January 11, 2026

Luke on 2CC – Can I reduce my work hours but still earn my normal wage?

16 minutes

Financial Planner Luke Smith joined 2CC Talking Canberra in Money Matters, which aired live on Friday 9 January 2026. We wish all our listeners a happy and safe 2026 and we welcome back Leon Delaney who is well rested from a holiday in Queensland. We turn to the topic for our second episode of the year: Is there a way to reduce my working hours but keep earning what I am earning? Many people at this time of year have enjoyed the break and the thought of 5 days on the tools or in the office isn’t that appealing. The good news is that there is a way to reduce your working hours and keep your income the same. It’s called the transition to retirement strategy and Luke takes a deep dive into what it is, what the rules are and how it works.

Thank you for joining us live on 2CC, YouTube, Spotify or your favourite podcast streaming service for ‘The Strategy Stacker – Luke Talks Money’.

Key topics covered include:

Do you have the return to workplace blues?

The transition to retirement legislation is a great way for you to work less hours and top up your income from your super while you still work.

How does the strategy work to help you replace your income from working a shorter work week?

How do you start a transition to retirement from your super?

How old do I need to be to use this strategy?

How much income (pension) do I need to take from a transition to retirement pension?

You also need to have a conversation with your employer, to see if they’ll agree to you having a shorter work week!

If you take the maximum (10% of the account balance), which may be higher than what you need to replace your income, you may do several advantageous things with it, like putting it into an offset account to reduce your mortgage repayments, you could also put some back into your super and claim a tax deduction if you’re eligible to do so. You might also pay down debt with it.

Can I still use this strategy even if I don’t reduce my working hours? Yes you can! It’s a good way to pay off the mortgage for you too.

Can the strategy be used if you’re in the CSS or PSS?

Can the strategy be used in a self-managed super fund?

Do you need to change your underlying assets to use this strategy?

How do you start a transition to retirement pension?

Luke shares his tips to help you explore and start a transition to retirement pension.

https://www.envisionfinancial.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/The-Strategy-Stacker-Luke-Talks-Money-09012026.mp3

Our podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube – ‘The Strategy Stacker – Luke Talks Money’

Do you need help to transition to retirement or retire fully in 2026.

Would you like to improve your lifestyle by working less hours and maintaining your income? A transition to retirement strategy might be right for you. Make an appointment to meet with Luke if you need help to achieve your financial goals.

Luke as a Financial Planner can help you set up a financial planning strategy to help you achieve your personal financial goals, including investment, super and retirement (including transition to retirement). Simply make an appointment to confidentially discuss your goals. Call Envision Financial Services on 6260 4749. You can use the contact us form to make an appointment, for a confidential discussion about your own goals and situation.

Luke will return to 2CC to talk about other ‘Money Matters’ next week, we hope you can join us. You can also catch up with ‘The Strategy Stacker – Luke Talks Money’ podcast at a time that suits you.

We look forward to your company again. Luke’s book Smart Money Strategy is out now.

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