A young adult’s choice of super fund and investment strategy could mean a difference of hundreds of thousands of dollars in accumulated savings during the first 20 years of their working life.

Mercer Australia highlights the impact by modelling three different outcomes for a full-time, 25-year-old employee on a median salary ($72,000) with an initial balance of $20,000. The modelling includes future super guarantee contributions (currently 10 per cent but rising to 12 per cent).