International Women’s Day is an opportunity to recognise how far we’ve come towards gender equality, and how far we have left to go.
Superannuation is one area where the gender divide is still very much visible. According to Anna Shelley, Equip and Catholic Super’s Chief Investment Officer, women (on average) retire with half the super balance of their male counterparts, and they live five years longer.
That has serious implications for women’s finances. Especially given that 44% of women rely on their partners as the main source of funds for retirement.
Equip has developed the Move the Dial tool to showcase that gender divide, let women know how their super is looking, and provide practical tips for boosting their super. You can try it by clicking here.
If you're not happy with those numbers, or would like to improve them, there are a number of things you can do to boost your balance. And the good news is a few small tweaks can make a real difference. Get started with these three steps below.
Consolidate your super
We can help you track down any lost super you may have, and consolidate it all into your Equip account. Having all your super in one account means you save money, since you're only paying one set of annual fees. It also allows you to manage your super from one convenient account, so you've got complete control. Find more info here.
Getting started: Log into your Equip account and select ‘Find my Super’ from the drop down menu. You’ll be given a list of all your super accounts, and can combine them with the click of a button.
Check your investment options
Personalising your investment options, and choosing a more growth driven strategy can make a big difference to your future balance. You can learn more about your investment choices here, and track the associated returns here.
Getting started: Log into your Equip account and select Investments from the drop down menu. You can then update your investment mix to suit your life stage and risk tolerance.
Salary sacrifice
Salary sacrifice means you pay some of your pre-tax salary into your super account. As well as boosting your super balance, salary sacrificing can potentially reduce your tax rate. Small addditions to your super can add up, and even $20 a week is enough to set yourself up for a better retirement. if you start early. Learn more by clicking here.
Getting started: Simply contact the HR or payroll office at your work and let them know you’d like to start salary sacrificing. We’ve even prepared a form you can provide to make life easier. Download it now.
