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Not in ten years' time. Not when you've finished paying off the mortgage. Tomorrow.
For many of us, imagining retirement isn't the hard part. Whether we'd feel ready for it is another question entirely.
MLC's 2026 Real Retirement Report found that 54% of Australians say financial independence and having enough money to retire comfortably are among their top life goals. Yet only 46% say they're looking forward to retirement.
Because while many of us have a clear picture of the future we'd like to enjoy, we're often less certain about whether we're on track to achieve it.
Many Australians actively engage with their super and recognise the importance of planning for retirement early.
53% believe retirement planning should start before 40. Yet only 34% have a plan for how long their savings will need to last in retirement.
Why? Because knowing retirement is important and feeling prepared for it are different things.
Often, the challenge isn't a lack of interest. It's a lack of clarity.
Your super balance is one of the most visible numbers in your financial life. You can check it online, see it on your annual statement and track how it changes over time. But knowing your balance isn't the same as understanding it.
A balance tells you what you've accumulated. It doesn't tell you:
The good news?
Retirement isn't just about a number. It's easy to think retirement is about reaching a certain number.
But if you could retire tomorrow, the number itself probably wouldn't be your focus.
You'd be thinking about whether your money could support the life you want to live.
The question shifts from:
"How much do I have?"
to:
"What could this allow me to do?"
And that's where retirement starts to feel more real.
At MLC, we believe everyone deserves a glorious retirement. The good news is that building retirement confidence doesn't always require major changes — often, small actions taken over time can have a meaningful impact.
Here are three areas to consider:
1. Grow you super where you can
It's not always easy to find extra money to contribute to super, especially with competing financial priorities. But if your circumstances allow, even small additional contributions can make a difference over time.
Options such as salary sacrifice or personal contributions may help grow your retirement savings, while potentially offering tax benefits. The key is finding an approach that works for your budget and goals.
2. Make sure your investments are working for you
The investment option you choose in super can play an important role in how your balance may change over time. Many super funds offer a range of options, from more conservative investments through to high growth strategies.
The right choice will depend on your personal circumstances, goals and attitude to risk, but it's worth taking the time to understand how your super is invested and whether it still aligns with where you're heading.
3. Give your super time to grow
One of the biggest advantages in retirement planning is time.
The earlier you start thinking about your future and taking action, the more opportunity your super has to benefit from the power of long-term growth and compounding.
These aren't necessarily dramatic decisions. But they can help turn retirement from something abstract into something more tangible.
And importantly, they can help you feel more in control of your future.
MLC’s Real Retirement Report found that 53% of Australians believe retirement planning should start before age 40, yet only 34% have a plan for how long their savings will need to last in retirement.
The good news is that you don't need to have all the answers today.
Often, building confidence starts with something much simpler: understanding where you stand now and taking the next step from there.
If you're one of the many Australians looking for more clarity about your retirement future, MLC’s Real Retirement hub is designed to help.
Whether retirement feels a long way off or is fast approaching, our Real Retirement hub brings together the latest research, practical tools and helpful resources to help you better understand where you stand today — and what steps you might consider next.
Visit the MLC Real Retirement hub to explore insights from MLC’s 2026 Real Retirement Report, access retirement tools and calculators, and discover resources that can help you better understand what your super could mean for your future.
Because a glorious retirement is a lifetime in the making.
Getting expert advice is all part of being with MLC - our team of Financial Coaches provide general advice related to your super, at no extra cost.
If you are an MLC member, book your appointment with a Financial Coach today.
About the research: Unless otherwise stated, statistics referenced in this article are sourced from the MLC Real Retirement Report (July 2026). The research was commissioned by MLC and conducted by McCrindle Research Pty Ltd between December 2025 and February 2026.
The information in this article is current as at July 2026 and may be subject to change.
Crunch the numbers to see if your retirement is on track to achieve your goals.
This article has been prepared by NULIS Nominees (Australia) Limited ABN 80 008 515 633 AFSL 236465 (NULIS) as trustee of the MLC Super Fund ABN 70 732 426 024 (Fund). NULIS is part of the Insignia Financial group of companies comprising Insignia Financial Ltd ABN 49 100 103 722 and its related bodies corporate (‘Insignia Financial Group’). This information may constitute general advice. The information in this article is general in nature and does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions based on this information. It is recommended that you consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD) before you make any decisions about your superannuation. You can obtain the latest copy of the PDS (or other disclosure documents) and TMD by calling us on 132 652 or by searching for the applicable product at mlc.com.au. You should not rely on this article to determine your personal tax obligations. Please consult a registered tax agent for this purpose. Opinions constitute our judgement at the time of issue. The case study examples (if any) provided in this article have been included for illustrative purposes only and should not be relied upon for decision making. Subject to terms implied by law and which cannot be excluded, neither NULIS nor any member of the Insignia Financial Group accept responsibility for any loss or liability incurred by you in respect of any error, omission or misrepresentation in the information in this communication.
The 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). NULIS has appointed Actuate to provide general advice services to members of the Fund. Actuate is part of the Insignia Financial Group. No other entity within Insignia Financial Group, including NULIS or 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.
