‘Good news': Australians tipped to be $125k better off in retirement
The average young Australian is tipped to be $125,000 better off in their retirement simply by staying in the workforce, a major superannuation fund reveals.
Australian Retirement Trust says the rise in the superannuation guarantee over the last five years is 'good news' for Australian workers who will have more in their retirement nest egg.
Under changes to the superannuation guarantee proposed by the Rudd government and enacted by the Morrison government, every working Aussies superannuation rate automatically went from 9.5 to 12.00 per cent.
The changes were brought in incrementally, up 0.5 per cent a year, with the final change starting from July 1 2025.
According to the Australian Retirement Trust this five year plan will now see a 30-year old earning $100,000 retire with an additional $125,000 when they finish up their careers.
Australian retirement trust executive general manager for advocacy and impact, Anne Fuchs, said the boost to the SG rate is good news for all working Australians.
'This half per cent step may seem small, but for working Australians, it's like reaching the summit of your own financial Everest,' Mrs Fuchs said.
'Since the Superannuation Guarantee was introduced in 1992, it has become the cornerstone of Australia's retirement system – evolving from a modest 3 per cent contribution to a robust framework that provides you with meaningful savings for your future.'
Separate research from the Association of Superannuation Funds said the increase from to 12 per cent will mean the median 30-year old worker making $75,000 a year will add about $20,000 to their superannuation balance by the time they retire.
This $20,000 increase will mean the median 30-year old will retire with $610,000 in superannuation, above the $53,383 a year or $595,000 they would need for a comfortable retirement.
Couples should fare even better.
ASFA says a couple requires $73,875 a year or $690,000 combined in total to live comfortably in retirement using their super plus age pension top-ups.
The major caveat to these figures for singles and couples is owning your own home by retirement.
Check your superannuation rate
While the rate of change might seem small, Australian Retirement Trust urges Aussies to check their superannuation rate.
According to survey data by the super fund four out of every five Australians don't know how much they've put away for retirement, while only one in five can correctly identify the current superannuation guarantee.
'Whether you're just starting your career or nearing retirement, understanding these changes can help you make smarter financial decisions,' Ms Fuchs said.
'As we look towards our own retirement savings, we should also look towards ensuring the Superannuation Guarantee is fit-for-purpose as our nation ages and grows.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
‘Had to wait': TikToker's horror ING ordeal
A Melbourne woman was left without money for two days after ING suspended her account for what they deemed to be 'suspicious activity'. In an ordeal that has left her switching banks, Katie McMaster posted to TikTok after being left without access to her card and unable to withdraw money due to a flag on her account. She said she was initially sent an email on Tuesday, telling her that her accounts had been suspended and she needed to verify her identity. Ms McMaster called ING to verify the email was legit, where she was told she would need to wait up to two days for the fraud team to get back to her. 'They said I need to wait for the fraud team to contact me. I can't speak to them, they wouldn't transfer me to them, I had to wait for them to email me,' she said in the video. After two days – and calling ING multiple times – Ms McMaster finally had her accounts unsuspended. She said the fraud team told her there was just 'one person' managing the fraud inbox. Speaking to Ms McMaster said the 'suspicious activity' turned out to be a transfer with her friend for payment of a Usher ticket. 'I don't know if my TikTok helped, but suddenly, they moved pretty quickly,' she said. Ms McMaster said the verification process as a whole did not feel secure. 'They're sending you emails but then when you ring them and you're on hold, they say ING will never ask you to provide verification via email,' she said. She also said she did not have the option to go into a branch, as there are none in Melbourne. 'It was frustrating just waiting, I probably wouldn't have minded so much if they kept me in the loop,' she said. Ms McMaster said she is now moving banks after being with ING for more than a decade due to the ordeal, with many users on TikTok commenting about similar experiences. A spokeswoman for ING said the bank does place temporary 'holds' on an account if the bank detects 'suspicious transactions'. 'This often involves temporarily placing a hold on a customer's account until we can confirm the transactions with the customer,' she said. 'We recognise that temporarily pausing activity on an account can impact customers, so we always check they have access to essential funds, ensuring they are not placed in financial hardship.'

Sky News AU
2 hours ago
- Sky News AU
Qatar Airways partners with Virgin Australia, directly competes with Qantas
Sky News host Ross Greenwood discusses Qatar Airways' 25 per cent ownership in Virgin Australia, claiming Qantas will now have more international competition after the Australian Government 'knocked back' Qatar Airways in the past. 'Qatar, you know, sort of, is obviously, been this week named as the best airline in the world,' Mr Greenwood told Sky News host Steve Price. 'The key for that is really that they own now 25 per cent of Virgin – Virgin is about to list on the Australian Stock Exchange, or re-list after it had previously gone broke. 'Given the fact that in the past, Qatar has really tried to get more flights into Australia, been knocked back by the Australian Government, and whether this tie-up now really does mean it's going to create more international competition for Qantas.'

News.com.au
3 hours ago
- News.com.au
Criterion: Back up the dumpster! It's time for an EOFY share purge
Potential tax loss selling candidates include ASX200 inclusions Domino's Pizza Enterprises and IDP Education Investors may want to offset capital gains from successful AI and Trump-related plays But beware: tax-loss selling is governed by ATO rules Tax-loss selling is a fine judgment call, because the dud shares can be on the cusp of a brilliant recovery. In some cases, their worth has been further devalued by EOFY selling that in theory will ease after June 30. But for investors sitting on capital gains from an AI driven splurge on data centres or a fear-driven plunge into gold, offsetting the gains by selling the lost causes makes sense. Or maybe hey want to lighten up on Commonwealth Bank (ASX:CBA) shares and offset the healthy gains Investors must ensure they are genuinely exiting the position, with the taxman's 'wash' rules preventing repurchasing within 45 days. Even then, investors must justify their action, such as independent research changing a call on a stock from 'sell' to 'buy'. Domino's prospects are as flat as its pizza Amid a string of downgrades, Domino's Pizza Enterprises (ASX:DMP) shares have lost 88% of their value since peaking in September 2021. Domino's problems include underperforming French and Japanese operations, while measures including store closures have failed to turn the company's fortunes. Long-time CEO Don Meij departed in November last year, while the Europe and Japan chiefs have also left the building. As with McDonald's decades previously, Dominos mastered the art of industrial scale, ultra fast production. Maybe the world has reached peak pizza … if that's possible. Busted flush Having seen 70% of the value of their holdings vanish over the past year, Star Entertainment Group (ASX:SGR) investors would have been better off at the blackjack table … and that's not saying much. The owner of gambling dens in Sydney, Brisbane and the Gold Coast, Star was crippled by money laundering and other governance controversies. Star is subject to a convertible note/debt-based rescue bid from US casino operator Bally's Corporation. An independent expert report dubs the proposal as 'not fair' to shaeholders but 'compelling' nonetheless, given the company's dire position. Investors should take the hint. Also pinged for money laundering transgressions, SkyCity Entertainment Group (ASX:SKC) last month warned of 'deteriorating' trading conditions at its Auckland and Adelaide casinos. Skycity shares have fallen 36% over the year. Morningstar dubs them as 'materially undervalued', but the company's luck doesn't look like turning any time soon. A sobering lesson Shares in overseas student wrangler IDP Education (ASX:IEL) plunged 50% after a June 3 profit warning, erasing $1 billion of value. IDP has nowhere to run, with its key geographies of Canada, Australia, the UK and the US all executing migration crackdowns. Overseas students made for a once thriving export industry, but the crackdown has cooked and plucked that golden goose. IDP remains the industry leader and management points to a recovery. The stock remains one class worth wagging, in our humble view. The stock has lost an astonishing 75% over the last year. Shooting Bambi Selling CSL (ASX:CSL) shares is like shooting Bambi, given the almost certain demand for its life-saving plasma derived products. Once the biggest ASX company, CSL has lost 17% of its value because of weakness in its Seqirus flu vaccine division and its acquired Vifor kidney health arm. Lingering concerns over Donald Trump's tariff and drug pricing have also weighed on sentiment. Broker Wilsons describes CSL as 'thorougly over owned'. But - hey - the experts said the same about CBA shares, which continue to defy gravity. Cochlear (ASX:COH) shares also are off the pace. In an earnings downgrade last week, the company noted weakness in developed markets for implant and sound processor sales. New implant and processor products might put things right, but so far investors aren't listening. Small cap cleanout candidates Call recording house Dubber Corp (ASX:DUB) in March 2024 discovered that $30 million of funds had gone missing. This week, the company said it would sue its external auditors over the unrecovered $26.6 million. But with investors sitting on an 80% loss since the incident, they probably should hang up. In the retail sector, shares in plus-sized clothier City Chic Collective (ASX:CCX) have shrunk 35% over the year and 97% over five years. The company recently warned of poor trading here and in the US, while tariffs are a worry. Weight Watchers filed for US bankruptcy in May and Ozempic sales are booming, so maybe there's a nexus. Owner of Kathmandu, KMD Brands (ASX:KMD) on Thursday signalled peak puffer jacket with a weak earnings outlook.