5 steps to plan your retirement

Retirement planning doesn’t have to be hard. Use our quick guide to set yourself up for life after work.

What does retirement look like for you?

If you’re thinking about what you’ll do once you retire, you're not alone.

Our research shows that 32% of QSuper account holders plan to retire within the next decade.¹

Everyone's ideal retirement looks different. Whether you're dreaming of travelling the world or want to spend more time on your hobbies, it's never too early – or late – to start planning.

Where to begin

The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) Retirement Standard is a helpful starting point. It estimates how much money you might need to have either a modest or comfortable lifestyle in retirement.

It’s also important to keep track of your super balance and make sure your investment strategy suits your goals.

Ready to take charge of your retirement journey?

Let's dive into 5 key steps you can take now to set yourself up for success.

1. Know when you can access your super

Generally, you can tap into your super when you:

• reach age 60 and permanently retire or leave your employer
• turn 65, regardless of your work status.

If you have a Defined Benefit account, make sure you understand the rules before you access your super while you're still working.

How much super do you have?

Check your account balance by logging in to Member Online or our app.

2. Work out how much super you’ll need

Luckily, there are lots of handy retirement guides to get you started.

Before you dive in, think about things like your lifestyle, your health, and whether you’ll own your home when you retire. And what your retirement goals are.

You can use the ASFA Retirement Standard to get an idea of how much you might need to spend in retirement.

Here are the June 2025 quarter figures for homeowners aged 65-84. Keep in mind, these are just guidelines. Your personal needs may differ.

Source: ASFA Retirement Standard, June 2025 quarter

3. Check if you’ll qualify for the Age Pension

As well as using your super, you might qualify for the Age Pension or other government benefits.

To be eligible for the Age Pension you need to:

• be 67 years or older
• meet the residence rules
• pass the income test and assets test.

You may be able to combine the Age Pension with your super savings to support your lifestyle, too.

4. Think about your work options

Moving into retirement mode doesn’t have to be all or nothing. In fact, more and more Australians aged over 65 are using their super while they’re still working in some capacity.²

If you’re aged between 60-64 and want to access some of your super but keep working, there are some options to look into. One of them is a Transition to Retirement Income account (TTR). This option may help you:

• top up your take home pay so you can work less
• keep growing your super in a tax-effective way.

Super Insider: Transition to retirement

Tune in to our Super Insider podcast as our experts explain how to access your super while you’re still working.

5. Get help to feel on top of your future

While there’s lots to think about when planning for retirement, you don’t have to go it alone. Join one of our Retirement Essentials seminars to learn from our experts.

Available in person or online, we’ll unpack the strategies you need and give you simple steps to help you get the most out of your super.

Ready to start planning?

Begin mapping out your retirement with our planning calculators.

1. Survey of 1,000 Australians carried out by IPSOS on behalf of Australian Retirement Trust, September to November 2023.
2. ASFA, February 2021, Rethinking retirement: The impact of demographic change and the pandemic on retirement planning in the 2020s, at superannuation.asn.au