Retirement is difficult and unaffordable. Our super funds must step up

It’s time to confront some hard truths – retiring looks difficult and unaffordable for many Australians right now.

The 2024 Brighter Super & Investment Trends Retirement Income Report came out this week, and it paints a sobering picture: retirement preparedness is at its lowest point in a decade.

The gap between expected and needed retirement income has widened, and it’s super funds who need to step up.Credit: Simon Letch

Almost half of pre-retirees feel unprepared, and the gap between expected and needed retirement income has widened to a staggering 31 per cent, or an average shortfall of $1300 a month. It’s shocking data – and it should call our system to attention.

And if you’re a pre-retiree approaching retirement and feel concerned – know you’re not alone out there.

We’ve known for years that retirement is complex, but the 2024 edition of this report, backed by over a decade of longitudinal data, shows just how much the ground has shifted. Inflation and cost-of-living pressures are weighing heavily on both retirees and pre-retirees, with inflation now the top concern for those approaching retirement, and health the primary worry for retirees. For anyone nearing retirement, this financial landscape is downright unsettling.

While satisfaction with super funds is relatively high (59 per cent among pre-retirees and 71 per cent among retirees), the report highlights a critical issue: too many Australians lack access to the advice and guidance they need.

We have a system where confidence is falling, advice gaps are widening, and too many Australians are drifting toward retirement uncertain.

Four out of five pre-retirees report gaps in retirement planning knowledge, superannuation growth, and investment strategies – something that could be helped with both education and advice. Even more troubling, half of fund members are unaware that their super fund offers financial advice, and two-thirds don’t know if their fund provides pension products.

There was no mention of education – it often misses the radar of importance, even though it plays a crucial role in confident decision-making.

So here we are, with a system where confidence is falling, advice gaps are widening, and too many Australians are drifting toward retirement uncertain and underprepared. Only 29 per cent of pre-retirees feel ready for retirement, down from 41 per cent in 2023. Ouch!

Meanwhile, retiree confidence remains stable for those who’ve made it over the threshold, though the proportion of retirees reporting they live comfortably has dropped by seven points to 53 per cent.

It’s clear that individual action or what I call “self-help” matters – those who seek advice and make voluntary contributions report feeling more prepared. But expecting people to shoulder the full burden of navigating an increasingly complex financial landscape is clearly both unrealistic and unfair.

Super funds are uniquely positioned to support their members, and this report shows that taking action and receiving sound advice can make a significant difference. Yet, for many Australians, this support isn’t reaching them.

The report reveals that two-thirds of pre-retirees don’t know if their super fund offers pension products, and four out of five lack access to essential advice on growing their super and structuring their retirement income. Even more surprising, half of fund members are unaware that their super fund even offers financial advice.

The role of super funds is clearly critical in addressing these issues. They’re the most popular source of retirement information for pre-retirees, and they receive high satisfaction scores for the role consumers perceive them to be doing.

But satisfaction doesn’t equate to awareness or engagement, and I think both are essential. If funds could bridge the advice and education gap – reaching the half of members unaware of available advice – they could empower Australians to close their retirement income gap meaningfully.

Let’s be clear: the challenges are real, and they require real action. With 2024 numbers showing a $1300 monthly funding gap for pre-retirees, it’s not enough to sit back and hope the issue resolves itself.

Super funds should be stepping up with targeted education and information and awareness campaigns intra-fund, ensuring every member knows their options, from voluntary contributions to retirement income strategies – if they want to help people help themselves.

But this responsibility isn’t on super funds alone. Government policy plays a role. It’s time to evaluate the effectiveness of the retirement income system. Are we doing enough to educate people pre-retirement?

Are there better ways to encourage Australians to seek self-help information and financial advice? With confidence dropping, especially among pre-retirees, we need a proactive, adaptable policy approach suited to today’s financial realities.

For those approaching retirement, the key takeaway is simple: don’t wait to take action. Explore your options now. Talk to your super fund about available advice services, consider voluntary contributions, or even keep one foot in the workforce if possible. These steps can make a meaningful difference.

With focused efforts from super funds, policymakers, and educators, we can turn the tide. Let’s make 2025 the year we tackle the retirement gap head-on and work toward a future where more Australians can look forward to a secure and comfortable retirement.

Bec Wilson is the author of the bestseller How to Have an Epic Retirement. She writes a weekly newsletter at epicretirement.net and is host of the Prime Time podcast.

• Advice given in this article is general in nature and is not intended to influence readers’ decisions about investing or financial products. They should always seek their own professional advice that takes into account their own personal circumstances before making financial decisions.

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