Investment basics

Retirement may seem like a long way off

Planning for retirement now can help you change how you’ll live then. Before you make your investment choice, think about what you really need from your super. How much income do you earn? How many years until you retire? What other investments or assets do you have? Can you afford to make extra contributions into your super account?

We have a range of tools that can help

You can use our Retirement income calculator to help you work out how much you may need, and check if the Age Pension plus your super will give you enough income in retirement. Use our Retirement spending planner to work out how long you’ll be able to sustain your current way of life, while still enjoying those little extras in retirement.  

View our range of calculator tools. 

Understanding risks and expected investment returns

All investments come with risk. Different investment options come with different levels of risk.

That risk depends on the assets that make up each investment option. How each of these risks will impact you will depend on what investment option(s) you're invested in and how long you stay invested.

Generally, higher-risk investments can offer higher long-term returns, but they also come with bigger ups and downs. Generally, lower-risk investments tend to have steadier returns, but usually lower long-term growth.

Think about how long you have to invest

It’s worth thinking about how long you have to invest and how this could influence your investment choices. Even in retirement, you may need to consider taking some risk to help your savings continue to grow over time and keep up with rising living costs.

Asset classes – your investment building blocks

Asset classes are the building blocks of our investment options. How much we invest in each asset class depends on the option’s investment objective. Every option has a mix of asset classes, with different amounts invested in each one. This also shapes its level of risk and potential returns.

Your investment portfolio

Most members in our accumulation products are invested in the default Growth (MySuper) option. But if you'd like to make your own investment choice, you can. We offer a range of options that you can mix and match, depending on how hands-on you want to be with your super.

Before making any changes, read the relevant PDS and Investment Guide. Our Advice team can also help you work through your options at no extra cost.

Diversification: spreading the load

One way we help manage risk during market ups and downs is through diversification. That means spreading investments across different asset classes, so you’re not relying on just one area of the market.

For instance, not all asset types perform in the same way at the same time. When one investment is performing poorly another may be performing well. Basically, diversification helps to smooth overall performance.

The longer your super stays invested, the more opportunity it has to grow and help you retire well.

Our Pre-mixed options are invested in a range of assets like shares, property, toll roads, airports and fixed interest, with the aim of helping your super grow over time.

These assets generate investment returns, and this is what helps grow your account balance over time, in addition to any contributions you make. 

Positive investment returns can then generate returns of their own. This is called compounding.