A smarter retirement calculator, designed around what members need most.

After working in retirement for years, and speaking with so many members one‑on‑one, I’ve learned there are really two questions people want answered more than anything else: 

 
“Do I have enough to retire?” and, “Will it last?” 

 
Those questions aren’t just about numbers. They reflect very real emotions. The fear of running out of money, the worry of getting it wrong, and the pressure of making big decisions at a time that’s already full of change.

That’s why I’m so excited to introduce our new and improved retirement calculator.  Because confidence that retirement income will last is the number one need for people approaching retirement. It’s the key emotional driver behind our member’s decisions. 

Retirement tools and calculators can give you more confidence about your future retirement because they help you understand whether you’re on track, and how you can improve your future financial outcomes. With large, or even small, decisions. 

And that’s exactly what our new retirement calculator is designed to deliver.  

We’ve designed the new calculator to focus on the things members tell us they need most, and to remove the friction that makes it easy to put decisions off. 

Here are some of the key features and most exciting ways our new retirement calculator helps plan for the future. 

• Built‑in budgeting:
  This helps members pick a realistic retirement income target. Instead of guessing what you’ll need, it helps you sense‑check your retirement spending so your “target income” is grounded in reality.
  
  
• More ways to model boosting your super, not just extra contributions.
  Alongside the usual “add extra contributions” modelling, it also supports common real‑life strategies like downsizer contributions and First Home Super Saver impacts.
  
  
• A fuller picture of your retirement situation, not just super alone.
  It can factor in Age Pension and other income or assets as part of the modelling, so you’re getting a much more complete view of what your retirement income could look like.
  
  
• Designed for real lives – so you can model career breaks, part‑time work, and partner income together.
  You can reflect the reality that many people don’t retire in a straight line. If you’re planning as a couple, you can view outcomes together so the results feel relevant to your household.
  
  
• Refine your plan and income strategy to meet your goals
  You can test how different investment approaches might affect your future balance, and include one‑off goals or withdrawals like travel, home upgrades, or other big life plans.
  
  
• More guidance built into the journey so it’s easier to use, and easier to act on
  It’s designed to feel clearer and more intuitive. It includes prompts that help you understand your options and what you could do next. So you’re not left staring at a chart and wondering how to move forward.

Those six points map directly to what we know matters most at the transition moment: lasting income, simplicity, flexibility, and support.

The point of this calculator isn’t to predict the future perfectly. It’s to help you make better decisions today, with a clearer understanding of your options. 

If retirement is a new chapter, then clarity is the first page. And my hope is that this new calculator helps more Australians feel steady, supported, and confident enough to take that next step. 

 So what are you waiting for?  

Calculate your retirement wealth today and see how your retirement savings and income could look, with a clear view of your goals and how close you are to reaching them. 

Using the retirement calculator is a great first step to understanding where you stand and the kind of retirement you’re working towards. 

Once you’ve explored your results and have a clearer view of your goals, you might want to consider your financial advice options. Personal financial advice can help you turn the insights from your calculator results into a tailored plan, so you can move forward with even greater clarity and confidence. 

Our financial advice offering at Colonial First State starts with options at no extra cost. They range from comprehensive, ongoing advice with a financial adviser, to more general advice which can point you in the right direction.