Sydney, 21 May 2025 – Australians in default superannuation investment strategies (MySuper) would be collectively $46 billion better off if their investments had been personalised to their age, according to new analysis from leading global investment firm Russell Investments. That translates to an average uplift of approximately $3,200 for each MySuper account holder.
Using its GoalTracker® strategy as a benchmark, Russell Investments compared the performance of its age-based MySuper solution to the industry’s MySuper options* over the five years to March 2025. The firm estimates that 14.5 million MySuper accounts would have achieved an average retirement savings uplift of 6.6% over the period if their investments had been aligned to their age.
“Russell Investments launched GoalTracker five years ago to help Australians close the gap between the income needed for the retirement they want and what they are on track to achieve,” said Jason Edgar, Head of Asia Pacific at Russell Investments.
“Many Australians remain in one-size-fits-all investment strategies that don’t reflect their individual needs. We now have the track record to prove that personalising super through age-based investing and individualised strategies improves retirement outcomes.”
While age is a valuable starting point, meaningful personalisation goes further. Helping individuals set a clear retirement income goal provides the foundation for stronger engagement and smarter decisions — from how much to contribute, to how to invest and when to retire. With the right goal in place, super can work harder toward the lifestyle each person wants after work.
“GoalTracker gives participants tangible measures of progress, not just a lump sum or return number, but a view of what their income in retirement could look like and how that is tracking against their retirement lifestyle goal,” Edgar added. “And we’re seeing stronger engagement and outcomes as a result.”
According to Russell Investments, more than half (55%) of its super fund members who have set a retirement income goal are now on track or exceeding their desired outcome – a 43 percent increase since the GoalTracker tools launched in 2020.
“This demonstrates a willingness among Australians to engage with their super, set a retirement income goal and track to it,” Edgar said.
Russell Investments emphasised that super funds have a powerful role to play in improving long-term outcomes, whether by supporting better contribution habits or managing investment risk dynamically on behalf of people.
“Good decisions early and throughout a person’s working life can make a huge difference,” said Joel Atputharaj, Director, Retirement Solutions at Russell Investments.
“In general, people should take on more investment risk earlier in their careers and reduce that risk as they near retirement. But knowing how a person is tracking toward their retirement income goal allows us to go further.”
“Two people might be a few years out from retirement but need very different strategies. Someone who’s on track can afford to reduce risk and preserve what they’ve built, while someone tracking behind might need to take more risk, contribute more, and/or retire a little later to catch up. That’s the power of knowing where you stand and adjusting accordingly.”
“This is where experts like Russell Investments can really help – managing asset allocation dynamically to help deliver outcomes based on each person’s actual goals and personal circumstances” Atputharaj added.
Russell Investments, through the Russell Investments Master Trust, manages the investments of iQ Super – for Life, iQ Retirement products, Nationwide Super, Resource Super, and Salaam superannuation. The Russell Investments Master Trust has approximately AUD$12 billion in assets and over 80,000 members (as at 31 March 2025).
The GoalTracker MySuper option launched in March 2020 and has delivered 5-year returns ranging from 8.15% p.a. to 10.83% p.a. across different age bands**.
*Source: Chant West MySuper data.
**As of 31 March 2025. GoalTracker inception date is 26 March 2020. Returns are net of investment fees, costs and investment taxes (where applicable), and also net of the trustee administration fee. Source: Russell Investments. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
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About Russell Investments
Russell Investments is a leading global investment solutions partner providing a wide range of investment capabilities to institutional investors, financial intermediaries, and individual investors around the world. Since 1936, Russell Investments has been building a legacy of continuous innovation to deliver exceptional value to clients, working every day to improve people’s financial security. The firm has US$332 billion (AUD $533 billion) in assets under management (as of 31/03/2025) for clients in 30 countries. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, Russell Investments has offices in 17 cities around the world.
Russell Investments' ownership is composed of a majority stake held by funds managed by TA Associates Management, L.P., with a significant minority stake held by funds managed by Reverence Capital Partners, L.P. Certain of Russell Investments' employees and Hamilton Lane Advisors, LLC also hold minority, non-controlling, ownership stakes.
Important information
Issued by Russell Investment Management Ltd ABN 53 068 338 974, AFSL 247185 (RIM) as investment manager for the Russell Investments Master Trust ABN 89 384 753 567 (RIMT). Total Risk Management Pty Limited ABN 62 008 644 353, AFSL 238790 (TRM) is the trustee of the RIMT. Nationwide Super, Resource Super and Salaam superannuation are Divisions of the RIMT.
The Product Disclosure Statements (‘PDS’), the Target Market Determinations and the Financial Services Guide can be obtained by phoning 1800 555 667 or by visiting russellinvestments.com.au or for Nationwide Super by phoning 1800 025 241 or visiting nationwidesuper.com.au, or for Resource Super by phoning 1800 824 227 or by visiting resourcesuper.com.au, or for Salaam superannuation by phoning 1300 926 626 or visiting salaam.com.au/super
This document provides general information only and has not been prepared having regard to your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider the latest PDS in deciding whether to acquire, or to continue to hold, an investment in any Russell Investments product. If you'd like personal advice, we can refer you to the appropriate person. This information has been compiled from sources Russell Investments considers to be reliable, but accuracy is not guaranteed. Any past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
To the extent permitted by law, no liability is accepted for any loss or damage as a result of reliance on this information. This material does not constitute professional advice or opinion and is not intended to be used as the basis for making an investment decision.
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