superguruCommon questions

Build momentum

Grow your super

Improve the things you can control: contributions, fees, investments and lost accounts.

01

Improve what is already happening

Before adding money, make sure the existing account is working efficiently. Confirm employer contributions, total your fees and insurance premiums, and compare the investment option with similar-risk alternatives. Stopping a leak can be as valuable as finding a new contribution.

Check for duplicate and lost accounts through myGov. Consolidation can simplify super and reduce duplicated costs, but it may also cancel insurance or special benefits. Compare first and close only when you understand what will be lost.

02

Choose a contribution you can sustain

Extra contributions can come from before-tax salary sacrifice, deductible personal contributions or after-tax money. The tax treatment, eligibility and caps differ, but the practical starting point is the same: decide what the household can commit without weakening emergency savings or creating expensive debt.

A small automatic amount can be easier to sustain than a large annual resolution. Increase it after a pay rise, debt repayment or bonus, and check total contributions across every fund before the financial year ends. Money in super is generally preserved, so retain accessible savings for earlier needs.

03

Use time and investment risk deliberately

Long time horizons can support more exposure to growth assets, but only when you understand and can tolerate market falls. Read the actual asset mix rather than the option name. A strategy abandoned during a downturn can be worse than a slightly more conservative option you can hold consistently.

As retirement approaches, the question becomes how much short-term volatility your spending plan can absorb. That does not automatically mean moving everything to cash. Consider the timing of withdrawals, other income and a diversified mix, and avoid making a permanent switch in response to one frightening week.

04

Quick reference

Key things to remember

  • Check every employer contribution.
  • Consolidate only after checking insurance and benefits.
  • Compare fees and long-term net performance.
  • Consider extra contributions within your cash flow and caps.
  • Review the investment option as your timeframe changes.
05

Put it into practice

Your next steps

  1. 01

    Choose one improvement for this month.

  2. 02

    Estimate its annual dollar impact.

  3. 03

    Automate it where possible.

  4. 04

    Review after the next statement arrives.

Go deeper

Guides in this topic

Consolidating your superBring accounts together without accidentally losing valuable benefits.Find lost superLocate old accounts and ATO-held money without paying a finder.Making super contributionsUnderstand the main ways money can enter super and the limits around them.Low income super tax offset (LISTO)Understand the automatic payment that can refund contributions tax for eligible low-income earners.Super investment optionsMatch risk, diversification and timeframe to the retirement outcome you need.Super fees and chargesTranslate the fee disclosure into annual dollars and compare fairly.Mortgage or super?Compare extra repayments and extra super contributions on a like-for-like basis.Pay yourself forwardTurn a manageable amount today into a long-term retirement contribution habit.

Check the source

Official information

Super and tax rules change. These primary sources are the right place to verify the details before you act.