315. Why is super so easy to ignore when the numbers are this big?

Super is easy to ignore because you might not touch it for decades. But in this episode, one simple 30-year example turns a small difference in net returns into almost $400,000.

So how much attention does your super actually deserve while retirement still feels far away?

In this episode, Tash and Jack unpack why super can feel boring, distant and wildly complicated, even though it can shape a huge part of retirement. They compare super with investing in your own name, then get into tax, first-home rules, investment choices, fees, SMSFs and some easy-to-miss admin.

In this episode we'll discuss:

🧮 How their $100,000 example grows to roughly $1.15 million versus $760,000 over 30 years under two different net return assumptions.

🔓 Why Tash preferred investing in her own name as a sole trader, including taking $10,000 out of super during Covid and investing it herself.

🧾 The difference between salary sacrifice and topping up super yourself, including the notice of intent that can matter when claiming a tax deduction.

🏠 How the First Home Super Saver conversation quickly gets complicated, from contribution limits to what happens if you change your property plans.

📈 Why money locked away for decades raises a very different investment question from money you may need sooner.

🏦 Whether some large super funds are becoming increasingly index-like, and why Jack questions paying higher fees if a portfolio closely follows a benchmark.

💸 Why SMSFs can come with thousands of dollars in annual admin costs before you even get to the investments themselves.

🧓 The surprise around people reaching retirement age while still holding large balances in accumulation phase, and why the distinction between accumulation and pension matters.

🎰 A listener question involving $225,000 of NRL gambling winnings, gold, borrowing, trusts and a girlfriend they do not trust with the money.

The big takeaway? Super can feel distant, inaccessible and full of rules, but those same features can make the details matter. The episode keeps returning to the trade-off between tax, access, fees, investment choices and flexibility. There is no single setup that suits everyone, but understanding what is happening inside your super can make the trade-offs much clearer.

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Get Rich Slow Club

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Disclaimer:

Any advice is general and does not consider your financial situation needs, or objectives, so consider whether it’s appropriate for you. You should also consider seeking professional advice before making any financial decision.

Pearler is an Authorised Representative 1281540 of Sanlam Private Wealth Pty Ltd AFSL 337927. Read the FSG available from https://pearler.com/financial-services-guide

If you are considering any of the products we spoke about during the show, be sure to read the Product Disclosure Statement & Target Market Determination available from the product issuer’s website before deciding.

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