Example result based on the prefilled values.
Projected Super Balance
A$922,239.38
Your Contributions
A$250,240.00
Investment Growth
A$671,999.38
Estimated Annual Drawdown (4%)
A$36,889.58
Annual SGC
A$9,200.00
Continue your plan
Useful next calculations
When to use this calculator
- Before choosing between saving, investing, or increasing your monthly contribution.
- When you want to compare best-case, base-case, and cautious return assumptions.
- When you need a quick projection before making a longer-term portfolio decision.
- When you are deciding how many more years of contributions are needed to reach a specific target balance.
- When you want to see whether starting earlier versus contributing more each month produces a bigger outcome.
A realistic Australia planning example
Use these sample inputs as a quick scenario test, then change one variable at a time to compare outcomes.
Your Current Age
35
Retirement Age
35
Current Super Balance (A$)
A$1,400
Annual Salary (A$)
A$80,000
After entering these figures, review projected super balance, your contributions and investment growth together rather than in isolation — each metric tells a different part of the story. Then rerun the tool with one input adjusted to see which variable has the biggest effect on all three outputs before you settle on a plan.
How to read your results
Projected Super Balance
Use this metric to compare scenarios side by side and understand how changes in the key inputs drive the final outcome. If the figure surprises you, isolate one variable at a time and rerun the calculation to identify which assumption is responsible.
Your Contributions
Use this metric to compare scenarios side by side and understand how changes in the key inputs drive the final outcome. If the figure surprises you, isolate one variable at a time and rerun the calculation to identify which assumption is responsible.
Investment Growth
Use this metric to compare scenarios side by side and understand how changes in the key inputs drive the final outcome. If the figure surprises you, isolate one variable at a time and rerun the calculation to identify which assumption is responsible.
Estimated Annual Drawdown (4%)
Use this metric to compare scenarios side by side and understand how changes in the key inputs drive the final outcome. If the figure surprises you, isolate one variable at a time and rerun the calculation to identify which assumption is responsible.
Annual SGC
Use this metric to compare scenarios side by side and understand how changes in the key inputs drive the final outcome. If the figure surprises you, isolate one variable at a time and rerun the calculation to identify which assumption is responsible.
Method & assumptionsAuthoritative sources
This calculator projects your superannuation balance at retirement using Australia’s 2024/25 rules. Employer contributions are calculated at the Superannuation Guarantee Contribution rate (defaulting to 11.5%), combined with any voluntary salary sacrifice, and capped at the concessional contributions limit of $30,000. A flat 15% contributions tax is deducted before crediting the net amount to your balance each year, replicating how complying super funds handle concessional contributions. Your existing balance and annual net contributions are then compounded at the expected growth rate for the remaining years to retirement.
Important caveats: this model uses end-of-year compounding and does not account for fund fees, insurance premiums inside super, the Division 293 tax on high earners, or the impact of investment market volatility. It also excludes the Age Pension, which remains a meaningful income supplement for many retirees. The 4% annual drawdown figure is illustrative only. For personalised advice, consult a licensed financial adviser or use the MoneySmart Retirement Planner provided by ASIC.
Common mistakes
- !Using an assumption that is not supported by a current local quote, bill, statement or official source.
- !Treating a generic estimate as a lender, provider, payroll or tax authority decision.
- !Mixing monthly and annual inputs without converting them consistently.
- !Forgetting location-specific taxes, fees, eligibility rules or payroll deductions where they apply.
- !Testing only one scenario instead of checking how a cautious assumption changes the result.
What to do next
- Run a second scenario with a cautious assumption so you can see the downside clearly.
- Compare the result with the related calculators below before making a decision.
- Check current local rules, eligibility and provider terms before applying or committing money.
- Keep a record of the assumptions so you can update the estimate when a quote, bill or pay figure changes.
- Use the result to prepare better questions for a lender, provider, adviser or employer rather than treating it as a final answer.
Frequently asked
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