australian could know so much about our Red Centre. It was like he’d lived there for decades he knew so much. 

After the walk, we then headed straight for Kata Tjuta (formerly known as The Olgas) to see the massive rock formations up close, before heading to Uluru to see the sunset, and what a sunset it was. Blue skies, perfect crisp air and not a cloud in sight as we laughed together as a small intimate tour group, now comfortable in each other’s company. So comfortable that we went to dinner all together that night in Uluru, even though our itinerary had us doing our own thing. 

Day five, the last day and we were up at 5.30 to get to the Uluru sunrise. It takes a team spirit to do this three days in a row on holidays, and a team we had become. No one let each other down, boarding the bus at 5.45am to ensure we were in place for the 6.13am sunrise. After the sunrise, we walked around the base of Uluru and learned about the caves, the communities and the dreamtime creation stories before heading to the cultural centre to enjoy the artefacts and indigenous art.

Then it was farewell as we each headed in our own directions, with nine new friends and lots of photographs. I have to say, I’m impressed with the fact that Intrepid felt ‘right’ for me. It wasn’t overly-luxurious or opulent (and we aren’t opulent travellers), but it was certainly very comfortable. Our guide knew more about the local areas, landscapes, geography, history and indigenous culture than I would have ever dreamed, so I felt like I was constantly learning new things (which let’s face it, isn’t always the case on tours and holidays). The other people on the tour felt like approachable, active people, with a similar attitude to life, and some really interesting views and opinions, which made for scintillating conversations along the way. 

Takeaway lessons for choosing a tour operator

In chatting with the other tour members, we put together a list of lessons everyone should consider when booking a tour in your 40s, 50s or 60s… and maybe beyond. 

Know what type of travel you are physically capable of. Don’t fib to yourself… 

If you are active and mobile, sign on for tours that use your physicality; if you are less active, look for an operator and route that has little or no hiking so you don’t feel left out if you take the easy paths. Ideally you want to be where the guides are, not waiting on the sidelines. 

Understand the depth of travel you are seeking

If you are looking for touring that takes you off the beaten track, into the history, and culture and really immerses you in the outdoors, look for a company like Intrepid. If you frankly don’t care much about immersion and just want to see the sights, you might consider a more whistle-stop tour. There’s a huge variety of operators out there, and you might not recognise the difference if you don’t look deeply. 

Understand the size of the tour group you’ll be on

Speaking to the other guests on the tour, we were all pretty excited to be on a small group tour of ten people including the guide. It allowed us to get to know each other and enjoy each destination without 50 people getting on and off our coach. We saw plenty of larger tours moving through and each time, we smiled amongst ourselves, knowing how special it felt to not be herded like cattle. 

Look for touring companies that fit your culture and beliefs

Some companies are sustainable and ethical in their approach, others are just big, lavish or commercial. I was particularly impressed with our guide who explained why he doesn’t do champagne at sunset overlooking Uluru, out of respect for the Indigenous people who gather to sell their artwork and have to remain ‘dry’ in these locations. This was just one example, and throughout the tour, we knew it was a complement to Intrepid and our guide Maurice. 

What an adventure huh! Thanks to Intrepid Travel for the warm welcome. Make it epic!

Bec Wilson Xx

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Why it’s time to get selfish about your superannuation

Major super funds have been joyously announcing their annual returns for 2022-23, and as they do so it provides an important opportunity for you to stop and take stock of your own super.

This article was published in both print and digital in The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and Brisbane Times on Sunday 16th July 2023. read it here

BE:Better Better Reading Podcast featuring How to Have an Epic Retirement

Bec Wilson talks to Jane Tara about money, health, happiness, and How to Have an Epic Retirement (at any age). Listen to the podcast here.

Get your copy now: 6 days until release!

Take advantage of the 19% discount Booktopia is offering right now.

I picked up my first copy of How to Have an Epic Retirement from my publishers in Sydney yesterday! Rather an exciting moment to hold it in my hands. It will be released in many many of our country’s major bookstores on the 26th July. 6 days to go!

Order now on Booktopia