Accessing super

When you retire, the role of your super changes from accumulating your nest egg to generating your retirement income.

Super funds and life insurance companies offer a range of retirement income products, including some that are guaranteed to provide income for life, so you can find one (or even a combination) to suit your needs and priorities. These products are called pensions and annuities.

Because investment earnings on pensions and annuities purchased with super money are tax-free, the government uses the transfer balance cap to place a limit on the amount you can use to invest in them.

A pension or annuity can also be combined with income from the Age Pension or other investments.