It's easy to neglect your super. But REI Super's Wellness Check provides 5 simple steps that could make a big difference to your future financial wellbeing.

The 5 simple steps

 

There’s currently billions of dollars in lost super in Australia - some could be yours if you’ve changed names or moved jobs a lot and not taken super with you. Owning multiple super accounts means you’re paying multiple fees and (probably) multiple insurance premiums. This is money that should be boosting your super, not draining it, through the power of compounding interest. Combine all your super accounts into your REI Super account today, and you’ll also enjoy having less paperwork moving forwards. See how compounding interest can boost your future. 

Depending on how close you are to retiring, and what your appetite for risk is, changing your investment options (or mix) could really impact how your super performs. We invest in Cash, Bonds, Property, Shares and Infrastructure, and each have different performance objectives, risks and investment time frames, so you should choose the option/s that best suits your needs. All our options aim to outperform industry averages and benchmarks. Learn more about investment management.

It may sound obvious, but making even small additional contributions to your account each month can make a big difference to the size of your super account come retirement time. The most common method is Salary Sacrifice, where money is ‘sacrificed’ from your salary before tax, and put into your super to grow. This means you could also save on tax as these contributions are only taxed at 15%. Other options are: making after-tax contributions, such as lump sums (commissions, payouts); low income earners may be eligible for a Government Co-Contribution; or if you’ve taken time off to study or raise children, your spouse may be able to contribute to your super.

Start contributing now

What stage of life you’re in often dictates how much and what type of insurance/s you need. For example, young people who are renting and have no dependents may need more TPD (Total and Permanent Disability) Insurance and less Life Insurance cover than someone with a partner, children and a mortgage. Likewise, once kids have grown up and moved out, Income Protection may no longer be necessary. Therefore, it’s important to regularly check the insurance cover inside your super to make sure you’re not paying for cover you don’t need, or aren’t covered for something you do. Our handy insurance calculator can help take the guesswork out of how much insurance you need.

Check your cover now

It’s something a lot of people don’t want to think about, but it’s important to consider who you’d like your super to go to (known as your ‘beneficiaries’) should you die. This is because if you don’t nominate a beneficiary, laws dictate that we’ll have to decide, and we may not choose the person/s you would have. You’ll also need to decide whether your nomination is binding or non-binding (non-binding only acts as a guide, whereas binding ensures REI Super pays your super and any insurance benefits to your chosen beneficiaries).

Check your beneficiaries now

Start boosting your financial wellbeing

As we all know, it’s harder getting to the gym, than doing the workout. Looking after your financial wellbeing is no different. That’s why we’re always here to offer advice and support to get you on the right path on 1300 13 44 33.