Smart Investor magazine, April edition, has a feature article exactly on point. Worth hopping down to the newsagency and buying a copy.
Their advice?
For a married couple to retire at 55, then 17.5 times their desired retirement income stream. 16 times at age 60, 14 times at 65, 11 times at 70. Remember to compare apples with apples eg if you earn $100K and nett $75K after tax, then you're looking at a $75K tax free income stream post 60.
I just turned 60 a few days ago. I've run an SMSF with my wife for about 14 years and we rolled our super into it. I manage it mostly via the share market. So, my online broker can tell me in instant what dividend return I can expect over the next 12 months - best thing is I get all my franking credits sent back by the ATO in a cheque! Absent a market collapse I'm happy and secure.
