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Transition to

retirement

Are you starting to think about winding down your workload? At Hostplus, we can help make your transition to retirement as seamless as possible.

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Wind down your workload, 

not your lifestyle

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What can I do to transition to retirement?

If you’re looking to scale back your work hours but don’t want to reduce your income, you could utilise a Hostplus Transition to Retirement (TTR) account.
 
A TTR account lets you invest your super and draw a regular income while you’re still working, giving you time to get ready for life’s next big adventure. To be eligible, you need to have reached your preservation age (typically between the ages of 55 and 60) and have a minimum of $10,000 to invest. 

Save more

By drawing an income from your TTR account, you can use your current wage to increase your super contributions (subject to contribution caps) and potentially reduce your tax. Your employer will also continue to make super contributions, which helps to offset any money you take out of your account.

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Work less

Your TTR account can allow you to reduce your hours at work, so you can gently transition into retirement without losing your income. Whether it’s spending more time with the grandkids, going on holiday, or rediscovering a favourite hobby, it’s time to enjoy the fruits of your hard work.

Make an
informed choice

Learn more about a Hostplus Transition to Retirement account in our detailed guides.

Have a question about

transitioning
to retirement? 

Find answers to some of the questions we commonly get asked about our TTR accounts. 

TTR accounts are available to all super fund members who’ve reached their preservation age but are still working. You must invest a minimum of $10,000 from your current super fund. 

Temporary residents are unable to access TTR accounts.

In most cases, superannuation benefits are released once you reach your ‘preservation age’ and are permanently retired. Your preservation age depends on when you were born.

Date of birthPreservation age
Before 1 July 196055
1 July 1960–30 June 196156
1 July 1961–30 June 196257
1 July 1962–30 June 196358
1 July 1963–30 June 196459
After 1 July 196460

Unless you have met a condition of release, your TTR account is in the taxed environment until you reach the age of 65. This means investment earnings are taxed at 15% (unless you have retired and advised us that you have done so). There is no limit on the amount of money you can have in your TTR account while it is in this taxed environment.

After 65 years of age, your TTR account is automatically in the tax-free environment. This means that investment earnings are tax-free and the transfer balance cap is triggered. The transfer balance cap limits how much money you can have in the tax-free environment.

On 1 July 2017, the Australian government introduced the ‘transfer balance cap’. The cap (currently $1.9 million) is a lifetime limit on the total amount of super that can be transferred to retirement income streams. This includes Hostplus retirement accounts. 

Head to the ATO website to learn more about the transfer balance cap.

The Australian Government has set guidelines around the minimum you can withdraw each year. You can read more about the guidelines in the Pension Guide.

A maximum annual income limit also applies to TTR accounts. This is 10% of your account balance at the beginning of each financial year, or on the start date of your TTR account in its first year. 

You won’t be able make lump sum withdrawals out of a TTR account until you meet a condition of release, except for any unrestricted non-preserved component.

Under federal legislation, superannuation benefits must be ‘preserved’ for retirement. This means they must be kept within a complying superannuation or rollover fund until a ‘condition of release’ is met, which allows benefits to be paid. The conditions of release are:

  • You have reached the preservation age and are permanently retired from the workforce.
  • You have reached age 60 and terminated employment.
  • You have reached age 65.
  • You are totally and permanently disabled.
  • You are terminally ill.
  • You are an eligible dependant in receipt of a death benefit income stream.

Understanding your retirement

Learning about this next stage of your life can put your mind at ease. It’s why we’ve put together some information to help you.

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Plan your finances

It’s the big question when it comes to retirement: how much money do you need? We’ve identified some ways to help you find an answer. 

Business tools

Retirement tools and resources

Get prepared for retirement with practical tools and resources. Find frequently asked questions, calculators, fact sheets and other information to help you feel in control. 

Trusted financial advice

Want to know whether you have enough savings to live comfortably when you retire? Or would you like some direction when it comes to your retirement plans? Our financial planners can help work out what transitioning to retirement looks like for you.