How To Manage Your Super In Your 30s

Whether you’re kicking career goals, starting a family, buying your first home or ‘eat, pray, loving’ your way around Bali, your thirties are all about change. With so much going on, it’s easy to put superannuation in the too-hard basket. But now is the time to plan. A retirement road map can help women, including married mum-of-one Jennifer, navigate these rites of passage.

“I’m worried about the impact of maternity leave on my super,” says the 33-year-old, who has taken leave from her $110,000 a year management job to raise her newborn son. “It seems like any parents on unpaid parental leave are severely disadvantaged in the long run.” Jennifer has more options than she realises and her super needn’t suffer while she’s not working. According to the Association of Super Funds of Australia (ASFA), women aged 30-34 have an average super balance of $33,748, while women aged 35-39 have on average $48,874. If your super is lower than this, here’s how you can get it on track.

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