Check out these smart and easy ways to boost your super so you can live your best life when retirement comes around.

1. Find lost super and consolidate

Increase your retirement savings instantly by  finding and claiming lost super. You can boost your super without even contributing extra, just by discovering super you didn’t know you had!

And by bringing all your accounts together,  you’ll also have a clearer picture of your total super balance.

2. Choose the right investment option for your super

Your super isn’t just savings sitting in an account – it’s invested in assets like shares, bonds, and property. Most super funds offer options from conservative to high growth. If you’re young, a growth option with a higher exposure to growth assets like shares could offer higher returns over time. As retirement nears, you might want to consider a more conservative approach with more bonds to protect your savings. Find the balance that works for you!

3. Grow your super with extra contributions

It's not always easy to find extra cash to grow your super. But if you can manage it, contributing more than the minimum can pay off big time. Salary sacrificing can help you contribute more while enjoying tax benefits. Alternatively, you can make after-tax contributions to top up your super. Just remember to stay within the ATO’s contribution caps to avoid penalties. Find out more about concessional (pre-tax) contributions and non-concessional (after-tax) contributions.

4. Take advantage of government incentives

Get a Government boost to your super! One way, if eligible, is the government co-contribution – if you're a low or middle-income earner, you can get up to $500 per year in extra contributions when you add to your super.

There's also the spouse contribution: if your partner earns less than $40,000 or isn't working, you can contribute to their super and get a tax offset in return. It's a great way to boost your spouse’s retirement savings while getting a tax break!

5. Review your insurance needs

Most super funds offer insurance options like life insurance, disability cover, and income protection, but these can come with insurance premiums that eat into your balance. It's important to review your insurance needs and consider reducing coverage if you already have policies in place elsewhere. Use our insurance estimator to see if you have the right level of cover.

6. Start early to grow your super and be patient!

Growing your super isn't a get-rich-quick scheme; it's a long game, and there will be ups and downs along the way. But the sooner you contribute, the more your savings benefit from compounding returns. The earlier you start contributing, the more time your savings have to grow. Even small, regular contributions add up over time. If you're in your 20s or 30s, don't wait! Start today, and you'll thank yourself later.

Important information and disclaimer 
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. 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’). The information in this article is current as at March 2025 and may be subject to change. 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.