Planning for your retirement can be confusing, especially when you're trying to work exactly how much superannuation you need before that day comes.
Working out the figure which will suit your needs depends entirely on your current living situation, your expected retirement age and what type of retirement you expect to have.
Do you own your own house? What type of travel do you expect to to? Do you have any debts?
In Australia, your retirement is generally split into two broad categories: modest and comfortable.
A modest retirement, according to the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) is defined as being able to cover expenses slightly above what the full Centrelink Age Pension would provide.
This includes basic health insurance with limited cap payments, a cheaper model of car, infrequent exercise, a limited budget for home repairs, minimal utility expenses, limiting dining out and maybe an annual domestic trip. It assumes you own your home outright.
Then a comfortable retirement lifestyle is defined as one which allows retirees to maintain a good standard of living.
This includes top level private health insurance, ownership of a reasonable car brand, regular leisure activities, funds for home repairs and renovations, occasional meals out, and an annual domestic trip.
It goes without saying that every Australian strives for a retirement lifestyle under option B: a comfortable retirement.
So what does that cost?
Image source: Getty Images
How much does a comfortable retirement cost?
Again, according to ASFA, a comfortable retirement is expected to cost approximately $54,240 per year for individuals and $76,505 per year for couples.
How much superannuation do I need for that?
ASFA has run the numbers on the assumption that the retiree(s) will draw down all their capital, receive a part Age Pension, and is a home owner.
The association has calculated that a comfortable retirement lifestyle for a couple requires a superannuation balance of approximately $690,000 and for a single person this is approximately $595,000.
Help! My superannuation balance is no where near that figure
If your superannuation falls short of the figures above, you aren't alone.
The average superannuation balance for Australians aged 40-44 is $140,680 for men and $109,209 for women. For those aged in the 60-64 bracket, the average superannuation balance is $395,852 for men and $313,360 for women. It's clear, then, that using those figures, a comfortable retirement lifestyle is out of reach for many of us.
But, the good news is, there are things you can do to boost your superannuation balance before it's too late.
You can make extra concessional or non-concessional contributions, whether this is salary sacrificing or after-tax (within your annual limits).
You can take advantage of any government initiatives to match contributions and propel your balance just that little further.
It's important to make sure your super fund is performing well. Even slightly underperforming a benchmark such as the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) over a long period of time can affect your end balance.
And of course, review your investment strategy to ensure it actually aligns with your retirement goals and risk appetite.
