How much will I need in super?

There is no shortage of reports produced discussing how much Australians need to have in super to have an enjoyable retirement. This information may make you wonder about the adequacy of your own super savings.  

However retirement isn’t a one-size-fits-all life stage.

We all have our own plans for retirement as well as varying life expectancies and different financial resources to draw on. For some people, a significant amount of money may be needed to fund their ideal retirement. Others will be able to achieve their retirement dreams with far less.

The key step for all of us is to find our personal retirement ‘number’.

A useful starting point is to consider your plans for retirement and the annual income needed to fulfil these goals. 

The way your superannuation is invested matters too. It can be tempting to focus on cash-based investments providing protection from volatile asset markets. But without some exposure to growth assets like shares, you could be forced to draw on your capital sooner rather than later.

Bear in mind too that few Australians rely solely on super to fund retirement; many hold investments outside of super; many have significant equity invested in their home. At present, around 80% of older Australians are eligible for some level of Australian age pension payments¹.

The bottom line is that there is no universal level of super that is right for everyone. The important thing is to speak with your Adviser to determine the figure that is right for your needs.

Once you know that number, it’s much easier to develop a plan of action to achieve your retirement goals.