Australian financial markets are continuing to evolve, and that’s why more and more Australians are finally spreading their investment wings and leaving home.

Retiring without a mortgage has a large positive impact on retirement confidence.

For decades the “Great Australian Dream” has been the general desire by most Australians just to own a home.

But that dream has morphed over time. These days it’s not just about owning a home but having the mortgage paid off either before retirement or soon after.

You can dispose of your shares in the following ways:

• selling them

• giving them away (gifting shares)

• transferring them to a spouse as the result of a breakdown in your marriage or relationship

• through share buy-backs

• through mergers, takeovers and demergers

• because the company goes into liquidation.

It's important you keep records of acquiring and disposing of shares.