7 Ways to Boost Your Superannuation Before Retirement

Last Updated: August 24, 2026

For many Australians, superannuation will be one of the most important sources of income in retirement. But simply having a super account is not the same as having a retirement strategy.

The years leading up to retirement can provide valuable opportunities to increase your superannuation balance, improve the tax effectiveness of your contributions and ensure your investments are aligned with the retirement lifestyle you want.

At Veyron Wealth Group, we believe the strategy should come first. Rather than simply maximising contributions, we look at your income, cash flow, debt, superannuation, investments, tax position and retirement goals to determine what makes sense for your circumstances.

Here are seven strategies worth considering.

1. Consider Salary Sacrifice Contributions

Salary sacrifice allows you to direct part of your pre-tax salary into superannuation rather than receiving it as take-home income.

For eligible taxpayers, concessional contributions — including employer contributions and salary sacrifice contributions — are generally taxed within super at 15%, subject to the relevant rules and circumstances.

This can make salary sacrifice particularly useful for people who are working and paying tax at a higher marginal rate.

However, the objective should not simply be to contribute as much as possible.

The right amount depends on factors such as:

The current concessional contribution cap and your existing contributions should always be checked before implementing a strategy.

The key question is: how much should you contribute to super, rather than simply how much can you contribute?

2. Make Use of Unused Concessional Contribution Caps

If you have not used your full concessional contribution cap in previous years, you may be able to use those unused amounts in a later financial year.

This carry-forward provision can be particularly valuable for people who:

There is an important eligibility condition: generally, your total superannuation balance must have been below $500,000 at 30 June of the previous financial year to access unused concessional cap amounts from previous years. Unused amounts can generally be carried forward for up to five years.

This means contribution planning is often more effective when it starts well before the end of the financial year.

Your available contribution history can be checked through your ATO records, but it is important to consider all contributions being made during the year before making additional payments.

Professional illustration showing Professional for boost superannuation balance

3. Consider Personal Contributions and the Non-Concessional Contribution Rules

For some people, the opportunity is not simply about making additional pre-tax contributions.

If you have surplus cash outside super, personal after-tax contributions may provide another way to build your retirement savings.

These are generally referred to as non-concessional contributions and are subject to their own contribution limits and eligibility requirements.

Depending on your circumstances, the bring-forward arrangements may also allow eligible individuals to contribute more than the standard annual non-concessional cap over a specified period.

This can be particularly relevant following:

However, contributing a large amount to super is not automatically the right strategy.

Before making a significant contribution, you should consider your available contribution cap, total super balance, access to the money, investment strategy and how the contribution fits within your overall retirement plan.

4. Consider a Downsizer Contribution When Selling Your Home

Selling the family home can create a significant opportunity to increase retirement savings.

Eligible individuals aged 55 or over may be able to make a downsizer contribution of up to $300,000 from the proceeds of selling an eligible home. There is no maximum age for making a downsizer contribution.

A downsizer contribution is treated as a non-concessional contribution but does not count towards the standard non-concessional contribution cap, provided the eligibility requirements are satisfied.

There are specific rules around ownership of the property, the nature of the property, the timing of the sale and contribution, and previous downsizer contributions.

Importantly, the contribution can still have implications for your overall superannuation position and future retirement income strategy.

For someone approaching retirement, downsizing can therefore be much more than a property decision. It can form part of a broader strategy involving:

home equity → superannuation → retirement income → long-term financial security.

Professional illustration showing boost superannuation balance

5. Take Advantage of Government Superannuation Incentives Where Eligible

Not every superannuation strategy involves making large contributions.

Some eligible Australians may receive additional government support through the super co-contribution.

If you make eligible personal after-tax contributions and satisfy the relevant income and other requirements, the government may contribute up to $500 to your super. The maximum entitlement and income thresholds are subject to change.

There are also other superannuation concessions and strategies that may be relevant depending on your circumstances, including spouse contributions and strategies for lower-income earners.

The important point is to consider these opportunities as part of your overall contribution strategy rather than treating them as isolated benefits.

6. Review Your Super Accounts and Investment Options

Increasing your super balance is only part of the equation.

You also need to consider how your super is invested.

Many Australians remain in the default investment option selected when they first joined their super fund. That may or may not still be appropriate years later.

Your investment strategy should reflect your circumstances, including:

It is not simply a case of choosing “growth” because retirement is still several years away, or automatically becoming conservative as retirement approaches.

The appropriate investment strategy depends on the whole financial picture.

At Veyron, we look at your superannuation investment strategy in the context of your broader financial plan rather than considering the super account in isolation.

7. Review Your Entire Retirement Strategy — Not Just Your Super Balance

Perhaps the most important strategy is to stop thinking about superannuation as a standalone account.

The real objective is not necessarily to have the biggest possible super balance.

It is to have enough financial resources to support the retirement lifestyle you want, for as long as you need it.

That means asking questions such as:

These questions are often more important than simply asking, “How can I put more money into super?”

Building a Superannuation Strategy That Fits Your Retirement Goals

There are numerous ways to increase your retirement savings, but the most effective approach is usually to coordinate them.

For one person, salary sacrifice may be appropriate. For another, making a personal contribution, using unused concessional cap amounts or contributing proceeds from the sale of a property may be more appropriate.

For someone else, the priority may actually be paying down debt, building investments outside super or retaining greater access to their capital.

This is why at Veyron Wealth Group, strategy comes before products.

We start by understanding your current financial position and where you want to go. We then consider your cash flow, debt, superannuation, investments, tax considerations, insurance and retirement objectives before developing a strategy.

Our approach follows six stages:

Define → Gather → Analyse → Develop → Implement → Evolve

The strategy can then be reviewed as your circumstances change.

The Bottom Line

Boosting your superannuation before retirement can be an important part of building financial security, but the right strategy is different for everyone.

Salary sacrifice, carry-forward contributions, personal contributions, downsizer contributions, government incentives and investment strategy can all play a role.

The key is knowing which strategies are appropriate for you, how much to contribute and how those contributions fit into your wider retirement plan.

Your goal should not simply be a larger super balance.

It should be having the financial resources, investment strategy and retirement income plan to support the lifestyle you want.

Want to know whether you’re on track for retirement?

Book a consultation with Veyron Wealth Group

Veyron Wealth Group can help you assess your superannuation, cash flow, investments and retirement objectives and develop a strategy tailored to your circumstances.

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