Getting started with super
Consider this your essential guide to superannuation basics. Our members join Future Super because they want a sustainable super fund for real climate impact that builds a future worth retiring into – but at its core, superannuation exists to build your future wealth so you can enjoy life when you eventually stop work.
Something to look forward to, right?
Some people may ‘set and forget’ their super – it comes out of your pay, goes into your super, and sits there waiting for you in the future. But this is your money we’re talking about and a few small moves now can make a huge difference later, giving it a boost to keep you on track for your dream future.
This beginner-friendly guide breaks super into bite-sized pieces so you can get set up fast, feel confident, and keep your future self cashed-up for the fun stuff.
What is super?
Superannuation is a long-term investment account designed to fund your life after full-time work.
If you’re employed in Australia, your employer generally pays a percentage of your ordinary time earnings into your chosen super fund.
This is called the Superannuation Guarantee (SG). From 1 July 2025, the SG rate is 12%. That means for every $1,000 you earn in ordinary-time earnings, your employer must contribute $120 to your super.
You can also add your own contributions (more on that below). Over decades, those contributions get invested and (ideally) grow.
Your super works as a team
Your super is more than a bank account with cash just sitting there. It’s designed to grow, so it’s typically invested across a mix of assets, like shares, property, bonds, and alternatives.
These all play different positions on the field, so when one has a rough patch, others may be able to carry the score. This is your team, and that mix is called diversification, and it’s there to help smooth out the ride over time.
Why it matters: Diversification spreads risk so your balance has a better chance of growing steadily across decades, not just seasons.
Want a real-world peek? Explore Future Super’s investment options to see the different risk/return mixes in action.
How your money makes money
Because your money is invested rather than sitting in a safe somewhere, it’s designed to grow and earn its own money, called returns. This money is added to your balance where it earns more money. This snowball effect is the magic of compounding.
Think of it as planting seeds, which grow fruit, then you re-plant the seeds from the fruit. The longer you keep doing this, the bigger your orchard grows. Over a long time horizon, even small, regular contributions can turn into surprisingly big balances.
Why it matters: The earlier you tune in, the longer compounding has to work for you. Even tiny steps now beat big steps later – because time is the secret sauce.
Why your money needs to grow
Here’s why just leaving your money in cash isn’t going to cut it. Prices rise over time; that’s inflation, which quietly erodes your money’s buying power. Investing your super is about outpacing inflation so that future-you can actually afford your future life.
Why it matters: Ten dollars today won’t buy the same in 20 or 30 years. Investing your super aims to protect (and grow) your lifestyle power, not just your account balance.
Risk: finding your comfort zone
Investing is how money grows – but all investing involves ups and downs. Growth-oriented options (more shares, more risk) can swing more in the short term, but usually aim for higher long-term returns. Conservative options (more bonds/cash, less risk) tend to be steadier but aim lower. Future Super lets you choose an investment option that matches your comfort with risk.
For help choosing between conservative, balanced or growth options – and what those risk levels really mean, check out our guide to Future Super’s investment options.
Why it matters: If you’ve got decades until retirement, you may be comfortable taking on more growth at a higher risk. Closer to retirement, you might prefer to play it safe. Your ideal mix depends on your goals, timeline, and comfort with volatility, not your age alone.
Your 10-minute game plan
Step 1: Log in and look around
Log in to your super account and check your balance, investment option, fees, and insurance. If you’re a Future Super member, you can start in your app. If you’re not sure where all your super is, jump to Step 2.
Step 2: Find and consolidate
If you’ve ever changed jobs, addresses or names, there’s a chance you may have got stray super sitting elsewhere. Use myGov (or the ATO) to check for lost or unclaimed super and combine accounts in a few clicks. myGov also lets you see what your employer has paid and when.
If you’re with Future Super, you can roll other super into it through your member portal account using the ‘Find my super’ function on your dashboard. One account = one set of fees, one investment strategy, less admin clutter.
Remember to consider the different fees and costs, amount of insurance cover offered and any other relevant information before deciding to combine your super.
Step 3: Sense-check your investment option
Check your current Future Super option in your member portal or app (click more, then account details) and read the risk/return summary. Does it match your time horizon and your nerves? Does it do what you want it to do?
Step 4: Know your contributions (and boost them if you want)
From 1 July 2025, most employees should receive 12% SG from their employer. Check your payslip or your Future Super account transaction history to make sure contributions are landing.
If you want it all to grow faster, you can add more yourself via salary sacrifice (pre-tax) [link to come] or after-tax contributions (subject to caps). Even a small extra contribution can compound into $$$ over time.
Step 5: Review your insurance and fees
Many super funds include insurance (like death and total & permanent disability cover) with premiums paid from your super each month. Make sure the cover you’re paying for matches what you actually want and need.
You’ve got this. Being good at super just involves tidying things up then checking in every now and then. Start today, set a six-monthly reminder, and let compounding do what it does best.
Quick Action Checklist
(copy to your phone Notes)
Log in to your super account.
Check for lost super or multiple accounts.
See what investment option you’re in, and whether it matches your comfort with risk.
Put a reminder in your calendar to check every 6 months
Get some help from our Coach team to make sure you are on track
Essentials to remember
It’s your money. Not your employer’s, not the government’s. Yours.
It’s invested, not parked. Diversification is there to steady the ride.
Time is your superpower. Compounding needs years. Start now, however small.
Inflation is real. Growing your balance aims to protect your future lifestyle.
Risk should fit you. Pick an option that matches your timeline and temperament.
A few minutes now pays off later. Awareness > better decisions > more freedom.
3 super myths, busted
‘I’ll sort it later.’
Waiting costs real money because you lose compounding time. Starting small today usually beats starting big later.
‘It’s too complicated.’
Think: log in → check your balance and option → find any lost super → set a reminder. That’s it for today. You can layer in the fancy stuff (like extra contributions) once you’ve nailed the basics.
‘I’m young, it doesn’t matter yet.’
It matters most when you’re young because you have the most years for compounding to do its thing. Early action = lighter lifting later.
All information is general in nature and does not take account of your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider speaking with a Future Super Coach or a financial adviser. Information is current as of December 2025.