Every day in my job, I speak to Australians who are readying themselves for retirement. While there is generally a sense of excitement regarding the lifestyle changes ahead, the financial side of retirement is usually tinged with some level of anxiety.

Questions I am commonly asked include: How do I know if I have enough savings? How do I generate income from my savings? How long will my savings last?

Annuities can boost retirement security by providing regular income, specialists claim.Credit: afr

By 2025, it is predicted that 150,000 more workers will join the 4.2 million Australians already in retirement. These people should be afforded peace and relaxation in their retirement years, but too often, this isn’t quite the case.

Recent data reveals that one in two retired Australians are uncertain how much they can safely spend each year without outliving their savings. That is a stressful way to enter your retirement, and my experience is that retirees are often willing to trade off some flexibility in their retirement finances for greater certainty.

With this in mind, knowing how to make the most of your super – and the opportunities are available to you – is more important than ever.

Most jobs afford workers the security of a regular salary and the security of knowing exactly how much you have........

© The Age