At our recent Annual Members’ Meeting, several questions kept coming up. Ultimately, they all relate to one core theme: having confidence – in your retirement plan, your account security, and the performance of your super.

1. Am I on track for retirement – and what should I be doing now?

Short answer: it’s never too early, and never too late, to get clear on your retirement plan.

A good starting point is understanding:

• What you’re likely to spend in retirement
• What you’ve saved so far
• Whether there’s a gap — and how to close it

If you want a benchmark, ASFA’s latest Retirement Standard (Dec 2025 quarter)* estimates the cost of a comfortable retirement at around $54,840 a year for singles and $77,375 a year for couples. The Age Pension may cover part of this, but most people will probably need additional income from their super.

Retirement planning can feel daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. That’s why we’ve put together these 5 retirement planning steps to help you get started.

Tools to help you plan your retirement

• Moneysmart’s Retirement planner can help you see where you’re at now, how much you’ll need and review your options, including investment choice, contributions, retirement plans and lifestyle goals.

If you’re looking for advice, you’re not alone — nearly 16 million Australians¹ are too. That’s why, as a member, you get access to expert financial coaching at no extra cost. Our coaches are available over the phone and can help you make sense of your super, understand your options, and feel more confident about your path to retirement.

2. Is my super safe from scams and hacking?

Protecting your account and personal information is one of our highest priorities. We have a dedicated Cyber Security team and 24/7 monitoring by specialist partner, Sekuro. Behind the scenes, we use multiple layers of protection, including:

• Data encryption
• Strong login controls
• Multi factor authentication (MFA)
• Real time detection and blocking of suspicious activity
• Regular testing and regulator aligned security frameworks
• Rapid removal of fake sites imitating our brand

You may occasionally be asked to complete an extra verification step when logging in or when you call us — this is intentional, and adds another layer of protection.

Cyber Security is a shared effort, so we also train our people and regularly share scam awareness tips to help keep you safe. Check out our Cyber Security page for more information and tips to stay super scam savvy.

3. How competitive is ANZ Smart Choice Super’s performance?

ANZ Smart Choice Super Lifestage default options delivered strong results over the three years to 31 December 2025. Our Lifestage investment options from 1960’s onward, all achieved double-digit returns of over 10% for the calendar year to 31 December 2025, and more than 11% per annum over the three years to 31s December 2025. These returns are healthy against other similar funds.

The SmartChoice 1960s option delivered first quartile performance for the year to December 2025 in the SuperRatings Fund Crediting Rate Survey, SR50 MySuper Index², and even more pleasingly was also first quartile over three and five years in the survey. For members born before 1960, in our 1940s and 1950s Lifestage options, a more conservative investment approach is taken. Even so, returns remained solid, ranging from 6.6% to 8.4% for the calendar year to 31st December 2025, and 8.3% pa to 9.8% pa over three years to 31st December 2025. These returns are net of investment management fees and tax, and before administration fees, which means they reflect what members receive.

You can easily keep up to date with your super’s performance anytime by logging into your account or through our dedicated performance webpage. And if you'd like help understanding performance or knowing whether you’re in the right investment option, you can speak with one of our Financial Coaches. That’s expert advice, at no extra cost for members.

And, one more question we heard a lot….

Can I use my super to buy my first home or a property?

You may be able to use your super through the government’s First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS). This scheme allows eligible individuals to release certain voluntary contributions from super to put toward their first home.

There are specific rules about which contributions can be released, and the scheme can’t be used for investment properties. We encourage you to speak with your financial adviser, or give us a call to see if this scheme can work for you.

Disclaimer

^* ASFA Retirement Standard, December 2025. For retirees aged 65-84 who own their own home.

Financial Coaches provide financial advice under the Australian Financial Services licence (AFSL) of Actuate Alliance Services Pty Ltd ABN 40 083 233 925 AFSL 240 959 (Actuate). OPC has appointed Actuate to provide general and limited advice services (which includes simple super advice) to members of relevant products in the Retirement Portfolio Service. OPC and Actuate are part of the Insignia Financial Group.  Neither OPC, nor any other entity within Insignia Financial Group, including any other entity within the Insignia Financial Group that is a trustee for a regulated superannuation fund, is liable for or responsible for any work, action or advice provided by Actuate. For important information about Actuate’s services which you should know before making a booking, please refer to Actuate’s Website Disclosure Information.

¹ https://www.adviservoice.com.au/2025/11/investment-trends-2025-financial-advice-report

² SuperRatings Fund Crediting Rate Survey, SR50 MySuper Index as at 31 December 2025. Returns are calculated net of investment fees, tax and implicit asset-based administration fees. Explicit fees such as fixed dollar administration fees, exit fees, contribution fees and switching fees are excluded. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Ratings are only one factor to be taken into account when choosing a super fund.