What does a comfortable retirement look like?

How much money you’ll need will depend on a variety of things.

Have you got a plan in mind for when you retire? Is it to travel overseas, hit more balls on the golf course or spend time with family and friends? Whatever your goals, you’ll need to have a plan for how you’re going to get there financially.

Comfortable versus a modest retirement

Everyone’s idea of how much money they’ll need in retirement is different.

As a guide, the Australian Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) suggests couples around age 65 will need $59,000 a year and singles will need about $43,000 in today’s dollars to live ‘comfortably’¹. Now this is assuming you’re in relatively good health and that you own your own home.

On this budget, you should be able to afford things like a new car, private health insurance, to dine at quality restaurants and have local, and some overseas, holidays.

By comparison, a ‘modest’ yearly budget of around $34,000 for couples or close to $24,000 for singles would provide a more basic lifestyle². This means you’d probably have to keep your older appliances and car for a bit longer, eat out less frequently and generally stay locally for holidays.

So how much is enough?

To work how much money you’ll need in retirement, start by asking yourself these questions:

Do I have enough money saved in my super? Try AMP’s super simulator to find out if you’re on track or if you have a gap in your savings
Am I going to have to rely on the Age Pension? If you plan to retire before you get the Age Pension, consider what savings you’ll need to support you for those extra years in retirement
Will I have to work longer or do something else to generate an income?

How you could retire with more

Once you’ve considered these questions, think about ways to give your financial situation a boost while you’re still working.

Got more than one super account? Think about consolidating your super into one account to save on fees and reduce paperwork
Consider making extra before-tax contributions to your super through salary sacrificing. Use AMP’s salary sacrifice calculator or to find out how much you could put aside
If you’re eligible, think about making a personal tax-deductible contribution to your super, as these will typically only be taxed at 15%³ and you can claim these as a tax deduction⁴. You’ll need to fill in a ‘notice of intent’ form and send it to your super fund before you submit your tax return
If you decide to sell or downsize assets, such as your home, make sure you check what the tax implications are and whether it will affect your eligibility for the Age Pension. Find out about what changes are happening to the Age Pension assets test from 2017.

It’s also important to note that the Federal Government proposed a number of changes to superannuation in the 2016 Federal Budget, which may progress to legislation. You should seek financial advice before making any decisions regarding additional super contributions.

Important information

© AMP Life Limited. This provides general information and hasn’t taken your circumstances into account. It’s important to consider your particular circumstances before deciding what’s right for you. Although the information is from sources considered reliable, AMP does not guarantee that it is accurate or complete. You should not rely upon it and should seek qualified advice before making any investment decision. Except where liability under any statute cannot be excluded, AMP does not accept any liability (whether under contract, tort or otherwise) for any resulting loss or damage of the reader or any other person.

Online source: Produced by AMP Life Limited and published on 18 August 2016. Original article.