Key points
- Superannuation guarantee is rising from 9.5 per cent to 10 per cent from July 2021.
- A quarter of all employees in Australia end up with multiple super funds, which could significantly reduce their retirement savings.
- From July 2021, existing accounts will be attached to employees and those will carry over with an individual when they change jobs.
Superannuation, also known as super, is a part of your income put aside to fund your retirement. A superannuation Guarantee is the minimum percentage of your earnings that your employer must pay into your super.
The superannuation guarantee rate is increasing to 10 per cent in July 2021, from the current 9.5 per cent.
Anyone earning more than $450 a month before tax is eligible for superannuation contributions from their employer.
Multiple super accounts burn a hole in your savings
According to the Association of Super Funds Australia, an individual retiring today would need $28,179 and a couple $40,739, to live a modest retired life. Source: Getty Images
However, there are concerns that many migrants, particularly recent arrivals, do not know how superannuation works.
Rashesh Bhavsar, a financial adviser at Melbourne-based Fortune Wealth Creation Group, says many people end up with multiple super funds, which all charge them fees.
“When they change the jobs, they own multiple superannuation funds, and they pay very high fees, so they have four or five super funds, and they are all charging them duplicate fees. So some of the funds actually go back to zero balance,” says Mr Bhavsar.
According to the Australian Tax Office, such people make up about a quarter of all super account holders in Australia.
They all charge fees. Many of them actually find their funds going back to zero balance.
From 1 July 2021, if an employee doesn't nominate a super account at the time of switching jobs, the employer will make the super payments in the employee's existing super account.
You can only withdraw your superannuation when you retire or turn 65. There are very limited circumstances when early access to super is allowed.
Data from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) shows that 4.8 million Australians accessed their super early during the coronavirus pandemic.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, 4.8 million workers accessed their super early. Source: Rio Helmi/LightRocket via Getty Images
Rebuilding your depleted savings
Tony Negline, the superannuation leader of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, says those who accessed their super early should rebuild their super by salary sacrifice.
“For example, if you are paid $40,000 a year, you can ask your employer to pay you $37,000 as salary and ask for the remaining $3,000 to go into your superannuation as an additional employer contribution,” he says.
The government has a super co-contribution scheme for people on a low income that adds money to their retirement savings.
Mr Negline says if someone earning less than $41,000 contributes $1,000 of after-tax money to their super and informs the tax office, the ATO will add $500 to their super account.
According to the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA), individuals and couples aged around 65 would need an annual budget of $28,179 and $40,739 respectively to live a modest lifestyle if they were to retire today.
But 2017-18 figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that the average superannuation balance for people aged 15 and over was $168,500 for men and $121,300 for women.
Experts say super is the most tax effective way to saving for the future as super contributions are taxed at a lower rate than the marginal income tax rate. Source: Paul Kane/Getty Images
While Australians aged 66 and over are paid age pension, but that may not be enough to fund your retirement if you have no other income or savings.
Mr Bhavsar says that superannuation is one of the most tax effective ways to save for the future.
“If you put your money into super, you get taxed at 15 per cent compared to your marginal tax rate, which is up to 47% if you’re a high-income earner, including Medicare levy.”
In super, that extra savings can boost your retirement saving significantly.
Choosing a super fund
In the absence of an independent tool listing the performance of all funds, it may require some research to choose a super fund that aligns with your personal values and financial interests.
Fatma Saaoud is the business operations manager at Crescent Wealth, Australia’s only Islamic superannuation fund.
She says many non-Muslims, particularly teachers, are choosing Crescent due to ethical considerations.
“They do see the alcohol or gambling issues affecting their students.”
Mr Negline says regardless of the nature of your work, it’s essential to build your retirement savings, and it’s important not to discount the small amounts you put aside today.
He says every small amount you can put aside today makes a big difference in the future.
“My thousand dollars that I put in today, in 10 years that will be worth $2,000, then the next ten-year period I go from $2,000 to $4,000 and my next ten-year period I go from $4000 to $8000,” he says.
For more information on superannuation, visit the Money Smart website at moneysmart.gov.au.
You can also speak to Services Australia’s Financial Information Service on 131 202 for free financial information in your language.