Post-retirement plans going unfulfilled

12 August 2014
| By Malavika Santhebennur |
image
image image
expand image

Just under one-third of older Australians will be able to realise their post-retirement dreams, with the rest left disappointed due to a lack of savings, research showed.

REST Industry Super's online poll found that while 52 per cent of Australians have a retirement bucket list, only 32 per cent will be able to tick off the items on the list.

More than half (53 per cent) of respondents said they want to travel the world, while 43 per cent want to go on a road trip, and 30 per cent want to leave an inheritance to their children.

REST Industry Super CEO Damian Hill said that while it was good to see Australians with grand plans, he is most concerned that one in six (17 per cent) thinks they will not be able to cross any items off their list.

"Too often people underestimate the cost of retirement, and the gap between what people think they need to retire on and what they require in reality is often significant," Hill said.

He added a bucket list could be a motivational tool to save for retirement.

"Consolidating your superannuation accounts, salary sacrificing and taking an active interest in how your superannuation is invested are small steps you can take earlier in life to maximise your retirement returns," he said.

The online poll included 1000 respondents over the age of 55.

The March 2014 Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia Retirement Standard showed a couple wanting a comfortable retirement needs $57,817 a year, while a couple wanting a ‘modest' retirement lifestyle need $33,509 a year.

Read more about:

AUTHOR

Recommended for you

sub-bgsidebar subscription

Never miss the latest developments in Super Review! Anytime, Anywhere!

Grant Banner

From my perspective, 40- 50% of people are likely going to be deeply unhappy about how long they actually live. ...

1 year 10 months ago
Kevin Gorman

Super director remuneration ...

1 year 10 months ago
Anthony Asher

No doubt true, but most of it is still because over 45’s have been upgrading their houses with 30 year mortgages. Money ...

1 year 10 months ago

Australia’s largest super funds have deepened private markets exposure, scaled internal investment capability, and balanced liquidity as competition and consolidation int...

1 day 18 hours ago

The $205 billion super fund has appointed Simon Warner as chief investment officer (CIO) following a global search to replace outgoing Damian Graham....

1 day 18 hours ago

A new report warns that complexity in Australia’s super system could strip retirees of up to $136,000 in lifetime income....

2 days 18 hours ago

TOP PERFORMING FUNDS

ACS FIXED INT - AUSTRALIA/GLOBAL BOND