A super modeller for you
Where are you now? Where do you want to be?
When you think of the future and the kind of retirement you want to have, the numbers can become overwhelming.
This modeller aims to show you visually how much super you may expect based on your current situation, and how long this might last during your retirement.
You'll also be able to see how little changes like extra contributions, the way you invest your super, or even reducing the amount you'll need each year during retirement can affect how and when you might retire.
Summary
PrintRotate your device to see the graphs
Contributions
Please tell us about any additional contributions you make. The sliders are limited by your maximum available contribution.
Investment mix
See how your investment choice can affect your retirement income.
Part time work
Are you planning to work part time?
Transition to retirement
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-effective way of saving for retirement. We'll do these calculations for you to give you an idea of how much you could save.
Age pension
Help us calculate your age pension eligibility. Your age pension payments are automatically included in your retirement income
Partner
Would you like to include a partner in your projection? Note: This may change your Relationship status on the ‘Age pension’ tab.
Your partner contributes
How can we help you now?
How did you go?
Whether you're on track, or look like you may need to make some adjustments to reach your retirement goals, you have several options.
Grow your super
There are a number of ways you can grow your super. The super you accumulate now provides your income in retirement - the more you save, the more likely it is that you will be able to enjoy the retirement you are dreaming of. Learn more
- Salary sacrifice - Give a little more before tax & reduce your taxable income.
- Extra contributions - More effective ways to contribute additional funds.
- Rolling over your super - Having one super fund proves less can be more.
- Topping up - Maxed out your multiple? There’s still ways to keep on saving.
- Spouse contributions - Find out about rebates for contributing to your spouse's super.
- Increase your contribution - As a defined benefit member you can still increase your contribution rate.
- Lost super - Let us help find your other super accounts and add them to your balance.
Not sure exactly what to do?
Remember, we're the experts in your fund. Call us to book a private general advice consultation with a Member Education Consultant.
Emergency services members
1300 650 161
State super members
1300 655 476
Disclaimer and assumptions
This calculator is provided by the Emergency Services Superannuation Board ABN 28 161 296 741, the Trustee of the Emergency Services Superannuation Scheme ABN 85 894 637 037 (ESSSuper). The information contained in this calculator is of a general nature only, and it is not intended to be relied on for the purposes of making a decision in relation to a financial product. Before making any decisions in relation to any financial product, you should consider the appropriateness of the product to your personal objectives, financial situation and needs. It may also be beneficial to seek professional advice from a licensed financial planner or adviser.
The purpose of this calculator is to show you how much income your super may provide you in retirement and the options you have to affect your retirement outcome. The calculator has not taken into account your lifestyle expenses and other commitments like a mortgage or personal loans.
ESSSuper has made reasonable efforts to ensure the accuracy of the calculator results but does not accept liability for acts or omissions based on its content. The information resulting from the calculations is general and should not be relied upon as a true representation of any actual superannuation entitlements or benefits from any particular scheme or relied on as a basis upon which to alter your financial situation without advice from a professional. You should assess your own financial situation and consult a financial adviser before you make any changes to your financial affairs.
ESSSuper is not a related party of Gallagher Benefit Services Pty Ltd (Gallagher). Neither ESSSuper, nor the Victorian Government, guarantee, endorse or accept any responsibility for the products or advice provided by Gallagher.
SUPERANNUATION CALCULATOR AND ASSUMPTIONS
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 calculator relies upon assumptions that if varied could change the result. 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 at 30 September 2023.
Inflation
The projection assumes a future wage inflation of 4.0% pa and future price inflation of 2.5% pa.
Results are expressed in today's dollars by discounting future amounts using the wage inflation rate in the accumulation phase and the price inflation rate in the retirement phase.
Target income is also assumed to increase at the wage inflation rate.
These assumed inflation rates and the approach to discounting are consistent with ASIC Corporations (Superannuation Calculators and Retirement Estimates) Instrument 2022/603.
Investment returns
The investment returns in this table are annual amounts after fees and taxes have been deducted. If you do not edit the assumptions, the default investment option applied by the model is the Growth option.
These investment return assumptions are based on the target returns for the ESSS Accumulation Plan, Beneficiary Account and Income Streams products. These have been developed with the assistance of external specialist investment consultants and approved by ESSSuper, having regard to its obligations to comply with the Prudential Superannuation Standard made by order of the Governor-in-Council.
| Accumulation Phase Return (Target return above CPI less fees and taxes) | Retirement Phase Return (Target return above CPI less fees and taxes) | |
|---|---|---|
| Shares only | 6.50% | 7.00% |
| Growth | 6.50% | 7.00% |
| Balanced growth | 5.75% | 6.25% |
| Ethical diversified | 5.50% | 6.00% |
| Balanced | 5.50% | 6.00% |
| Conservative | 4.50% | 5.00% |
| Capital stable | 3.50% | 4.00% |
| Defensive | 2.13% | 2.50% |
| Cash | 0.31% | 0.37% |
Please remember that investment returns are not guaranteed.
Accumulation returns are assumed to be taxed at the relevant rate (based on the percentage of funds invested in shares, and allowing for dividend imputation and the capital gains tax concession if applicable). Retirement returns are assumed to be tax-free. Investment returns are assumed to be credited continuously.
The above assumptions can be edited to create a 'user defined' investment setting by selecting the Edit Assumptions tab which is accessed via the Disclaimer and Assumptions link at the bottom of Supermodeller. 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 and a higher pre-retirement risk. The user defined accumulation investment return will typically be approximately 0.5% lower than the user defined retirement investment return. Before making decisions, you should also consider the risk profile of different investment strategies.
Administration fees and insurance premiums
Annual fees are assumed to be as follows:
| Accumulation phase | Retirement phase | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee Dollar | $52.00 | $52.00 |
| Asset-based Admin Fee | 0.20% | 0.20% |
| Cap on Asset-based Admin Fee | $698 | $698 |
These fees are based on current fees charged in the ESSS Accumulation Plan, Beneficiary Account and Income Streams products.
Dollar fees are assumed to increase in line with wage inflation in the accumulation phase, and in line with price inflation in the retirement phase. The asset-based admin fee is assumed to remain constant over the projection period. The asset-based fee cap is indexed to wage inflation in the accumulation phase, and indexed to price inflation in the retirement phase.
You can alter the default fees across the combined accumulation and retirement phases within certain ranges. All fees and costs included in the table above are assumed to be deducted from your account balance. Investment fees and taxes are not included in this table as they are assumed to be deducted before the investment returns are credited to your account (see the 'Investment returns' section above).
We have not factored in insurance premiums in this modelling tool by default. To refine this assumption and to add a specific insurance premium to the modelling, please use the Edit Assumptions tab to add in the annual insurance premium value.
Personal income
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, Low and Middle Income Tax Offset and the Senior and Pensioners Tax Offset. This model 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 for the 2023/24 financial year. Thereafter they are indexed in line with wage inflation.
Employer contributions
Employer contributions are calculated as a percentage of salary and is defaulted to the Superannuation Guarantee (SG) rates below:
| Effective Dates | Rate |
|---|---|
| 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.
Member contributions
Regular concessional (before-tax) or non-concessional (after tax) contributions entered by you are assumed to increase in each year in line pro-rata with your salary. 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 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 to up to $330,000 under the 'bring-forward' rules. The additional amount which can be contributed depends on account balance and age:
If an account balance is under $1.68m an individual can 'bring-forward' this and the next two years of contributions, and so can contribute $330,000.
If an account balance is between $1.68m and $1.79m an individual can 'bring-forward' this and the following year of contributions, and so can contribute $220,000.
If an account balance is between $1.79m and $1.9m, the individual is not able to bring forward any future year's contributions, and the non-concessional contribution cap is equal to the annual cap of $110,000.
If an account balance is over $1.9m, the individual's non-concessional contributions cap is $0.
If an individual is aged 75 years old or older, they are not able to contribute under the 'bring forward' arrangement.
The non-concessional cap under these 'bring-forward' arrangements also represents the total amount of eligible non-concessional contributions within the bring-forward period. However, it does not take into account any non-concessional contributions made in previous financial years.
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.
The concessional and non-concessional contribution limits are indexed in line with wage inflation.
Co-contribution
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 (of $43,445). The co-contribution amount is pro-rated if the individual's salary is between the lower income threshold and the upper income threshold (of $58,445). You are not eligible for Government co-contributions if your total superannuation balance is over $1.9m.
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.
Life expectancy
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'.
You cannot change your life expectancy rate.
Retirement age
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.
Government Age Pension
Current Government Age Pension thresholds and rates of payment are allowed for, based on the Single/Couple and Homeowner status. If 'Couple' is selected, the partner's superannuation assets can be entered and all other income and assets are assumed to be combined between you and your 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 is used for the asset and income test only. The projection assumes that in retirement, all assets (superannuation and assets outside superannuation) are placed in an account-based pension. 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.
The assets outside super and any additional income entered, are assumed to increase each year in line with wage inflation.
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.
Transfer balance cap
The transfer balance cap restricts the amount that can be transferred into an account-based pension in the retirement phase. From 1 July 2021, every individual will have their own personal transfer balance cap of between $1.6 and $1.9 million, depending on when and how such super they have transferred into a retirement phase income stream product. The amount of the transfer balance cap will be indexed periodically in $100,000 increments, in line with wage inflation. Based on current indexing, adjustments will occur every three to four years. 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 in the retirement phase and any excess balance retained in an accumulation account.
Minimum income payment in retirement
The Government sets the statutory minimum amount that must be paid as an income each year during retirement, once funds have been converted to an account-based pension. The calculator doesn't account for the statutory minimum income payment amount. If the income payment in the calculator is less than the statutory minimum your account balance during retirement may be exhausted sooner than shown in the calculator.
Target income
The target income defaults to 75% of your annual after-tax income. This can 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 an income stream in the retirement phase. In the scenario where the target income is in excess of the statutory minimum drawdown for the income stream, the income will first be drawn from the income stream up to minimum amount and the excess income required to attain the target income will be drawn from the accumulation account.
Transition to retirement
The transition to retirement optimisation assumes that you continue working at the same rate; make additional salary sacrifice contributions and draw a pension such that their net income remains constant; calculate the contribution and drawing level which maximises the benefit within the superannuation environment.
Drawings
The drawings from superannuation in retirement are assumed to be drawdown in the following order: required income then other income (as entered by the user) then any age pension amounts (as calculated by the program).
We have also assumed that you will withdraw your entire superannuation account balance before the age of 92. You can change the length of the period that you expect you will draw down your superannuation, however your drawdown period cannot exceed your 92nd birthday. This approach is consistent with ASIC Corporations (Superannuation Calculators and Retirement Estimates) Instrument 2022/603.
Last updated: 30 September 2023
Edit assumptions
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.
Edit user defined investment option
Your supermodeller results
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The key figures
| The projected balance of your fund at retirement is: | |
|---|---|
| Therefore your income at retirement would be: | |
| You are assumed to live until the age of: | |
| Your fund is projected to run out at age: |
| What you told us about you: | You | Spouse |
|---|---|---|
| Age | ||
| Gender | ||
| Salary | ||
| Current balance |
| Before tax contributions | ||
|---|---|---|
| After tax contributions |
| Target income | |
|---|---|
| Retirement age |
Any one-off contributions
| One off contribution | |
|---|---|
| Age to make one off contribution |
Going part time
| Age to start part time work | |
|---|---|
| Number of days per week | days |
| For how long | years |
| Transition to retirement strategy | |
|---|---|
| Assets outside super | |
| Marital Status | |
| Additional income | |
| Home owner | |
| Investment mix | |
| Wage inflation |
Disclaimer and assumptions
This calculator is provided by the Emergency Services Superannuation Board ABN 28 161 296 741, the Trustee of the Emergency Services Superannuation Scheme ABN 85 894 637 037 (ESSSuper). The information contained in this calculator is of a general nature only, and it is not intended to be relied on for the purposes of making a decision in relation to a financial product. Before making any decisions in relation to any financial product, you should consider the appropriateness of the product to your personal objectives, financial situation and needs. It may also be beneficial to seek professional advice from a licensed financial planner or adviser.
The purpose of this calculator is to show you how much income your super may provide you in retirement and the options you have to affect your retirement outcome. The calculator has not taken into account your lifestyle expenses and other commitments like a mortgage or personal loans.
ESSSuper has made reasonable efforts to ensure the accuracy of the calculator results but does not accept liability for acts or omissions based on its content. The information resulting from the calculations is general and should not be relied upon as a true representation of any actual superannuation entitlements or benefits from any particular scheme or relied on as a basis upon which to alter your financial situation without advice from a professional. You should assess your own financial situation and consult a financial adviser before you make any changes to your financial affairs.
ESSSuper is not a related party of Gallagher Benefit Services Pty Ltd (Gallagher). Neither ESSSuper, nor the Victorian Government, guarantee, endorse or accept any responsibility for the products or advice provided by Gallagher.
SUPERANNUATION CALCULATOR AND ASSUMPTIONS
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 calculator relies upon assumptions that if varied could change the result. 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 at 30 September 2023.
Inflation
The projection assumes a future wage inflation of 4.0% pa and future price inflation of 2.5% pa.
Results are expressed in today's dollars by discounting future amounts using the wage inflation rate in the accumulation phase and the price inflation rate in the retirement phase.
Target income is also assumed to increase at the wage inflation rate.
These assumed inflation rates and the approach to discounting are consistent with ASIC Corporations (Superannuation Calculators and Retirement Estimates) Instrument 2022/603.
Investment returns
The investment returns in this table are annual amounts after fees and taxes have been deducted. If you do not edit the assumptions, the default investment option applied by the model is the Growth option.
These investment return assumptions are based on the target returns for the ESSS Accumulation Plan, Beneficiary Account and Income Streams products. These have been developed with the assistance of external specialist investment consultants and approved by ESSSuper, having regard to its obligations to comply with the Prudential Superannuation Standard made by order of the Governor-in-Council.
| Accumulation Phase Return (Target return above CPI less fees and taxes) | Retirement Phase Return (Target return above CPI less fees and taxes) | |
|---|---|---|
| Shares only | 6.50% | 7.00% |
| Growth | 6.50% | 7.00% |
| Balanced growth | 5.75% | 6.25% |
| Ethical diversified | 5.50% | 6.00% |
| Balanced | 5.50% | 6.00% |
| Conservative | 4.50% | 5.00% |
| Capital stable | 3.50% | 4.00% |
| Defensive | 2.13% | 2.50% |
| Cash | 0.31% | 0.37% |
Please remember that investment returns are not guaranteed.
Accumulation returns are assumed to be taxed at the relevant rate (based on the percentage of funds invested in shares, and allowing for dividend imputation and the capital gains tax concession if applicable). Retirement returns are assumed to be tax-free. Investment returns are assumed to be credited continuously.
The above assumptions can be edited to create a 'user defined' investment setting by selecting the Edit Assumptions tab which is accessed via the Disclaimer and Assumptions link at the bottom of Supermodeller. 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 and a higher pre-retirement risk. The user defined accumulation investment return will typically be approximately 0.5% lower than the user defined retirement investment return. Before making decisions, you should also consider the risk profile of different investment strategies.
Administration fees and insurance premiums
Annual fees are assumed to be as follows:
| Accumulation phase | Retirement phase | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee Dollar | $52.00 | $52.00 |
| Asset-based Admin Fee | 0.20% | 0.20% |
| Cap on Asset-based Admin Fee | $698 | $698 |
These fees are based on current fees charged in the ESSS Accumulation Plan, Beneficiary Account and Income Streams products.
Dollar fees are assumed to increase in line with wage inflation in the accumulation phase, and in line with price inflation in the retirement phase. The asset-based admin fee is assumed to remain constant over the projection period. The asset-based fee cap is indexed to wage inflation in the accumulation phase, and indexed to price inflation in the retirement phase.
You can alter the default fees across the combined accumulation and retirement phases within certain ranges. All fees and costs included in the table above are assumed to be deducted from your account balance. Investment fees and taxes are not included in this table as they are assumed to be deducted before the investment returns are credited to your account (see the 'Investment returns' section above).
We have not factored in insurance premiums in this modelling tool by default. To refine this assumption and to add a specific insurance premium to the modelling, please use the Edit Assumptions tab to add in the annual insurance premium value.
Personal income
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, Low and Middle Income Tax Offset and the Senior and Pensioners Tax Offset. This model 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 for the 2023/24 financial year. Thereafter they are indexed in line with wage inflation.
Employer contributions
Employer contributions are calculated as a percentage of salary and is defaulted to the Superannuation Guarantee (SG) rates below:
| Effective Dates | Rate |
|---|---|
| 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.
Member contributions
Regular concessional (before-tax) or non-concessional (after tax) contributions entered by you are assumed to increase in each year in line pro-rata with your salary. 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 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 to up to $330,000 under the 'bring-forward' rules. The additional amount which can be contributed depends on account balance and age:
If an account balance is under $1.68m an individual can 'bring-forward' this and the next two years of contributions, and so can contribute $330,000.
If an account balance is between $1.68m and $1.79m an individual can 'bring-forward' this and the following year of contributions, and so can contribute $220,000.
If an account balance is between $1.79m and $1.9m, the individual is not able to bring forward any future year's contributions, and the non-concessional contribution cap is equal to the annual cap of $110,000.
If an account balance is over $1.9m, the individual's non-concessional contributions cap is $0.
If an individual is aged 75 years old or older, they are not able to contribute under the 'bring forward' arrangement.
The non-concessional cap under these 'bring-forward' arrangements also represents the total amount of eligible non-concessional contributions within the bring-forward period. However, it does not take into account any non-concessional contributions made in previous financial years.
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.
The concessional and non-concessional contribution limits are indexed in line with wage inflation.
Co-contribution
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 (of $43,445). The co-contribution amount is pro-rated if the individual's salary is between the lower income threshold and the upper income threshold (of $58,445). You are not eligible for Government co-contributions if your total superannuation balance is over $1.9m.
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.
Life expectancy
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'.
You cannot change your life expectancy rate.
Retirement age
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.
Government Age Pension
Current Government Age Pension thresholds and rates of payment are allowed for, based on the Single/Couple and Homeowner status. If 'Couple' is selected, the partner's superannuation assets can be entered and all other income and assets are assumed to be combined between you and your 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 is used for the asset and income test only. The projection assumes that in retirement, all assets (superannuation and assets outside superannuation) are placed in an account-based pension. 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.
The assets outside super and any additional income entered, are assumed to increase each year in line with wage inflation.
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.
Transfer balance cap
The transfer balance cap restricts the amount that can be transferred into an account-based pension in the retirement phase. From 1 July 2021, every individual will have their own personal transfer balance cap of between $1.6 and $1.9 million, depending on when and how such super they have transferred into a retirement phase income stream product. The amount of the transfer balance cap will be indexed periodically in $100,000 increments, in line with wage inflation. Based on current indexing, adjustments will occur every three to four years. 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 in the retirement phase and any excess balance retained in an accumulation account.
Minimum income payment in retirement
The Government sets the statutory minimum amount that must be paid as an income each year during retirement, once funds have been converted to an account-based pension. The calculator doesn't account for the statutory minimum income payment amount. If the income payment in the calculator is less than the statutory minimum your account balance during retirement may be exhausted sooner than shown in the calculator.
Target income
The target income defaults to 75% of your annual after-tax income. This can 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 an income stream in the retirement phase. In the scenario where the target income is in excess of the statutory minimum drawdown for the income stream, the income will first be drawn from the income stream up to minimum amount and the excess income required to attain the target income will be drawn from the accumulation account.
Transition to retirement
The transition to retirement optimisation assumes that you continue working at the same rate; make additional salary sacrifice contributions and draw a pension such that their net income remains constant; calculate the contribution and drawing level which maximises the benefit within the superannuation environment.
Drawings
The drawings from superannuation in retirement are assumed to be drawdown in the following order: required income then other income (as entered by the user) then any age pension amounts (as calculated by the program).
We have also assumed that you will withdraw your entire superannuation account balance before the age of 92. You can change the length of the period that you expect you will draw down your superannuation, however your drawdown period cannot exceed your 92nd birthday. This approach is consistent with ASIC Corporations (Superannuation Calculators and Retirement Estimates) Instrument 2022/603.
Last updated: 30 September 2023