Many women reach mid-life with a significant superannuation shortfall. But it’s not too late to turn things around. Actions now may help set up a more secure retirement.
When was the last time you checked your super balance? The hard fact is that Australian women accumulate, on average, far less super than men over their working lives and retire with smaller balances.
Men aged 55 to 64 had an average balance of $332,700 in 2017-18, while women of the same age averaged $245,100, according to statistics published by the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA).1
Shockingly, one in three women across all age groups have no super at all.2
Super-sized setbacks
Beyond having no super at all, there are several reasons why women find themselves well behind men in the balance stakes by the time they reach their forties and fifties. Typically, they’ve taken time out of the workforce to have children, and then chosen to only return part-time while raising them. Women are also more likely than men to become unpaid carers for ageing parents and relatives. During these busy ‘sandwich generation’ years, personal financial planning can take a back seat to more immediate family needs.
And then there’s the gender pay gap – the difference between male and female average earnings. It currently sits at 14 per cent in Australia, according to the Workplace Gender Equality Agency.3
Because of these factors, many women head towards retirement without enough savings to support even a modest lifestyle – particularly if, for whatever reason, their spouse or partner’s super is taken out of the equation.
Making ends meet in your later years
Life doesn’t always go according to plan. Unexpected events like illness, job loss and relationship breakdown may cause significant financial challenges down the track if you don’t take steps now to secure your future. On top of working towards an adequate super balance, this is where having a plan B to provide support – for example, ensuring you are appropriately insured – is important. As is being actively involved in the financial planning decisions in any relationship.
For many Australian women, it is a lesson that comes too late. The number of homeless women aged over 55 has spiked in recent years – up 30 per cent between 2011 and 2016, according to the Australian Human Rights Commission.4 Risk factors for homelessness in later life, according to the Commission, include experiencing economic disadvantage or family or domestic violence, lack of family support, mental health issues, relationship breakdown and the death of a partner.
Many women in these situations have little or no super or savings and live precariously, struggling to cover bills and basic expenses via Centrelink payments and, once eligible, the Age Pension.
Simple steps you can take today
It’s a sobering prospect – but it doesn’t have to be that way. If you’re in the workforce, either full-time, part-time or casually, you can turn things around. Boosting your super savings in the second half of your working life can make a big difference to your final balance and the lifestyle you’ll be able to enjoy when you stop working.
Reviewing your outgoings and assets – including how much is in your super account – will help you understand your position and create a plan to get back on track, says MLC General Manager, Workplace Super, Helen Murdoch.
“Facing into this is so important,” she adds.
“If you’re 50 now, you have another 17 years before you may potentially be eligible for the Age Pension. But it’s not too late to make a big difference during that time. There’s so much you can do.”
Here’s a few things to get started:
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Check your investment options. There are a few considerations when deciding if a growth-oriented profile or more conservative profile, is right for you. Take this opportunity to check that your current profile aligns with your long-term goals and you’re still on track.
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Many people have insurance through their super, but is that right for you? If it is, how much cover do you need? Insurance can be very valuable – but make sure your super savings aren’t reduced by the cost of insurance you may not need.
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A good way to keep your super in shape is to get closer to your super. Get secure access to your accounts .
It’s not uncommon for women in their forties and fifties to enjoy a second wind in their careers, as their children achieve independence and start to make fewer demands on their time and the family budget.
If this is you, you may find it’s an ideal time to start making additional voluntary contributions to your super. You can do this in a number of ways. For example, you can ask your employer to make a regular deduction from your salary, or you could make personal contributions from your take-home pay.
Topping up your balance won’t just build your retirement nest egg, either; it could help you to manage tax.
Contributions you make with pre-tax dollars, such as salary sacrifice contributions, are taxed at a maximum of 15 per cent for most people up to the contribution caps.5 (High income earners may have to pay an additional 15 per cent tax on these contributions). You may also be able to claim a tax deduction for personal contributions you make to super. Depending on your income level, this can be a smart way to help manage your tax and maximise the amount you’re saving for retirement.
Looking ahead to a more secure tomorrow
Catching up on your super can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. There’s still time to tackle the issue, and doing so will help provide you with a more comfortable retirement when the time is right for you. And, if you haven’t contributed up to the limit in a previous year, you may be able to make larger contributions now or in the future to give your retirement savings an extra boost.
“It’s okay to feel worried and intimidated, but you can’t let that stop you from stepping up to secure a better future,” Murdoch says.
“Often, women are so used to looking after everybody else, they neglect themselves. But now it’s time to look after yourself and plan for a great future for you.”
Please contact us on Phone 02 9548 3703 if you seek further assistance on this topic.
1 The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia, Superannuation Statistics, August 2020, https://www.superannuation.asn.au/resources/superannuation-statistics
2 Better Retirement Outcomes: a snapshot of account balances in Australia, Ross Clare, June 2019, https://www.superannuation.asn.au/
3 https://www.wgea.gov.au/data/fact-sheets/australias-gender-pay-gap-statistics
4 https://www.humanrights.gov.au/our-work/age-discrimination/publications/older-womens-risk-homelessness-background-paper-2019
5 https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/super/growing-your-super/adding-to-your-super/salary-sacrificing-super/
Source : MLC Insights October 2020
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