Help & support
Previously, in your teen years it’s likely you worked a couple of different jobs and didn’t pay too much attention to your super. If you still have multiple super accounts from this time, consider bringing them all together to keep track of your super easier and avoid paying multiple account fees which erodes your balance.1
To search and consolidate your super visit MyGov.
If your employer is making employer contributions to another superannuation fund and you would like them to make the contributions into Essential Super, share your super account details with your employer simply by logging onto the CommBank app > select Essential Super > Tell your employer.
Depending on your income, you may be eligible for up to $500 a year in government co-contributions when you make personal (after-tax) contributions to your super fund. See more about government co-contributions.
By law your employer is generally required to put 11.5% of your gross salary into your super account. If you choose to make extra pre-tax super contributions (for example salary sacrifice contributions) you may save tax.2
Pre-tax contributions into your super are, for most people, taxed at a rate of 15%, which may be less than your marginal tax rate. Check out ASIC’s MoneySmart website for a simple to use calculator that can really help you optimise your contributions.
See more information from the Australian Government on contribution caps and thresholds.
Find out how you can make a contribution into your Essential Super account.
Getting insurance through your super can be a cost effective way to get coverage if you think this is something you need.
With Essential Super, we offer Death as well as Total and Permanent Disablement (TPD) cover for members with your premiums paid out of the money in your super account.
From 1 April 2020, super funds can only set up insurance automatically in your super if you are aged 25 and over and have a balance of $6,000 or more. However you have the option to opt into obtaining insurance coverage.
Insurance is optional and it’s a good idea to check whether you have insurance in your super. If you do, review your insurance including the level of cover and premiums to make sure it’s right for you. You may want to consider insurance options that are outside your super as well.
It’s important to read through the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) closely so you know exactly what you’re getting.
ASIC’s MoneySmart website also explains what type of life insurance cover members can get through their super, as well as things to consider with each type of insurance cover.
To review your insurance options, log on to NetBank > Essential Super > View Insurance.
How your super is invested can make a difference to its performance and balance by the time you retire. Typically, growth assets like property and shares have higher returns than defensive assets like cash and fixed interest, but carry more risk. Most investment options in super funds have a mix of both growth and defensive assets. Your super balance may go up and down when markets fluctuate from time to time so it’s a good idea to review and make sure you’re comfortable with the type of investment options selected in your super. With Essential Super, your money is automatically invested in one of our Lifestage options based on your age. Over 90%3 of our members are in this option. Our Lifestage investment options have been designed to give more exposure to growth at a younger age and get more defensive as members get older. Your investment mix is adjusted as you grow older.
To see how your super is invested, log into NetBank > select Essential Super > Manage Investments
Our Investment Fact Sheets will show you a short summary of the all of the available investment options, the strategy and its performance over time.
Read the investment holdings for each option and Target Market Determination (TMD) for Essential Super.
1 Before you make a decision on consolidating your super, you should compare the costs, fees, risks and benefits of your other super funds against Essential Super. It makes sense to consider whether you can replace any insurance cover you may lose upon rolling over, potential costs for withdrawing from other super funds as well as any investment or tax implications. You should also decide which super fund you want your employer to pay your future employer contributions to and complete a Super Choice form if necessary.
2 Contribution caps apply
3 As at 1 February 2024
Avanteos Investments Limited ABN 20 096 259 979, AFSL 245531 (referred to as Colonial First State, CFS, ‘we’, ‘us’ or ‘our’) is the Trustee of Essential Super ABN 56 601 925 435 and the issuer of interests in Essential Super. Essential Super is distributed by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia ABN 48 123 123 124, AFSL 234945 (the Bank). The CFS Group consists of Superannuation and Investments HoldCo Pty Limited ABN 64 644 660 882 (HoldCo) and its subsidiaries, which includes CFS. The Bank holds an interest in the CFS Group through its significant minority interest in HoldCo.
This information is issued by CFS and may include general financial product advice but does not consider your individual objectives, financial situation, needs or tax circumstances, and so you should consider the appropriateness of the advice having regard to your circumstances before acting on it. The Target Market Determination (TMD) for Essential Super can be found at cfs.com.au/tmd and includes a description of who the financial product is appropriate for and any conditions on how the product can be distributed to customers. You should read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and the Reference Guides for Essential Super carefully and consider whether the information is appropriate for you before making any decision regarding this product. Download the PDS and Reference Guides at commbank.com.au/essentialsuper-documents or call us on 13 4074 for a copy.
None of the Bank, HoldCo, CFS, nor any of their respective subsidiaries guarantee the performance of Essential Super or the repayment of capital by Essential Super. An investment in this product is subject to risk, loss of income and capital invested. An investment in Essential Super is via a superannuation trust and is therefore not an investment in, deposit with or other liability of the Bank or its subsidiaries.
The insurance provider is AIA Australia Limited ABN 79 004 837 861, AFSL 230043 (AIA Australia). AIA Australia is not part of the Commonwealth Bank Group or CFS. Insurance cover is provided to eligible members of Essential Super under policies issued to CFS.
Any information provided by CBA may include general financial product advice but does not consider your individual objectives, financial situation, needs or tax circumstances, and so you should consider the appropriateness of the advice having regard to your circumstances before acting on it. You should read the PDS and the Reference Guides for Essential Super carefully and consider whether the information is appropriate for you before making any decision regarding this product.
