Women Need to Make Most of Self Managed Superannuation

The Super Gap: A Serious Retirement Issue for Women

A recent study has revealed that Australian women retire with, on average, $200,000 less in superannuation savings than men. This gap is largely due to the career breaks associated with maternity leave and a higher incidence of part-time work after having children. It’s a long-standing problem, and one that’s well understood.

What’s less discussed is that women are not fully utilising the benefits of self managed superannuation funds (SMSFs), despite having a longer life expectancy and a greater need for retirement income that lasts.

The Reality: Women's Super Is Being Spent Too Fast

According to Fiona Reynolds, former CEO of the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees:

“About 57 per cent [of women] have nothing left after a year [into retirement].”

That’s a staggering statistic. The median super balance for working women is just $27,200 — a figure far too low to sustain even a modest retirement.

SMSFs Offer a Strategic Advantage

While contributing more than the compulsory 11% employer superannuation guarantee is an obvious step, SMSFs offer significant strategic advantages for building retirement savings, especially for women.

One of the most effective strategies available to couples with an SMSF is superannuation contribution splitting.

What Is Superannuation Contribution Splitting?

If you're part of a couple, you can split concessional (pre-tax) super contributions with your spouse — and this can be a game changer for women.

For example:

• A man can transfer up to 85% of his concessional contributions from the previous year into his wife’s super account.

• This boosts the woman’s retirement savings, especially if she has taken time out of the workforce.

• The higher income earner also retains the tax deduction from making the full concessional contribution.

Types of contributions that may be split include:

• Employer contributions

• Salary sacrifice amounts

• Personal contributions for which a tax deduction is claimed (common for self-employed individuals)

Another Win: The Spouse Super Contribution Tax Offset

There’s another strategy available for couples where one partner earns a low income or is not working. If a man contributes up to $3,000 to his wife’s super fund, and she earns less than $10,800 per year, he may receive a tax offset of up to $540.

This incentive is available every year, making it a valuable long-term strategy for couples planning retirement together.

Why It Matters

Women face a greater risk of outliving their retirement savings, yet too few are taking advantage of strategies like contribution splitting and SMSFs. Taking control of your super through an SMSF not only offers flexibility and control, but it also creates opportunities for better long-term financial security.

At Dolman Bateman, we help women and couples structure their SMSFs to maximise super contributions, minimise tax, and secure a better retirement.

Get Advice That Empowers Your Future

If you're ready to explore how an SMSF can work for you or your family, we can help. Contact Dolman Bateman today for expert, independent advice.

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Disclaimer:

The information provided in this article is general in nature and does not constitute personal financial, legal or tax advice. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this content at the time of publication, tax laws and regulations may change, and individual circumstances vary. Dolman Bateman accepts no responsibility or liability for any loss or damage incurred as a result of acting on or relying upon any of the information contained herein. You should seek professional advice tailored to your specific situation before making any financial or tax decision.