Retiring from the paid workforce can be an exciting time, opening up myriad changes, decisions and opportunities. For CA ANZ members, retiring also raises the question of whether to maintain their membership with the professional organisation many have belonged to for decades.

Being a CA means you are a part of a 139,000-plus global community dedicated to delivering world-class services with high ethical standards. In addition to the pride members have in the designation, there are other great benefits retired CAs can enjoy when continuing their membership.

Access free resources

If you keep your membership into retirement, you can continue to access complimentary member benefits, such as the CA Library. The CA Library offers a range of magazines and newspapers, such as the Australian Financial Review, New Scientist, The New Yorker and National Geographic. The ebook and audiobook collections include topics ranging from business stories and personal development to tales of fraud and the latest strategies in investing.

Retired members also maintain access to LinkedIn Learning, valued at more than A$350 per annum. LinkedIn Learning covers a wide array of topics across business, technology and creative skills to help you with your lifelong learning after you give up work.

For a full list of member benefits – including discounts and special offers from CA ANZ Member Benefits partners, visit the CA ANZ Member Benefits Program.

Become a mentor

With the right mix of long-standing experience coupled with the capacity to mentor, retired members have much to offer the next generation of CAs.

The CA Career Mentoring program enables you to broaden your perspectives, build connections outside your immediate network and give back to your community.

The program matches mentors to mentees in a range of career stages and sectors, including early- to mid-career members and members returning to the workforce.

When you register as a mentor for the program, you are asked about your background, such as industry sector experience, positions held and how many years of experience you have in your field. The mid-career program receives the most mentee registrations, so having mentors who have held senior positions or developed portfolio careers is critical to the success of the program.

Continue learning

If you do not hold a Certificate of Public Practice (CPP), and have fully and permanently withdrawn from the workforce, retired members are no longer required to undertake continuing professional development (CPD) hours.

However, all members who are continuing to offer professional services, including pro bono work and volunteering, must maintain competence under the code of ethics. Additionally, if you are still registered with other professional bodies such as the Australian Tax Practitioners Board, you will still have CPD requirements to meet.

Should retired members wish to purchase CA ANZ education, the usual member discount applies.

Pay lower fees

Retired members are defined as those who have permanently withdrawn from the paid workforce, regardless of the retirement age in their jurisdiction.

Some retired members are eligible for a concessional membership rate. To be eligible, you need to have an annual income of $50,000 (NZD or AUD) or less. The CA ANZ regulation CR 4.5 (xi) covers eligibility for this concession.

This year, CA and FCA members in Australia will pay A$163 (inclusive of GST) and NZ$173 in New Zealand. Your concession can be calculated on the basis of the fee. You'll find the 2025–2026 fee schedule here.

While the concessional threshold is $50,000, there are several types of income that are not included in the calculation of annual income. These include interest, dividends, capital gains, annuities, income from rental property and superannuation.

Additionally, members who are aged 75 and over, or with 50 years or more of continuous membership, do not pay an annual membership fee.

Pro bono and volunteer roles

Volunteering after retirement can be very rewarding. It offers numerous benefits, including improved mental and physical health, a sense of purpose and social connections.

Retired members are often approached to undertake pro bono audits of community organisations and clubs, and are able to offer a limited level of accounting services to the public without holding a CPP where they do not charge a fee.

While CA ANZ encourages retired members to lend their expertise, you do need to be careful that you comply with the rules, maintain professional knowledge and competency, and consider necessary insurance. Before engaging in any accounting services or voluntary work, please ensure you understand any risks you may be taking on, and that you have the current and requisite skills to provide these services.

How to transition to retired membership

As you move through the renewal process online, there is an option to move from full membership to retired membership. To find out more, email: [email protected] or call 1300 137 322 (Australia) or 0800 469 422 (New Zealand).