A good income does not always lead to a growing super balance. Mortgage repayments, family costs and everyday spending can leave retirement savings on autopilot.
The good news is that small, well-considered changes can make a difference over time. These superannuation growth strategies can help you check your contributions, investment choices and fees, and decide what to review next.
Super rules and contribution caps can change, so the figures below are for the 2026–27 financial year. Check your circumstances before acting.
1. Check what is already going into your super
Start by looking at your latest fund statement and online account. Note your balance, investment option, fees and contributions. Then check your ATO online services for contribution information and any available carry-forward amounts.
Your employer’s super guarantee contributions count towards your concessional contribution cap. For 2026–27, that cap is $32,500. It can also include salary sacrifice and personal contributions you claim as a tax deduction.
Knowing what is already being paid in helps you understand how much room may be available for extra contributions.
2. Consider salary sacrifice or personal deductible contributions
Salary sacrificing means arranging for part of your future salary to be paid into super before income tax is calculated. These contributions count towards your concessional cap, along with employer contributions.
Concessional contributions are generally taxed in the fund at 15%, but your personal tax position may differ. Higher-income earners may also be affected by additional tax, and there are rules to follow when claiming a deduction for personal contributions.
Before setting up salary sacrifice:
- Estimate your employer contributions for the financial year.
- Include any salary sacrifice and personal contributions you intend to claim as a deduction.
- Check that the total will stay within your available cap, including any eligible carry-forward amount.
- Ask payroll how the arrangement will be recorded and check your fund account to confirm contributions arrive.
You can also make a personal contribution from after-tax income and, if eligible, claim a tax deduction for it. This still counts towards the concessional cap. The process has specific notice and timing requirements, so check the ATO guidance on personal super contributions.
Don’t commit money you may need for near-term costs. Super is generally preserved until you meet a condition of release.
3. Check if you can use unused concessional caps
If you did not use your full concessional cap in an earlier year, you may be able to carry forward unused amounts from the previous five financial years. To qualify in 2026–27, your total super balance generally needs to have been below $500,000 on 30 June 2026.
This can be useful if your income has increased, you have received a bonus, or you are returning to work after a break. It may give you more room to contribute in a year when you can afford to do so.
Unused amounts expire after five years, with the oldest available amount used first. Check your available amount in ATO online services rather than relying on estimates, and include all concessional contributions when planning. The ATO’s concessional contributions cap guidance explains the rules.
4. Consider contributions for your spouse
If one partner has a lower income or takes time away from paid work, their super balance may fall behind. A spouse contribution is one way to add after-tax money to their super.
Depending on your spouse’s income and eligibility, you may qualify for a tax offset of up to $540. The maximum offset generally applies if you contribute at least $3,000 and your spouse’s relevant income is $37,000 or less. It phases out as their income rises, and other conditions apply.
The contribution counts towards your spouse’s non-concessional cap, not a separate spouse-contribution cap. For 2026–27, the general non-concessional cap is $130,000, but eligibility to contribute can depend on their total super balance and other rules. Check the current ATO information on spouse contribution tax offsets and contribution caps before making a payment.
5. Review your investment option and fees
Your super’s investment option affects how your balance may grow, and how much it may move up and down along the way. Options with more growth assets, such as shares, may suit some people with a longer time horizon, but they can also fall more sharply during market downturns. More conservative options generally have less exposure to growth assets, but may offer lower long-term growth potential.
There is no single right option for everyone. Consider your time until retirement, comfort with market falls and overall financial position. Avoid switching solely because of recent market movements.
Fees matter too. Compare administration, investment and other fees across funds, alongside investment options and long-term performance. Lower fees can leave more money invested when other factors are equal, but the cheapest fund is not automatically the best fit.
Use the fund’s product disclosure statement and fee documents to understand what you are paying. ASIC’s Moneysmart guide to choosing a super fund explains what to compare.
6. Consolidate accounts carefully
Having several super accounts can mean paying multiple sets of fees. Combining accounts may simplify your finances, but check the details before transferring money.
In particular, review:
- Insurance cover attached to each account, including life, TPD and income protection.
- Fees, investment options and any benefits you would give up.
- Whether an account is a defined-benefit fund, which may have valuable features.
- Whether your employer is paying contributions into the account you plan to keep.
If you close an account, you may lose insurance cover or find it difficult to replace. Check the receiving fund’s terms and arrange any replacement cover before cancelling existing insurance. For a step-by-step guide, see Moneysmart’s advice on consolidating super funds.
7. Give compounding time to work
Compounding is when investment returns are earned on your balance and on earlier returns. Regular contributions can also become part of the balance earning returns.
For illustration, $10,000 growing at 6% a year would become about $32,000 after 20 years, before fees and tax, if returns were steady and nothing was added or withdrawn. Real investment returns are not steady or guaranteed. The example simply shows how time can affect growth.
Starting earlier gives contributions and investment returns longer to build. If you are closer to retirement, you can still review your contributions, costs and investment approach, just make sure any changes fit your timeframe and circumstances.
Make your next step practical
You do not need to change everything at once. Start with one review:
- Check your balance, investment option, fees and recent contributions.
- Estimate your total concessional contributions for 2026–27.
- Check ATO online services for your carry-forward amount and eligibility.
- Review insurance before consolidating any accounts.
- Use Advice360’s Grow Your Super calculator to explore how contributions, time and assumptions may affect a projected balance.
Advice360’s Wealth Strategy & Accumulation and Retirement & Legacy Planning services can help you connect your super decisions with your broader plans for building wealth and retirement. If you are unsure where to begin, the Financial Fitness Score offers a starting point to assess your overall financial position.
We're more than happy to have a complimentary chat about your super. Just reach out to our team and we'll find a time that suits you.
Important information: This article contains general information only and does not take your personal circumstances or objectives into account. It is not personal financial or tax advice. Super rules and eligibility can change, and your best approach depends on factors such as your income, age, balance, cash flow, debts and retirement plans. Consider the relevant fund documents and seek licensed financial or tax advice before making decisions.
