5 step Super Rescue Plan
Feeling off-track or confused about super? You’re not alone – and it’s not too late. These five simple steps will help you to optimise and rebuild – no overwhelm, just progress that aligns with what matters to you.
Pro tip: Start with step 1 to get your baseline, then pick and choose from the others depending on your goals. Small, consistent moves make the biggest difference over time.
Step 1: Log in to set your starting point
Before you can move forward, it helps to know where you’re starting from. This isn’t about fixing things yet; it’s a quick scan so you know what you’re working with.
When you log in, check these four things:
Your balance. How much is in your super account right now?
Your contributions. What’s being added each pay (employer contributions plus your own)?
Your investment option. Which Future Super option(s) are you in? (e.g. Moderate, Growth, High Growth)?
Your beneficiaries Who have you nominated to receive your super if something happens to you?
That’s it. No pressure, no changes. Get to know your starting point so the next steps feel easier.
ACTION
Step 2: Find and combine any lost super
Make sure all your super is working together and invested in the things that matter to you.
If you have more than one super account (or aren’t sure where all your super is) you could be paying duplicate fees. One account is usually cheaper, simpler to manage, and means more of your money stays invested.
ACTION
Jump into the Future Super app and tap the ‘Find my super’ button on the dashboard. You’ll need to verify your identity so it can track down any lost super you might have, so you can choose what to combine. Or use myGov (or the ATO) to check for lost or unclaimed super and combine accounts in a few clicks.
If you find multiple accounts, you can roll them into Future Super with just a few taps – you’ll be aligning with your values and saving multiple admin fees in one go. This is one of the easiest ‘rescue’ actions you can take, and it can give your balance an instant boost without costing you a cent.
Tip: Combining funds could end any insurance cover held in the fund you’re leaving. You should consider the different fees and costs, amount of insurance cover offered and any other relevant information before deciding to transfer your super.
Step 3: Top up your super (without breaking the bank)
Not everyone has spare cash, and that’s okay. But if you can find even a little room, small, steady contributions can make a surprisingly big difference over time. With Future Super, every extra dollar also does double duty: it grows your retirement savings and is a vote for the future you want to see.
Think long term, start now
Compounding for the win. Even $10–$20 a week can snowball over the years as returns are reinvested.
Be tax savvy. Personal contributions you make from before tax salary as a salary sacrifice contribution (concessional contributions) are generally taxed at 15% inside super – often lower than your marginal tax rate. Read more...
Government top-ups. If you’re a low or middle-income earner and make after-tax (non-concessional) contributions, you could receive a government co-contribution of up to $500.
Finding extra cash
Here’s what wealth-builders do. Instead of saving ‘whatever’s left over,’ they treat saving like any other bill that needs to be paid. By saving, for example, $3 a day, this would total over $1,000 a year – not including all its compounding growth from being invested, like in super. If you can get yourself to a place like that then great, but don’t worry if you can’t. Daily micro-goals help too; if one day doesn’t go to plan, reset the next. Here’s some places that savvy savers trim their expenses.
Renegotiate bills or shop around for better deals
Use round-ups, buy second-hand, and hunt discounts
Plug ‘little leaks’ – unused subscriptions, impulse snacks, rideshares you don’t need
Avoid buying things on Afterpay or credit, if it leads to interest or overspend
Use any freed-up dollars to fund your super plan. Start small, build momentum and things can soon start to turn around.
ACTION
Automate BPay deposits into your super account, so you don’t need to remember to do it.
Talk to your employer about salary sacrifice (pre-tax) contributions. These come out of your pay before it’s taxed, reducing your taxable income and being all tax-efficient.
Step 4: See the difference your money makes
Super might feel like just numbers on a screen, but it’s real money invested in the real world. Every dollar helps shape the kind of future you’ll retire into, and your investment choice influences how your balance grows over time.
Choosing the right investments
Your time horizon: If retirement is decades away, you might be comfortable with higher-growth options aiming for bigger long-term returns (with more short-term ups and downs).
Your stage of life: As you get closer to retirement, you may prefer to keep a portion of your investments in steadier, safer options to help protect what you’ve built, even though they target lower growth.
Your comfort level: Different options move differently. Knowing that markets rise and fall can help you stay calm, and stay invested, while your money works for future you.
Your super is one of the biggest levers you have to align your money with your vision for the future. All Future Super investment options help back renewable energy and climate solutions.
ACTION
If you aren’t sure you’ve chosen the right investment option or mix, we’re here to help. Step 2 of Future Ready Check helps you choose the right mix - or chat with a Future Super coach for guidance that fits your goals. Both are already included in your membership.
Checking in doesn’t mean changing anything. It’s about making sure your super aligns with your goals, your stage of life, and your risk preferences.
Step 5: Lock it in
Super isn’t ‘set and forget.’ The easiest way to stay on track is to make quick check-ins a habit. It doesn’t need to be complicated – a two-minute look every few months keeps you connected and confident.
Make it a habit:
Set a calendar reminder (every six months works well).
Each time, glance at your balance, contributions, investment option, and update your contact details if they’ve changed.
Celebrate progress, even if it feels small. Consistency is what compounds.
Do a quick beneficiary check:
This one’s easy, free, and important. Nominate who should receive your super (and any insurance benefit) if something happens to you. Updating beneficiaries in your member portal only takes a few minutes and gives peace of mind that your money will go to the people you care about most.
There are two types of nominations:
Non-binding: expresses your wishes, but it’s a recommendation only.
Binding: a valid nomination the trustee must follow. At Future Super, this instruction remains in place and valid until you amend or revoke it, so should be reviewed periodically.
ACTION
Ready to rescue your super?
Future you will be glad you did. By making super a small but regular part of your routine, you’ll move it from the too-hard basket to a habit that steadily builds your future.
You don’t need to do everything at once. Start with one small step today, and you’re already ahead of yesterday, right? Over time, these simple habits add up, building not just your retirement savings, but the kind of future you want to be part of.
FAQs
How do I find and combine lost super?
Check for lost super and combine accounts in a few clicks, head to myGov or the ATO.
Remember to consider the different fees and costs, amount of insurance cover offered and any other relevant information before deciding to combine your super.
What’s the tax rate on salary-sacrificed super?
When it’s inside your super, you only pay 15% tax, subject to ATO caps and rules. This makes it a tax-efficient way of saving money.
Am I eligible for the government’s super co-contribution?
Eligible low to middle income earners could receive up to $500 from the government. Check your eligibility at the ATO.
What’s the difference between binding and non-binding beneficiaries?
Beneficiaries are the people you want to receive your super if you die. Being non-binding puts this decision at the discretion of the Trustee, who has to follow certain rules that may deviate from your wishes.
Setting up a binding beneficiary requires a bit more effort, but honours your decision.
The ATO has information about what happens to your super if you die, and you can find the relevant forms at Future Super.
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 April 2026