Projections cannot be solely relied upon because they are indicative only based on the assumptions in the model. Actual entitlements or benefits may vary based on factors including your personal circumstances and changing economic conditions. Before making any financial decisions, you should consider your own financial circumstances, needs and objectives and consider obtaining financial advice. Results are expressed in today's dollars, allowing for future assumed wage inflation.
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Please tell us about any additional contributions you make. The sliders are limited by your maximum available contribution, see 'Limitations, disclaimers and assumptions' for more details.
See how different investment returns could affect your projected super balance. Please remember that investment returns are not guaranteed and the value of investments can go down as well as up.
Are you planning to work part-time or go on a career break?
A transition to retirement strategy allows you to draw money from your super while you continue to work. You can top up your super by contributing some or all of your salary, providing a tax-efficient way of saving for retirement. We’ll do these calculations for you to give you an idea of how much you could save.
Help us calculate your age pension eligibility. Your age pension payments are automatically included in your retirement income, see 'Income' tab for the breakdown.
Want to get the most out of your super at a time that suits you? Super Adviser^ is a quick and easy, digital advice tool.
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Your advice, your way.
We know financial goals are different for everyone, and so we provide different ways to help you.
Download the Hostplus app to check your account balance, view your insurance, see how your investments are performing, and more.
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Education is important. We provide free webinars across a wide range of topics each quarter to help you at every stage of your Super journey.
Find out more^Hostplus has engaged Link Advice Pty Ltd ABN 36 105 811 836, ASFL 258145 to facilitate the provision of limited personal financial advice to members of Hostplus via the web-based product Super Adviser.
This calculator is designed to assist you in estimating your superannuation account balance at retirement, how long that balance may last in retirement and to plan your retirement strategy.
This calculator aims to include the most significant factors affecting your superannuation. However, a calculator such as this is unable to cater for all situations, its most significant limitations include:
You should consider speaking to a financial adviser if you wish to understand the impact of the limitations above and discuss your personal situation.
These projections show illustrative examples of how much superannuation you could accumulate at your chosen retirement age and how long it may last in retirement.
The information is general only and does not take into account your personal objectives, situation or needs. The results are not a representation of actual entitlements or benefits from any particular superannuation product and are not intended to be relied on for the purposes of making a decision in relation to a financial product. Before making any financial decisions consider your own financial circumstances, needs and objectives and consider getting professional financial advice.
The calculator relies upon assumptions that if varied could change the result. These assumptions are considered reasonable as they are based upon statutory rate and requirements, ABS data and Hostplus member data. The projections assume an investment in a superannuation account in accumulation and retirement phases, as well as a Government Age Pension in the retirement phase. You can choose to exclude the Government Age Pension from the projection or include other regular income in retirement. Other important assumptions are listed below and are based on current laws and their interpretation as of 30 September 2023.
Results of the indicative calculator are shown in 'today's dollars'. This helps you understand your estimated and indicative future retirement income in the context of the cost of today's goods and services, and your current standard of living.
In accordance with ASIC requirements, we have converted future dollars into today's dollars using the following inflation rates:
These inflation rate assumptions are reasonable because they comply with the default assumptions for superannuation forecasts set by ASIC. However, they may or may not be reflective of actual inflation rates in the future.
Your income in retirement is assumed to come from superannuation drawings and, where estimated to be eligible, the age pension.
The age pension means test thresholds are assumed to increase in line with consumer price inflation (at 2.5% annually) and payment rates are assumed to increase in line with wage inflation (at 4% annually) throughout both the accumulation and retirement phase. ASIC's regulatory guide suggests that it is reasonable to assume for the retirement phase that age pension payment rates will increase by wage inflation (at 4% p.a.) and be deflated by consumer price inflation (at 2.5% p.a.) to work out its value in today's dollars. As a consequence, the estimated age pension amounts may increase when expressed in today's dollars. This may or may not be reflective of actual increases in age pension amounts in the future.
You can change the default inflation rate assumptions in the 'Edit assumptions' tab above.
Consumer price inflation is used to inflate the following legislative factors throughout the projection:
Your spending in retirement is inflated over the projection with price inflation for the period during retirement.
Wage inflation is used to inflate the following legislative and other factors throughout the projection:
Assumed investment returns are used in the calculator, which can be varied. The investment options below represent different investment return scenarios, and returns are shown after investment fees and taxes. Investment returns are assumed to be constant every year, at the rates indicated below. Please remember that investment returns are not guaranteed. Actual investment returns are subject to market volatility and may vary from year to year. A higher return option may represent a higher level of risk. You should consider this carefully before selecting an investment option.
| Accumulation return (p.a.) | Retirement return (p.a.) | |
|---|---|---|
| Cash | 2.5% | 3.0% |
| Low | 4.5% | 5.5% |
| Moderate (default) | 6.5% | 7.0% |
| High | 7.0% | 7.5% |
The assumed returns above are based on the 20-year return objective for investment options with similar risk-return profiles.
Price inflation (CPI) is assumed to be 2.5% pa, which is included in the returns.
Accumulation returns are assumed to be taxed at a 15% rate, with nominal allowance for imputation tax credit and capital gains tax concession, if applicable.
Pension returns are assumed to be taxed at a 0% rate, with nominal allowance for imputation tax credit, and this is reflected in higher assumed returns.
Returns are assumed to be credited continuously.
The above assumptions can be edited to create a 'user defined' investment setting. You can alter the inflation rate and the assumed retirement investment return within certain ranges. The user defined accumulation investment return will be automatically calculated to take into account tax.
Fees and insurance premiums are assumed to be as follows:
| Accumulation phase | Retirement phase | |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed administration fee (p.a.) | $78 | $234 |
| Asset based administration fee, capped (p.a.) | 0% | 0% |
| Asset based administration fee cap (p.a.) | $0 | $0 |
| Asset based administration fee, uncapped (p.a.) | 0.0165% | 0.0165% |
| Contribution fee (p.a.) | 0% | 0% |
| Insurance premiums (p.a.) | $270 | $0 |
Administration fees and insurance premiums are not assumed to be tax-deductible in the calculator.
Dollar fees and insurance premiums are assumed to increase in line with wage inflation.
The calculator's default insurance premium is fixed at a rate calculated as the average annual insurance fee for Hostplus' default insurance cover for members between the ages of 45 - 70; this default premium rate may be higher or lower than premiums you currently pay and may continue to pay in the future.
You can alter the default fees (including insurance premium rates) across the combined accumulation and retirement phases within certain ranges. All fees and costs included in the table above are deducted from your account balance. However, investment fees and taxes are deducted before the investment returns are credited to your account.
The administration fees in the table above are based off the administration fees paid by most Hostplus members. This does not include activity fees or any fees and costs which are paid from the fund's administration reserve, and which do not directly impact your account balance or retirement outcome.
Salary is assumed to increase in line with wage inflation. In any future periods where you have a period of part-time employment, your salary is reduced on a pro-rata basis.
Tax calculations allow for individual income tax rates, the Medicare Levy, the Low Income Tax Offset and the Senior and Pensioners Tax Offset. It does not take into account the Medicare surcharge or any HECS/HELP debt. Threshold and offset amounts in the first year are based on current rates. Thereafter they are indexed in line with wage inflation.
Employer contributions are calculated as a percentage of salary and is defaulted to the Superannuation Guarantee (SG) rates below:
| 01/07/2023 | 11.00% |
| 01/07/2024 | 11.50% |
| 01/07/2025 and onwards | 12.00% |
SG contributions are subject to the maximum super contribution base, which is $62,270 per quarter for 2023-2024. This threshold is indexed annually in line with wage inflation.
If you receive a different amount, you can alter the rate of employer contributions within certain ranges. If you adjust the rate higher than 12%, it will be assumed to remain constant throughout the pre-retirement phase and the minimum SG rates will be ignored. The calculator assumes that SG is paid continuously, except for when you schedule a career break.
Regular concessional (before-tax) or non-concessional (after tax) contributions entered by you are assumed to increase proportionately each year in line with salary.
Salary is assumed to increase with wage inflation as noted in the Inflation section above. In any periods of part-time work, these contributions are assumed to decrease pro-rata. Regular contributions are assumed to be spread evenly across the year.
The amount of a one-off, non-concessional (after tax) contribution you enter is assumed to be fixed, and is not indexed.
Concessional contributions up to the concessional contributions cap are generally taxed at 15% on contribution to the superannuation environment. Non-concessional contributions up to the non-concessional contributions cap are not subject to tax on contribution to the superannuation environment. Where a concessional or non-concessional contribution exceeds the corresponding legislated contribution limit, the contributions are subject to additional tax which is assumed to be levied in the personal income tax environment.
For the 2023-2024 financial year the annual general concessional cap is $27,500.
To the extent that the combined amount of income and concessional contributions for a particular financial year exceeds $250,000, concessional contributions are assumed to be subject to tax at 30% on contribution to the superannuation environment.
For the 2023-2024 financial year the non-concessional cap is 4 times the general concessional cap, being $110,000. This can be increased by up to $330,000 under the 'bring-forward' rules. The additional amount which can be contributed depends on total super balance and age:
The calculator enables you to make 'bring-forward' non-concessional contributions, up to the cap. However, the calculator assumes that you have not made a bring forward non-concessional contribution in the previous two financial years that would otherwise cause you to breach the non-concessional contributions cap limit.
The calculator enables you to enter both regular annual non-concessional contributions and a one-off lump sum non-concessional contribution. If in any year the combination of these would exceed the relevant non-concessional contribution cap, the calculator will limit the contributions to the cap amount; if this occurs you will receive a message.
Please note, that if you (1) enter a regular annual non-concessional contribution, the calculator will assume that you make this additional contribution each year, and/or (2) enter a one-off non-concessional contribution, the calculator will assume that you have made that contribution at the age as designated by you which, in both cases, could mean a substantial difference between the forecast amount and your actual final account balance if you are unable to make such contributions.
The concessional and non-concessional contribution limits are indexed in line with wage inflation.
In each projection year, eligibility for a Government co-contribution is assessed based on salary (the calculator does not take into account any reportable fringe benefits that may affect eligibility for a co-contribution) and non-concessional contributions. A co-contribution of up to $500 is made to the superannuation account if individuals make non-concessional contributions and their salary is below the lower income threshold. The co-contribution amount is pro-rated if their salary is between the lower income threshold and the upper income threshold.
The co-contribution income thresholds are indexed in accordance with wage inflation. For the current co-contribution income thresholds, visit the Australian Tax Office (ATO) at www.ato.gov.au/rates
If you enter a current age less than 67, the default retirement age is 67. If you enter a current age of 67 or older, the default retirement age is your age at your next birthday.
This approach is consistent with ASIC Corporations (Superannuation Calculators and Retirement Estimates) Instrument 2022/603.
Life expectancies allow for future mortality improvements. They were derived based on the medium mortality rate assumptions in the Australian Bureau of Statistics in 'Population Projections, Australia, 2006 to 2101'.
Current Government Age Pension thresholds and rates of payment are applied, based on the Single/Couple and Homeowner status. By default, the calculator assumes that you are single. If 'Couple' is selected, the partner's superannuation assets can be entered and all other income and assets are assumed to be combined between the user and their partner. Thresholds are indexed in line with price inflation and rates of payment are indexed in line with wage inflation. It is assumed the qualification requirements for the Government Age Pension under social security legislation are satisfied.
The Government Age Pension is subject to an asset test and an income test. You can enter other investment assets outside super, which are assumed to be financial assets for the purposes of the asset and income test only. The Government Age Pension income test is therefore calculated on the basis of deemed income on all assets.
You can enter an additional income amount. This amount represents any regular income received throughout retirement in addition to drawdowns from superannuation and Government Age Pension, and will be reflected in the projected income. The additional income entered will not be included in the income test for Government Age Pension (as noted above, the income test is assessed on the basis of deemed income).
The assets outside super and any additional income entered, are assumed to increase each year in line with wage inflation.
The Department of Human Services rate estimator lets you estimate your payment rate for the Government Age Pension, based on your current or proposed circumstances and assists with working out if you will be eligible for a payment.
We have not considered any other Government benefits apart from the Government Age Pension. Contact Centrelink to confirm your eligibility for the Government Age Pension as the projections are examples only and have not considered your personal situation.
The transition to retirement optimisation:
The transfer balance cap restricts the amount that can be transferred into an account-based pension. At 1 July 2023 the cap is $1.9m and will increase in $100,000 increments in line with wage inflation. If at the time of retirement the projected account balance exceeds the (indexed) transfer balance cap, the maximum possible amount is assumed to be transferred into an account-based pension and any excess balance retained in an accumulation account.
The Government sets the statutory minimum amount that must be withdrawn from the superannuation environment each year in retirement (once funds have been converted to an account based pension).
Although the calculator does not enforce the statutory minimum retirement income payment amount, you'll be prompted if the target retirement income you’ve specified in the calculator is less than the statutory minimum. The calculator assumes that the excess drawdown will be re-invested outside of superannuation (e.g. saved in a bank account), and your superannuation account balance during retirement may be exhausted sooner than the run-out age shown in the calculator (as you will be required to withdraw the statutory minimum amount). In this case, the run-out age reflects the age at which both assets remaining in superannuation and the assets re-invested outside of superannuation are exhausted.
The default annual target income in retirement is 80% of take-home salary. This is intended to broadly preserve one's standard of living, while reflecting that in retirement: tax is not typically paid on superannuation drawings; employment related expenses are no longer incurred; and one no longer needs to dedicate income to saving for retirement.
The calculator allows target income to be changed within certain ranges.
To achieve the target income, the amount drawn from superannuation in retirement is calculated as:
Target income (which can be specified) less other income (which can be specified) less any Government Age Pension amounts (as calculated by the calculator).
Where the transfer balance cap is exceeded at the time of retirement, the excess will be invested in an accumulation account and will result in both an accumulation account and a pension account. In the scenario where the target income is in excess of the statutory minimum drawdown for the pension, the income will first be drawn from the pension account up to minimum amount and the excess income required to attain the target income will be drawn from the accumulation account.
The calculator allows the user to enter the target retirement income desired and the output will include the age at which the projected account balance is estimated to run out.
The wage inflation slider represents changes to the Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings (AWOTE) rather than your personal salary expectation. It is used to discount future amounts into current values.
| The projected balance of your super at retirement is: | |
|---|---|
| Your target retirement income is: | |
| Your super balance is projected to run out at age: | |
| Your life expectancy based on your gender is: |
| You | Partner | |
| Age: | ||
| Gender: | ||
| Salary: | ||
| Current super balance: | ||
| Target retirement age: |
| You | Partner | |
| Before tax contributions p.a.: | ||
| After tax contributions p.a.: | ||
| One-off contribution: | ||
| Age to make one-off contribution: |
| Starting age for part-time work or career break: | |
|---|---|
| Number of working days per week: | days |
| For how long: | years |
| Transition to retirement strategy | |
|---|---|
| Assets outside super: | |
| Relationship status: | |
| Additional income: | |
| Home owner: |
| Investment mix: | |
|---|---|
| Wage inflation: | |
| CPI inflation: |
This calculator is designed to assist you in estimating your superannuation account balance at retirement, how long that balance may last in retirement and to plan your retirement strategy.
This calculator aims to include the most significant factors affecting your superannuation. However, a calculator such as this is unable to cater for all situations, its most significant limitations include:
You should consider speaking to a financial adviser if you wish to understand the impact of the limitations above and discuss your personal situation.
These projections show illustrative examples of how much superannuation you could accumulate at your chosen retirement age and how long it may last in retirement.
The information is general only and does not take into account your personal objectives, situation or needs. The results are not a representation of actual entitlements or benefits from any particular superannuation product and are not intended to be relied on for the purposes of making a decision in relation to a financial product. Before making any financial decisions consider your own financial circumstances, needs and objectives and consider getting professional financial advice.
The calculator relies upon assumptions that if varied could change the result. These assumptions are considered reasonable as they are based upon statutory rate and requirements, ABS data and Hostplus member data. The projections assume an investment in a superannuation account in accumulation and retirement phases, as well as a Government Age Pension in the retirement phase. You can choose to exclude the Government Age Pension from the projection or include other regular income in retirement. Other important assumptions are listed below and are based on current laws and their interpretation as of 30 September 2023.
Results of the indicative calculator are shown in 'today's dollars'. This helps you understand your estimated and indicative future retirement income in the context of the cost of today's goods and services, and your current standard of living.
In accordance with ASIC requirements, we have converted future dollars into today's dollars using the following inflation rates:
These inflation rate assumptions are reasonable because they comply with the default assumptions for superannuation forecasts set by ASIC. However, they may or may not be reflective of actual inflation rates in the future.
Your income in retirement is assumed to come from superannuation drawings and, where estimated to be eligible, the age pension.
The age pension means test thresholds are assumed to increase in line with consumer price inflation (at 2.5% annually) and payment rates are assumed to increase in line with wage inflation (at 4% annually) throughout both the accumulation and retirement phase. ASIC's regulatory guide suggests that it is reasonable to assume for the retirement phase that age pension payment rates will increase by wage inflation (at 4% p.a.) and be deflated by consumer price inflation (at 2.5% p.a.) to work out its value in today's dollars. As a consequence, the estimated age pension amounts may increase when expressed in today's dollars. This may or may not be reflective of actual increases in age pension amounts in the future.
You can change the default inflation rate assumptions in the 'Edit assumptions' tab above.
Consumer price inflation is used to inflate the following legislative factors throughout the projection:
Your spending in retirement is inflated over the projection with price inflation for the period during retirement.
Wage inflation is used to inflate the following legislative and other factors throughout the projection:
Assumed investment returns are used in the calculator, which can be varied. The investment options below represent different investment return scenarios, and returns are shown after investment fees and taxes. Investment returns are assumed to be constant every year, at the rates indicated below. Please remember that investment returns are not guaranteed. Actual investment returns are subject to market volatility and may vary from year to year. A higher return option may represent a higher level of risk. You should consider this carefully before selecting an investment option.
| Accumulation return (p.a.) | Retirement return (p.a.) | |
|---|---|---|
| Cash | 2.5% | 3.0% |
| Low | 4.5% | 5.5% |
| Moderate (default) | 6.5% | 7.0% |
| High | 7.0% | 7.5% |
The assumed returns above are based on the 20-year return objective for investment options with similar risk-return profiles.
Price inflation (CPI) is assumed to be 2.5% pa, which is included in the returns.
Accumulation returns are assumed to be taxed at a 15% rate, with nominal allowance for imputation tax credit and capital gains tax concession, if applicable.
Pension returns are assumed to be taxed at a 0% rate, with nominal allowance for imputation tax credit, and this is reflected in higher assumed returns.
Returns are assumed to be credited continuously.
The above assumptions can be edited to create a 'user defined' investment setting. You can alter the inflation rate and the assumed retirement investment return within certain ranges. The user defined accumulation investment return will be automatically calculated to take into account tax.
Fees and insurance premiums are assumed to be as follows:
| Accumulation phase | Retirement phase | |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed administration fee (p.a.) | $78 | $234 |
| Asset based administration fee, capped (p.a.) | 0% | 0% |
| Asset based administration fee cap (p.a.) | $0 | $0 |
| Asset based administration fee, uncapped (p.a.) | 0.0165% | 0.0165% |
| Contribution fee (p.a.) | 0% | 0% |
| Insurance premiums (p.a.) | $270 | $0 |
Administration fees and insurance premiums are not assumed to be tax-deductible in the calculator.
Dollar fees and insurance premiums are assumed to increase in line with wage inflation.
The calculator's default insurance premium is fixed at a rate calculated as the average annual insurance fee for Hostplus' default insurance cover for members between the ages of 45 - 70; this default premium rate may be higher or lower than premiums you currently pay and may continue to pay in the future.
You can alter the default fees (including insurance premium rates) across the combined accumulation and retirement phases within certain ranges. All fees and costs included in the table above are deducted from your account balance. However, investment fees and taxes are deducted before the investment returns are credited to your account.
The administration fees in the table above are based off the administration fees paid by most Hostplus members. This does not include activity fees or any fees and costs which are paid from the fund's administration reserve, and which do not directly impact your account balance or retirement outcome.
Salary is assumed to increase in line with wage inflation. In any future periods where you have a period of part-time employment, your salary is reduced on a pro-rata basis.
Tax calculations allow for individual income tax rates, the Medicare Levy, the Low Income Tax Offset and the Senior and Pensioners Tax Offset. It does not take into account the Medicare surcharge or any HECS/HELP debt. Threshold and offset amounts in the first year are based on current rates. Thereafter they are indexed in line with wage inflation.
Employer contributions are calculated as a percentage of salary and is defaulted to the Superannuation Guarantee (SG) rates below:
| 01/07/2023 | 11.00% |
| 01/07/2024 | 11.50% |
| 01/07/2025 and onwards | 12.00% |
SG contributions are subject to the maximum super contribution base, which is $62,270 per quarter for 2023-2024. This threshold is indexed annually in line with wage inflation.
If you receive a different amount, you can alter the rate of employer contributions within certain ranges. If you adjust the rate higher than 12%, it will be assumed to remain constant throughout the pre-retirement phase and the minimum SG rates will be ignored. The calculator assumes that SG is paid continuously, except for when you schedule a career break.
Regular concessional (before-tax) or non-concessional (after tax) contributions entered by you are assumed to increase proportionately each year in line with salary.
Salary is assumed to increase with wage inflation as noted in the Inflation section above. In any periods of part-time work, these contributions are assumed to decrease pro-rata. Regular contributions are assumed to be spread evenly across the year.
The amount of a one-off, non-concessional (after tax) contribution you enter is assumed to be fixed, and is not indexed.
Concessional contributions up to the concessional contributions cap are generally taxed at 15% on contribution to the superannuation environment. Non-concessional contributions up to the non-concessional contributions cap are not subject to tax on contribution to the superannuation environment. Where a concessional or non-concessional contribution exceeds the corresponding legislated contribution limit, the contributions are subject to additional tax which is assumed to be levied in the personal income tax environment.
For the 2023-2024 financial year the annual general concessional cap is $27,500.
To the extent that the combined amount of income and concessional contributions for a particular financial year exceeds $250,000, concessional contributions are assumed to be subject to tax at 30% on contribution to the superannuation environment.
For the 2023-2024 financial year the non-concessional cap is 4 times the general concessional cap, being $110,000. This can be increased by up to $330,000 under the 'bring-forward' rules. The additional amount which can be contributed depends on total super balance and age:
The calculator enables you to make 'bring-forward' non-concessional contributions, up to the cap. However, the calculator assumes that you have not made a bring forward non-concessional contribution in the previous two financial years that would otherwise cause you to breach the non-concessional contributions cap limit.
The calculator enables you to enter both regular annual non-concessional contributions and a one-off lump sum non-concessional contribution. If in any year the combination of these would exceed the relevant non-concessional contribution cap, the calculator will limit the contributions to the cap amount; if this occurs you will receive a message.
Please note, that if you (1) enter a regular annual non-concessional contribution, the calculator will assume that you make this additional contribution each year, and/or (2) enter a one-off non-concessional contribution, the calculator will assume that you have made that contribution at the age as designated by you which, in both cases, could mean a substantial difference between the forecast amount and your actual final account balance if you are unable to make such contributions.
The concessional and non-concessional contribution limits are indexed in line with wage inflation.
In each projection year, eligibility for a Government co-contribution is assessed based on salary (the calculator does not take into account any reportable fringe benefits that may affect eligibility for a co-contribution) and non-concessional contributions. A co-contribution of up to $500 is made to the superannuation account if individuals make non-concessional contributions and their salary is below the lower income threshold. The co-contribution amount is pro-rated if their salary is between the lower income threshold and the upper income threshold.
The co-contribution income thresholds are indexed in accordance with wage inflation. For the current co-contribution income thresholds, visit the Australian Tax Office (ATO) at www.ato.gov.au/rates
If you enter a current age less than 67, the default retirement age is 67. If you enter a current age of 67 or older, the default retirement age is your age at your next birthday.
This approach is consistent with ASIC Corporations (Superannuation Calculators and Retirement Estimates) Instrument 2022/603.
Life expectancies allow for future mortality improvements. They were derived based on the medium mortality rate assumptions in the Australian Bureau of Statistics in 'Population Projections, Australia, 2006 to 2101'.
Current Government Age Pension thresholds and rates of payment are applied, based on the Single/Couple and Homeowner status. By default, the calculator assumes that you are single. If 'Couple' is selected, the partner's superannuation assets can be entered and all other income and assets are assumed to be combined between the user and their partner. Thresholds are indexed in line with price inflation and rates of payment are indexed in line with wage inflation. It is assumed the qualification requirements for the Government Age Pension under social security legislation are satisfied.
The Government Age Pension is subject to an asset test and an income test. You can enter other investment assets outside super, which are assumed to be financial assets for the purposes of the asset and income test only. The Government Age Pension income test is therefore calculated on the basis of deemed income on all assets.
You can enter an additional income amount. This amount represents any regular income received throughout retirement in addition to drawdowns from superannuation and Government Age Pension, and will be reflected in the projected income. The additional income entered will not be included in the income test for Government Age Pension (as noted above, the income test is assessed on the basis of deemed income).
The assets outside super and any additional income entered, are assumed to increase each year in line with wage inflation.
The Department of Human Services rate estimator lets you estimate your payment rate for the Government Age Pension, based on your current or proposed circumstances and assists with working out if you will be eligible for a payment.
We have not considered any other Government benefits apart from the Government Age Pension. Contact Centrelink to confirm your eligibility for the Government Age Pension as the projections are examples only and have not considered your personal situation.
The transition to retirement optimisation:
The transfer balance cap restricts the amount that can be transferred into an account-based pension. At 1 July 2023 the cap is $1.9m and will increase in $100,000 increments in line with wage inflation. If at the time of retirement the projected account balance exceeds the (indexed) transfer balance cap, the maximum possible amount is assumed to be transferred into an account-based pension and any excess balance retained in an accumulation account.
The Government sets the statutory minimum amount that must be withdrawn from the superannuation environment each year in retirement (once funds have been converted to an account based pension).
Although the calculator does not enforce the statutory minimum retirement income payment amount, you'll be prompted if the target retirement income you’ve specified in the calculator is less than the statutory minimum. The calculator assumes that the excess drawdown will be re-invested outside of superannuation (e.g. saved in a bank account), and your superannuation account balance during retirement may be exhausted sooner than the run-out age shown in the calculator (as you will be required to withdraw the statutory minimum amount). In this case, the run-out age reflects the age at which both assets remaining in superannuation and the assets re-invested outside of superannuation are exhausted.
The default annual target income in retirement is 80% of take-home salary. This is intended to broadly preserve one's standard of living, while reflecting that in retirement: tax is not typically paid on superannuation drawings; employment related expenses are no longer incurred; and one no longer needs to dedicate income to saving for retirement.
The calculator allows target income to be changed within certain ranges.
To achieve the target income, the amount drawn from superannuation in retirement is calculated as:
Target income (which can be specified) less other income (which can be specified) less any Government Age Pension amounts (as calculated by the calculator).
Where the transfer balance cap is exceeded at the time of retirement, the excess will be invested in an accumulation account and will result in both an accumulation account and a pension account. In the scenario where the target income is in excess of the statutory minimum drawdown for the pension, the income will first be drawn from the pension account up to minimum amount and the excess income required to attain the target income will be drawn from the accumulation account.
The calculator allows the user to enter the target retirement income desired and the output will include the age at which the projected account balance is estimated to run out.