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Maximising super with a investment property sale

11 May 2026 | 4 mins read
David’s retirement strategy

David is 59 and he earns $117,000 a year. He plans to retire at 67. He currently has $231,000 in super and recently sold an investment property, making a $200,000 profit from the sale.

With his $200,000 profit, David wants to boost his retirement savings* and minimise tax, while staying within contribution rules.

Man in purple shirt with safety glasses and smiling

Goals

  • Increase his super balance for a stronger retirement income.
  • Use the available contribution strategies to reduce tax.
  • Retire debt-free and maintain financial flexibility.
Rules and eligibility
  • David is under 67, so he can make non-concessional contributions and use the bring-forward rule.
  • He meets the work test exemption (not required until age 67).
  • Bring-forward rule eligibility: Allows up to $360,000 in non-concessional contributions over 3 years, if the total super balance is under $1.76 million.
  • Carry-forward concessional contributions: If David has unused concessional cap amounts from the past 5 years, he can contribute extra concessional amounts and claim a tax deduction because his total super balance is below $500,000.

Financial Impact

Use this table to compare investing in a savings account or super for your retirement planning.
 

  Transferring $200,000 into a savings account
Making a $200,000 lump sum super contribution
Estimated super balance at age 67
$373,000 $608,000
Projected income in retirement from super
$55,500 $59,400
Tax on investment earnings (pre-retirement)  Earnings not in super can be taxed at up to 47%
Earnings in super taxed at 15% (0% in pension phase)

 

Key benefits

  • Concessional contributions (employer + salary sacrifice) are capped at $30,000 per year. Exceeding this can lead to extra tax penalties.
  • If they haven’t used their full cap in previous years and their super balance is under $500k, they may be eligible for catch-up contributions.
  • Assumes the individual draws down their entire balance between age 67 and 95.
  • Assumes David is married and a homeowner and earns $117,000.
  • Retirement balances are rounded to the nearest $1000 and retirement incomes are rounded to the nearest $100.
  • Numbers are presented in today's dollars, deflated using Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings (AWOTE) at 3.7% p.a.
  • Based on SG of 12%.
  • Based on current legislated tax rates as at 1 July 2025 and incorporating future legislated tax changes up to financial year 2027/28.
  • Fixed fee is assumed to be $52 p.a., increasing in line with assumed wage inflation of 3.7% p.a.
  • Investment returns are based on the Aware Super MySuper Life Cycle option, assumed to be CPI + 4% until age 55, reducing from CPI + 4% to CPI + 2.75% between the ages 55-65 (inclusive) and CPI + 2.75% from age 65 onwards.
  • Investment returns are assumed to be net of tax.
  • CPI is assumed to be 2.5% p.a.
  • No insurance premium is considered.
  • Projection does not allow for any Low-Income Super Tax Offset (LISTO) or Government Co-Contribution amounts.
  • This example is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to provide a guarantee on outcome. It is a broad illustration of the steps a member could take, but the actions appropriate for an individual will vary depending on their personal circumstances. The case study is based on current regulatory requirements and laws, including tax rates, which may be subject to change. Investment return assumptions are for illustrative purposes only and for simplicity assume an average rate of return each year throughout the investment period. Actual returns year on year may vary materially and can be negative as well. If investment returns/inflation are higher/lower, final balances will differ. Consider if this is right for you and read our Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD) before making a decision about Aware.

Your quick guide to lodging a notice of intent

This video shows you how to claim your tax deduction after making an after-tax contribution to super.

Make an after-tax contribution
Ready to bump-up your super balance? It’s easy. Simply log into the mobile app or Member Online.

Where to next?

* Before contributing, consider the relevant superannuation thresholds including the current annual limit for all before-tax contributions and after-tax contributions. Exceeding any of these thresholds, may reduce any tax benefits you could receive. Visit aware.com.au/grow.

[AD1] Advice provided by Aware Financial Services Australia Limited (ABN 86 003 742 756, AFSL 238430), wholly owned by Aware Super. 

[AD2] Members can get advice about their Aware Super accounts at no extra cost, or advice on their broader needs for a fee.

Past performance is not an indicator of future performance.