Whether you’re approaching retirement or already retired, it’s important that you understand your investment needs so you can choose investment options to suit your life stage.
The basics
When contributions are made to your super, that money is allocated to a chosen investment option with a view to accumulating positive returns over time—ideally meaning more savings for retirement, though this isn’t guaranteed.
You can choose to invest your super in different ways. You could ask yourself the following questions when choosing how to invest it:
- what are my retirement goals—would I need more savings to achieve these goals?
- how long do I have until I begin drawing on my super? This is called your investment horizon
- how hands-on do I want to be with my super?
- how much risk am I comfortable taking? This is called your risk profile.
The risks
Your personal circumstances, current super balance and life stage shape your risk profile—and when it comes to investments, risk and reward are generally intertwined. Investment options that come with a higher level of risk could lose money in the short term but bring about greater returns in the long term, while options that carry less risk tend to be more stable but deliver more modest returns.
Your investment strategy is a balancing act. It’s important to remember there’s a chance you could be spending up to 30 years or more in retirement, so your retirement savings need to continue to grow to support the income you’ll receive in future years. It’s unlikely that you’ll be contributing further to your super when you retire, and you’ll also be drawing down on your savings—so your investment strategy will need to do the heavy lifting. It’s important to feel comfortable with the risk and returns.
Your investment needs can change over time, so it’s important to regularly review your investment strategy to make sure it still meets your needs.
Head to the Understanding investment basics page to learn more.
Setting your strategy
Think about your responses to the above questions when setting your strategy, and whether you’re on track to achieve your retirement goals—the answers should help guide your decisions.
Discover the risk profile, asset allocation, average performance, and suggested minimum investment time frames for each of our 16 investment options and learn about our sustainable and environmental branded investment options.
Remember, everyone’s circumstances are different and super is a long-term investment. We recommend frequently reviewing your investment strategy and talking to a UniSuper super consultant if you need help. Our award-winning advice team are retirement experts and can help you understand your investment options, and your first appointment is at no extra cost.
Ways we can help
We’re always looking for ways to help you stay on top of your money at UniSuper—there’s a number of ways we can help you make the most of your super.
Our monthly investment podcast is a bite-sized look at money matters and investment news. Head to our Podcasts page to catch the latest episode, or subscribe on your preferred podcast platform.
UniSuper Chief Investment Officer, John Pearce, issues a quarterly video investment update. You’ll find his latest video on the Investments page.
Download the UniSuper app from the App Store or Google Play Store to manage your account from wherever you are. Check your estimated balance, review your investment options, keep up with recent transactions and plenty more.