For a modest lifestyle (better than a Government pension but fairly simple living), the annual guidelines are now $28,165 for a single or $40,560 for a couple. For a more comfortable lifestyle, the estimates are $44,146 for a single and $62,269 for a couple.

This equates to approximately the following amount of savings required at retirement:

category single couple
comfortable lifestyle $545,000 $640,000
modest lifestyle $70,000 $70,000

So how much do you need?

If you take the relevant annual figure and multiply it by the number of years* you expect to be in retirement, you will get a rough idea of how much super you need for a modest or comfortable retirement lifestyle (based on ASFA’s definitions as explained above). The ASFA website includes a simple calculator to show how much super may be enough.

Your personal circumstances and goals also need to be considered in deciding how much super you will need in retirement.

What does this mean for you?

It may mean you need more super than you thought – consolidating other accounts into one, making personal contributions and salary sacrificing are ways to increase super. This could be a good reason to contact our Member Advice Consultants for some personal advice, too.

*You can use the Australian Bureau of Statistics life tables for an idea of your life expectancy.