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Boost your super

Strategies to get your super back on track

2023-01-10 05:30

In this article we look at some strategies you can leverage to get on top of your super and get back in control of your financial future.

The global pandemic has had a devastating effect on the personal finances of many Australians. Job losses and redundancies led to large numbers of people having to dip into their savings, feeding financial insecurity and uncertainty. But, while challenges exist, the future is looking brighter. We outline some key super strategies that will help put you back in control of your financial future.

Why is super important?

Next to your home, superannuation is likely to be your most valuable asset, and one we hope will provide a comfortable retirement. It's important to look after it, especially as we're living much longer than previous generations.

But what is a comfortable retirement? The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) indicates that as at September 2022, singles require $48,266 per annum for a comfortable retirement, which equates to a final lump-sum balance at retirement of $545,000. Couples need $68,014 – or a lump sum of $640,000.

The importance of super becomes obvious when you realise the maximum age pension in 2022 is just $24,356.80 a year for singles and $36,722.40 for couples. To give your super a boost – so you can enjoy the retirement you want – we've outlined some strategies that can help ensure you're in control of your financial future.

Concessional and non-concessional contributions

You can contribute to super either with your before-tax income (known as concessional) or your after-tax income (non-concessional). Just be aware that there are maximum amounts – called 'contributions caps' – you can contribute each year to avoid paying additional tax.

Concessional

These are usually made by your employer into your fund as part of the compulsory Superannuation Guarantee or voluntary salary sacrifice arrangements, see 'salary sacrificing' below. You can also make personal deductible contributions (concessional contributions) and claim a tax deduction. Concessional contributions are taxed at 15% once they're in the fund, which is a rate that is much lower than the marginal tax rate for most. The maximum amount you can contribute each year is $27,500 unless you are eligible for any unused concessional cap carry forward contributions. See 'carrying forward your contributions' below.

Non-concessional

These are made either by yourself or your spouse using after-tax income. The non-concessional cap is $110,000 a year but if you're under 65, you may be able to 'bring forward' two years' of contributions ($330,000) in a single year, depending on your overall total super balance. Be aware that you must have a total super balance below $1.7 million (FY 2021/2022) at 30 June of the previous financial year to be eligible to make a non-concessional contribution. Lower total super balance thresholds apply if you wish to utilise 'bring forward' contributions. Your total super balance includes all super and pension interests. As you've already paid tax on these contributions, they're not subject to the 15% 'contributions tax' by the fund.

Salary sacrificing

Salary sacrificing involves you making a super contribution from your before-tax income, rather than receiving the money as your take-home pay. These contributions are taxed at a maximum rate of 15% in your fund. As this strategy reduces your taxable income, it can be tax-effective as well as being a way to boost your super. 

Spouse contributions

If your partner's super fund could do with a helping hand, you may be eligible to make a non-concessional contribution into it using your own money. This spouse contribution strategy not only helps your partner, but also provides you with the potential to claim a tax offset of up to $540 if your partner is a low-income earner.

The tax offset progressively reduces if your spouse's income is above $37,000 and is completely phased out when their income reaches $40,000.

Concessional contributions splitting

You can also help your partner with their super by transferring up to 85% of your own concessional contributions into their fund, a strategy known as contributions splitting. These contributions usually include your employer's Superannuation Guarantee, salary sacrifice, and personal deductible contributions on which you've claimed a tax deduction.

Conditions apply, such as the contributions generally need to have been made or received in the previous financial year, your spouse must be aged under 65 and not retired, and you cannot split using your non-concessional contributions

Carrying forward your contributions

While the concessional cap is $27,500, you may not always have that amount to contribute each year. But if you have less than $500,000 in your super and pension funds at 30 June of the previous financial year, you're allowed to carry forward any unused concessional contributions accrued since 1 July 2018 on a rolling five-year basis. After five years, any unused amounts expire. This means you may be able to contribute more than the $27,500 cap by using any unused 'carry-forward' amounts to make additional contributions.

Downsizer contributions

It's common when nearing retirement to sell your family home and downsize into a smaller property. But this strategy can also give your super a boost. If you are aged 55 or over, and have owned your family home for 10 or more years, you may be eligible to contribute up to $300,000 ($600,000 combined for a couple) of the sale proceeds into your super fund. This is known as a downsizer contribution. These contributions are not tax deductible, not counted towards your contribution caps, and are exempt from the total super balance $1.7 million contribution restriction.

Government co-contribution scheme

If the federal government wants to give you money, it makes sense to take advantage of it if you can. The government's co-contribution scheme is where the government contributes up to 50 cents into your super fund for every after-tax dollar (non-concessional contribution) you contribute. The maximum amount the government will contribute is $500 depending on your income. You don't need to apply either, as the amount is contributed automatically once you've lodged your tax return.

Search for lost super

One easy way to boost your super is to find some that you've "lost". We have many jobs during our lifetime – especially when we're young – and as we usually need to open a super account each time, there is the potential to have a number of accounts that you no longer use.

Bringing your lost super together is a great way to consolidate multiple accounts into one, which saves on fees. Just be mindful you may lose your existing insurance benefits if you consolidate, so if this is important to you, make sure you check this out, or ask your financial adviser to do it for you.

You can find your lost super by searching the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).

How to rebuild your super if you've accessed it early

During 2020, the federal government allowed people to withdraw up to $20,000 over two consecutive financial years from their super fund. By December 31, 2020, when the scheme ended, more than 3 million Australians had withdrawn $36 billion from their super accounts.

Withdrawing your super can have a massive effect on your final super balance. But as we've shown with these super strategies, there are many ways to get your super back on track. Taking control of your financial future – even by making small and sustained contributions – will go a long way towards giving you the retirement you've always dreamed of.

Want to know more?

Educating yourself about your retirement savings, including your investment options and ways you can boost your balance, is one of the smartest financial choices you can make.  Get your questions about superannuation answered and read inspirational stories from people just like you by visiting our member learning centre.

Get expert guidance

Expert guidance can support you to navigate through this increasingly complex market environment. Speak to a financial adviser if you'd like some support with your financial strategy.

Check that you're on track

Review your super balance and check if you're on track for a comfortable retirement via our online retirement calculator available via ANZ Internet Banking.

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Strategies to get your super back on track
2023-01-10
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“ANZ Smart Choice Super” is a suite of products consisting of ANZ Smart Choice Super and Pension (PDF)ANZ Smart Choice Super for employers and their employees (PDF) and ANZ Smart Choice Super for QBE Management Services Pty Ltd and their employees (PDF). OnePath Custodians Pty Limited (ABN 12 008 508 496, AFSL 238346 RSE L0000673) (OPC) is the issuer of the ANZ Smart Choice Super suite of products. OPC is the trustee of the Retirement Portfolio Service (ABN 61 808 189 263, RSE R1000986) (RPS) and the ANZ Smart Choice Super suite of products are part of the RPS. You should consider obtaining financial advice before making any decisions based on the information. You should obtain a Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) relating to the relevant financial product and consider it before making any decision about whether to acquire or continue to hold the product. Target Market Determinations (TMDs) where required for relevant products have to be available for consideration by distributors/members. A copy of the PDS and TMD (where relevant) is available via the links above, and upon request by phoning 13 12 87 or by searching for the applicable product at www.anz.com.au/smartchoicesuper. The ANZ Smart Choice Super and Pension product is distributed by ANZ. We recommend that you read the ANZ Financial Services Guide (PDF), before deciding whether to acquire or continue to hold this product. View the ANZ Smart Choice Super and Pension Target Market Determination (PDF). ANZ Smart Choice Super for employers and their employees and ANZ Smart Choice Super for QBE Management Services Pty Ltd and their employees are MySuper compliant products issued pursuant to the latest PDS available at www.anz.com.au/smartchoicesuper. OPC is part of the Insignia Financial group of companies, comprising Insignia Financial Ltd ABN 49 100 103 722 and its related bodies corporate (Insignia Financial Group). The ANZ brand is a trademark of ANZ and is used by OPC under licence from ANZ. ANZ and the Insignia Financial group of companies (including OPC) are not related bodies corporate. ANZ does not stand behind or guarantee these products.

Before re-directing your super or moving your money into ANZ Smart Choice Super, you will need to consider whether there are any adverse consequences for you, including loss of benefits (e.g. insurance cover), investment options and performance, functionality, increase in investment risks and where your future employer contributions will be paid. 

This information is of a general nature and has been prepared without taking account of your personal needs, financial situation or objectives. Before acting on this information, you should consider whether the information is appropriate for you having regard to your personal needs, financial circumstances or objectives.

All fees are subject to change. Other key features are relevant when choosing a super fund, including performance. Past performance is not indicative of future performance.

ANZ does not represent or guarantee that access to ANZ Internet Banking or the ANZ App will be uninterrupted. Temporary service disruptions may occur. ANZ recommends that you read the ANZ App Terms and Conditions available at www.anz.com and consider if this service is appropriate to you prior to making a decision to acquire or use the ANZ App.

You should read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and Additional Information Guide available at www.anz.com/smartchoice or by calling 13 12 87 before deciding to acquire, or continue to hold, an interest in ANZ Smart Choice Super.

Taxation law is complex and this information has been prepared as a guide only and does not represent taxation advice. Please see your tax adviser for independent taxation advice. The information on insurance cover is a summary only of the terms and conditions applying to the insurance cover. To the extent there is any inconsistency with the terms of the insurance cover provided by the insurer, the terms of the insurance policy will prevail.

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The investment mix is selected based on the member’s decade of birth.

Source: Investment Trends 2019 Member Sentiment & Communications Report, based on a survey of over 9,000 super fund members.

Fee Analysis: Research conducted by SuperRatings Pty Ltd, holder of Australian Financial Services Licence No. 311880 at the request of OPC. For a copy of the latest SuperRatings research, click here (PDF) or call 13 12 87.

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