Calculator
Retirement Planning
Project your wealth at retirement combining superannuation and investments outside super.
Projected wealth at age 65
$4,222,411
In 27 years (nominal terms)
Super balance
$2,354,426
Outside super
$1,867,985
Sustainable income to 90
$267,449
Drawdown @ 4% real return
Surplus vs goal
$187,449
On track ✓
General information only. Calculations are indicative, based on simplified rules current at FY2024–25, and exclude items such as foreign buyer surcharges, off-the-plan concessions, principal-place-of-residence rules and lender policy variation. Always verify with your accountant, broker and the relevant State Revenue Office calculator before transacting.
About this calculator
Retirement Planning Calculator (Australia)
Retirement modelling for Australians has changed substantially in the last decade. The Superannuation Guarantee is now 11.5% (heading to 12% in July 2025), but for most households super alone won't fund the ASFA 'comfortable' retirement standard — currently around $73,000/year for a couple. This calculator projects the combined trajectory of super, owned investments and any property portfolio, then converts the projected balance into a sustainable retirement income using a 4–5% withdrawal rate. The result is the gap between where you're tracking and where you need to be.
When to use it
- Sanity-checking whether super alone will fund your retirement
- Sizing a property portfolio target relative to retirement income goals
- Modelling the impact of salary sacrificing an extra 5% into super
- Comparing retirement at 60 vs 65 vs 67
- Stress-testing against a -10% market shock in the final five years
How to use it
- 1
Enter current age and target retirement age
Australians today have a life expectancy of ~85, so plan for a 25–30 year retirement income runway.
- 2
Enter current super balance
Use your most recent member statement. Include both employer super and any self-managed fund balances.
- 3
Enter outside-super investments and property equity
Use net values — property value less mortgage balance — and treat them as one combined investment pool.
- 4
Set expected return
Long-run real returns of 6–7% pre-fees are reasonable for a balanced/growth super option. Property delivers similar total returns with different cashflow.
- 5
Read the projected balance and income
The income figure assumes a 4.5% withdrawal rate sustainable across a 25-year retirement, plus full Age Pension where eligible.
Methodology & assumptions
Super balance is compounded at the chosen real return, net of inflation. Employer contributions are added at 11.5% of gross income (12% from July 2025).
Outside-super investments and property equity are compounded at a separate return assumption, with rental income and capital growth treated as a combined total return.
Retirement income is calculated using a 4.5% safe withdrawal rate, anchored on the Trinity Study and updated for Australian dividend imputation. Higher withdrawal rates increase shortfall risk past age 85.
The ASFA 'modest' ($47k) and 'comfortable' ($73k) couple standards are used as benchmark lines so you can see where projected income lands.
Common pitfalls we see
- Modelling in nominal dollars and ignoring inflation. A $1m super balance in 30 years is worth less than $500k in today's purchasing power at 2.5% CPI.
- Assuming continuous full-time work to age 67. Career gaps, parental leave and underemployment in your 50s materially reduce projections.
- Over-relying on property capital growth. Sustainable retirement income requires either selling assets or generating rental yield — model both.
- Ignoring transition-to-retirement tax rules and the $1.9m transfer balance cap, both of which shape how much super you can move into pension phase.
Frequently asked questions
How much super do I need to retire in Australia?
ASFA estimates a couple needs ~$690,000 (combined) or a single ~$595,000 to fund a 'comfortable' retirement to age 90, assuming home ownership and part Age Pension eligibility.
Is property better than super for retirement?
Neither beats both. Super offers tax efficiency (15% in accumulation, 0% in pension phase up to the cap); property offers leverage and inflation-linked rental income. Most resilient plans combine both.
What withdrawal rate is safe in retirement?
4–4.5% is the conventional 'safe' rate across a 25–30 year retirement, anchored on long-run real return data. Higher rates increase the probability of outliving your capital.
Does the Age Pension factor into this?
Yes — most Australians draw at least a part Age Pension. We assume it offsets retirement income for couples with combined assets below the means-test thresholds.