Start with a five-part account check
A quick super check should answer five questions: how many accounts do you have, are contributions arriving, what are fees costing, what insurance is attached and how is the balance invested? These items reveal most of the problems that quietly erode a balance.
Use myGov linked to the ATO to see reported accounts, then open each fund directly. The ATO view is useful for finding accounts, but a fund’s own transaction history is usually the better place to inspect recent deposits, premiums and fees.
Look at dollars, not labels
Fund statements contain many percentages and category names. Translate them into practical terms. Add the administration and investment fees actually charged during the year, total the insurance premiums and note the net investment return. This shows what changed the balance in real dollars.
Do the same for investments. Names such as balanced, growth and conservative are not consistent across funds. Read the asset allocation and risk level, and ask whether you could stay invested through the kind of fall that option has experienced before.
Fix one issue at a time
If the check uncovers several issues, deal with the highest-risk one first. Missing employer payments, unaffordable insurance premiums or an account you cannot access deserve attention before fine-tuning an investment mix. Keep notes of calls and confirmation numbers so the issue does not vanish between providers.
Finish by updating contact details and beneficiaries and setting a repeat date. Five minutes every few months to scan transactions, plus one deeper annual review, is usually more effective than ignoring super for years and trying to repair everything at once.
Quick reference
Key things to remember
- Account count — know where every account is.
- Contributions — reconcile payslips with your fund.
- Fees — look at dollars paid, not just percentages.
- Insurance — confirm cover, cost and exclusions.
- Investments — make sure the risk level still suits your timeframe.
Put it into practice
Your next steps
- 01
Log in to myGov and open the ATO super view.
- 02
Open your fund’s transaction list for the past 12 months.
- 03
Record the five items above in one note.
- 04
Schedule the next check for the same month next year.
Check the source
Official information
Super and tax rules change. These primary sources are the right place to verify the details before you act.