• Consider the age at which you'd like to retire, and the average life expectancy

• You will also need to include your partner in your plans, and whether your partner will require financial support
• Think about your current lifestyle, and whether you want to make changes, and the impact those changes will have on your financial situation
• Evaluate your investments, and bear in mind the impact inflation, interest rates and market performance will have on your savings by the time you retire
• Take into account whether you will be living in your own home or renting
• Also keep in mind the value of your current assets, and the amount of debt you may be carrying. It is essential to try and reduce the amount of debt you have by the time you retire.

Make a plan for your retirement

Remember to make allowances for the unexpected, including market or investment performance, illness, early retirement, changes to your family situation and the possible increases in the cost of living.

Making additional personal contributions to your superannuation can have a significant difference to the amount you have available when you retire. We've identified a number of strategies to help you increase the value of your super:

• Talk to your employer about making a salary sacrifice contribution. This will allow you to give up part of your before-tax salary. This amount is then paid directly into your super account by your employer. It has the additional advantage of lowering the cash value of your salary, which may mean you pay less income tax.
• Commit to making a regular personal contribution to your super fund
• You can make lump sum contributions at any time, allowing you to top up your super whenever you can afford to.