Retirement - how much is enough?

Home / Blog / Retirement - how much is enough?

Attention: open in a new window.

my goals

Don't just dream about a comfortable retirement, take action now to make it happen.

Retirement - how much is enough?

You may dream about overseas holidays, home renovations or simply spending more time with your friends and family in retirement. However, the reality is that many people’s savings are unlikely to match their ideal retirement lifestyle unless they take action.

When you retire, your superannuation, assets and other investments are your lifeline. You no longer have a regular salary coming in and you rely on these savings to fund your day-to-day living expenses. This, along with the increasing cost of goods and services, means that retirement can be a daunting prospect for many.

So how much will you need? It’s difficult to know exactly how much you’ll need to fund your retirement but, the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) attempts to provide a clearer picture of what this may look like.

Firstly, how much are you likely to spend?

The ASFA Retirement Standard provides a picture of how a modest lifestyle compares to a comfortable lifestyle and how much you’re likely to spend to maintain each of these two standards of living.

A comfortable lifestyle includes extra items that are considered to be ‘comforts’, such as updating the kitchen or bathroom, eating out from time-to-time, entertaining at home, having private health insurance at the top rate, enjoying an occasional overseas holiday and being able to afford to buy nice clothes and gifts.

The ASFA figures in table 1 estimate that, for a couple to maintain a modest lifestyle in retirement, they’ll likely spend around $755 per week compared to a couple who wish to live a comfortable lifestyle who are likely to spend almost double that, at around $1,161 per week.

But remember, a comfortable retirement isn’t a luxurious retirement. For example, the comfortable retirement figures for a couple only allow an amount of $267 per week for leisure and that includes saving for holidays.

Also, both weekly budgets assume that the home is owned outright so it doesn’t include the cost of rent or mortgage repayments.

Table 1: Weekly spend – modest versus comfortable lifestyle

Source: ASFA Retirement Standard, June 2018
Note: Single calculations are based on a female who is relatively healthy and owns her own home.

What about the age pension?

As shown in table 2, if you’re relying on the age pension and, like most of us, are planning on a comfortable lifestyle in retirement, you’ll have a gap of $364.70 per week ($822.85 - $458.15).

Table 2: Current maximum basic Centrelink age pension rate

Source: Centrelink 20 September 2018

How much do you need to save?

That’s the question on everyone’s mind. The ASFA Retirement Standard suggests the lump sum amount required for a single person to support a comfortable lifestyle is just over half a million dollars. Don’t forget, this is on top of your principal home.

Table 3: Lump sums required

If you compare the amounts in table 3 with the superannuation lump sum amounts in table 4, you’ll see that there’s a gap. For example, a 35 year old earning $100,000 pa, receiving super contributions of approximately 9 per cent for 30 years, is unlikely to meet the lump sum bench mark for a comfortable retirement.

However, if the same 35 year old takes action now and starts contributing an extra $3,000 per year to super (ie an extra 3 per cent per year making the total contribution amount 12 per cent) they could reach or even exceed the current benchmark set by ASFA.

Source: ASFA Retirement Standard
Note: assumes receipt of part age pension

Table 4: Superannuation lump sums at rate of salary

Note: Investment earnings taxed at current rates. Lump sum retirement benefits are estimates calculated after 30 years in a taxed fund.

If you’re worried about your retirement saving, use the Bridges Retirement Lifestyle Calculator to see if your savings, super and investment strategy are on target to meet the retirement lifestyle you want. View and download your results and see how financial advice can help you achieve your retirement goals.

Visit bridges.com.au/retirementlifestyle

To discuss and understand what the results of the Bridges Retirement Lifestyle Calculator mean for you, make an appointment with a Bridges financial planner or phone 13 61 91. The initial consultation is complimentary and obligation free.

Financial advice makes a difference

To discuss and understand what the results of the Bridges Retirement Lifestyle Calculator mean for you, make an appointment with a Bridges financial planner.

We have an established alliance with Bridges, to provide our customers with financial advice. In fact, Bridges has been helping Australians prepare for their retirement for over 30 years. A Bridges financial planner will develop a plan specifically for you; one that’s tailored to your needs and circumstances, to help you achieve your goals, both in the lead up to retirement and during retirement. To make an appointment with a Bridges financial planner, call 13 61 91. The initial consultation is complimentary and obligation free.