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July 1 2024
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Retirement planning checklist

While the idea of retirement might not cross your mind every day, the earlier you start to plan in terms of your super the better. Here are three steps to get that retirement planning underway right now.

Step one: Consider how much you'll need

The first thing to consider is the type of retirement you want. Is it a quiet life spent with your family? Are you sailing into the sunset without a care in the world? Is it a little of both?

And then there’s your finances. Will you have access to other income (like property investments)? What about remaining debts and ongoing costs (such as medical expenses or rent)?

If you’ve still got a while until retirement, you should think about rising life expectancy to help predict when you’ll retire and how long you’ll be retired for.

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Tip: 

ASFA estimates that the cost of a comfortable retirement is $51,630 p.a. for singles and $72,663 p.a. for couples (aged 65-84 who own their own home).*

* Source: ASFA Retirement Standard, March 2024 quarter.

Step two: Calculate how your super is tracking

With the help of Rest's handy calculators, you can connect the dots between how much you have and how much you need.

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Superannuation calculator

See how much super you could have to spend in retirement.

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Retirement budget calculator

Review what you spend now and what you’ll need in retirement. You can create a personalised financial target in a few simple steps.

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Retirement health check

Retirement Health Check

See if your super is on track in just a few minutes. You’ll receive a report which shows how close you are to achieving your retirement income goal.

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Step three: Think about your long-term approach

Once you do steps one and two, you can start thinking about any lifestyle or super contribution changes that you might need to make to get where you want to be. Here are some questions to consider at this stage:

  • Will you need access to your cash at all times? Or are you comfortable having it tied in investments?
  • Do you have a low or high tolerance to risky investments?
  • Do you feel confident managing your super yourself?

By taking the time to plan in advance, you can be prepared for when you say farewell to work.

When can I access my super?

If you’re retired or starting your move from paid employment into a retirement income, you’ll need to check whether you’ve reached what’s known as your preservation age. The preservation age in Australia is 60 years old and you will be able to access your super so long as you have either:

  • permanently retired from the workforce
  • ceased an employment arrangement on or after the age of 60
  • are over age 60 and have started a Transition to Retirement strategy
  • turned 65, regardless of whether you’re still working or not.

Want to learn more?

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What are the latest Age Pension rates and limits?

In this article, we’ll walk you through the current pension rates and Age Pension limits.

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