Study finds retirees spend less on themselves and die rich
A new CSIRO study has found Australian retirees are modestly spending well into old age and leaving behind a nest egg for others to enjoy instead.
Behavioural economist Andrew Reeson told the Australian Financial Review this morning:
“It seems no matter how large a person’s superannuation balance they stick to the minimum drawdown rates mandated by the government [for tax and pension purposes].”
"It does seem far from ideal...that so much of the savings people have built up may end up being enjoyed by others," Reeson said.
Experts and politicians are known to speculate that the reason why seniors leave behind a pool of money when they die is to benefit their children and family.
Last year, then Minister for Social Services Scott Morrison encouraged seniors to spend their superannuation savings instead of counting on pension payments.
"It is not unreasonable for people who have benefited from tax concessions to build up sizeable superannuation balances to then be expected to draw down on those balances in retirement, rather than draw on a taxpayer-funded pension," Minister for Social Services Scott Morrison said at a press conference last year.
As current Treasurer of the Federal Government, Scott Morrison is looking into cutting tax concessions for those who retire wealthy. In November last year he spoke at the Association of Superannuation Funds Australia and hinted at potential superannuation changes for the future generation of retirees.
But it would seem that not all Australians are dying rich. While gender-specific results of the CSIRO study reported in the Australian Financial Review have not been revealed, another study found women on average retire with 46.6% less than men.
The government body called Workplace Gender Equality Agency that pointed to the retirement gap between men and women called for changes in workforce culture for working women.
Do you have confidence in where your savings are growing? Check out the range of savings accounts Mozo compares to find the right one for your nest egg.
Savings account comparisons on Mozo - last updated 11 September 2021
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Boost Saver with Go Account
Maximum rate
standard interest rate
Govt Deposit Guarantee
1.50% p.a. (for $0 to $250,000)0.10% p.a.(for $0 and over)Yes up to $250,000Intro bonus rate of 1.50% for first 3 months, reverting to 1.20% after. Deposit $2,000 each month and make 5 eligible payments from your Go Account. If you are between 18 and 25 deposit $1,000.
Enjoy a savings account bundled with a spending account. No monthly fees. New customers can earn up to 5000 bonus Virgin Money points on purchases (conditions apply). Benefit together with a joint account
CompareCompareBoost Saver with Go Account
Enjoy a savings account bundled with a spending account. No monthly fees. New customers can earn up to 5000 bonus Virgin Money points on purchases (conditions apply). Benefit together with a joint account
- Maximum rate
- 1.50% p.a. (for $0 to $250,000)
- standard interest rate
- 0.10% p.a.(for $0 and over)
- Govt Deposit Guarantee
- Yes up to $250,000
- account fee per month
- $0.00
- Maximum rate conditions
- Intro bonus rate of 1.50% for first 3 months, reverting to 1.20% after. Bonus interest only applies when you deposit $2,000 into your Go Account and make 5 debit card purchases, direct debit or BPAY payments in the previous month. If you are between 18 and 25 you need to deposit $1,000 and fulfil the other criteria.
- Access
- BPay, Internet banking
- Minimum balance
- $0.00
- Other restrictions
- Bank and savings account only accessible through iOS or Android app. Bonus introductory interest rate of 1.50% available for accounts opened by 30 Nov 2021.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Boost Saver with Go Account
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Mozo experts choice awards won:
- Regular Saver - 2021
Bonus Saver Account
Maximum rate
standard interest rate
Govt Deposit Guarantee
1.20% p.a. (for $0 to $250,000)0.10% p.a.(for $0 and over)Yes up to $250,000Bonus rate when at least $20 is deposited each month and five Visa Debit transactions are made each month using linked Everyday or Glide transaction accounts.
Winner of a Mozo Experts Choice Award 2021 in the Regular Saver category. No monthly account fees and no minimum balance requirements.
CompareCompareBonus Saver Account
Winner of a Mozo Experts Choice Award 2021 in the Regular Saver category. No monthly account fees and no minimum balance requirements.
- Maximum rate
- 1.20% p.a. (for $0 to $250,000)
- standard interest rate
- 0.10% p.a.(for $0 and over)
- Govt Deposit Guarantee
- Yes up to $250,000
- account fee per month
- $0.00
- Maximum rate conditions
- Bonus rate when at least $20 is deposited each month and five Visa Debit transactions are made each month using linked Everyday or Glide transaction accounts.
- Access
- BPay, Phone banking, Internet banking
- Minimum balance
- $0.00
- Other restrictions
- Must link to a transaction account
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Bonus Saver Account
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Online Saver
Maximum rate
standard interest rate
Govt Deposit Guarantee
1.10% p.a. (for $0 to $500,000)0.35% p.a.(for $0 and over)Yes up to $250,000Bonus rate for the first 4 months from account opening
No account keeping fees. No minimum balance required. Unlimited phone and internet transactions.
CompareCompareOnline Saver
No account keeping fees. No minimum balance required. Unlimited phone and internet transactions.
- Maximum rate
- 1.10% p.a. (for $0 to $500,000)
- standard interest rate
- 0.35% p.a.(for $0 and over)
- Govt Deposit Guarantee
- Yes up to $250,000
- account fee per month
- $0.00
- Maximum rate conditions
- Bonus rate for the first 4 months from account opening
- Access
- Phone banking, Internet banking
- Minimum balance
- $0.00
- Other restrictions
- Must link to a transaction account.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Online Saver
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High Interest Savings Account
Maximum rate
standard interest rate
Govt Deposit Guarantee
1.35% p.a. (for $0 to $250,001)0.25% p.a.(for $0 to $250,001)Yes up to $250,000Bonus rate for the first 4 months from account opening
Kick start your savings with the 4 month introductory variable rate. No fees, no minimum balance, no minimum monthly deposit and no minimum term.
CompareCompareHigh Interest Savings Account
Kick start your savings with the 4 month introductory variable rate. No fees, no minimum balance, no minimum monthly deposit and no minimum term.
- Maximum rate
- 1.35% p.a. (for $0 to $250,001)
- standard interest rate
- 0.25% p.a.(for $0 to $250,001)
- Govt Deposit Guarantee
- Yes up to $250,000
- account fee per month
- $0.00
- Maximum rate conditions
- Bonus rate for the first 4 months from account opening, reverting to standard variable rate. Rate shown is for Personal customers and is subject to change. Different rates apply to Business/SMSF customers.
- Access
- Internet banking
- Minimum balance
- $0.00
- Other restrictions
- Must link to a transaction account
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the High Interest Savings Account
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Grow Saver
Maximum rate
standard interest rate
Govt Deposit Guarantee
0.65% p.a. (for $0 and over)0.10% p.a.(for $0 and over)Yes up to $250,000Make at least 1 deposit and no more than 1 withdrawal, including internal transfers or external payments.
Earn a maximum interest rate of 0.65% per year. Pay no monthly fees. Set up in-app savings goals. Benefit with joint account options.
CompareCompareGrow Saver
Earn a maximum interest rate of 0.65% per year. Pay no monthly fees. Set up in-app savings goals. Benefit with joint account options.
- Maximum rate
- 0.65% p.a. (for $0 and over)
- standard interest rate
- 0.10% p.a.(for $0 and over)
- Govt Deposit Guarantee
- Yes up to $250,000
- account fee per month
- $0.00
- Maximum rate conditions
- Make at least 1 deposit and no more than 1 withdrawal, including internal transfers or external payments.
- Access
- BPay, Internet banking
- Minimum balance
- $0.00
- Other restrictions
- Savings account only accessible through iOS or Android app.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Grow Saver
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Fast Track Saver Account
Maximum rate
standard interest rate
Govt Deposit Guarantee
1.05% p.a. (for $1 to $250,000)0.05% p.a.(for $1 and over)Yes up to $250,000Ongoing bonus rate applied if in the previous month $1,000 or more is credited to the linked Day2Day Plus account and 5 eligible transactions are made by the linked account.
Earn 1.05% p.a. Bonus Interest in the following month on your Fast Track Saver Account balance. Earn Bonus Interest on your savings, with no minimum balance required.
CompareCompareFast Track Saver Account
Earn 1.05% p.a. Bonus Interest in the following month on your Fast Track Saver Account balance. Earn Bonus Interest on your savings, with no minimum balance required.
- Maximum rate
- 1.05% p.a. (for $1 to $250,000)
- standard interest rate
- 0.05% p.a.(for $1 and over)
- Govt Deposit Guarantee
- Yes up to $250,000
- account fee per month
- $0.00
- Maximum rate conditions
- Ongoing bonus rate applied if in the previous month $1,000 or more is credited to the linked Day2Day Plus account and 5 eligible transactions are made by the linked account.
- Access
- BPay, Branch access, Internet banking
- Minimum balance
- $1.00
- Other restrictions
- Bonus interest rate criteria is effective from 1 February 2020.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Fast Track Saver Account
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WebSavings Account
Maximum rate
standard interest rate
Govt Deposit Guarantee
1.00% p.a. (for $2,000 and over)0.05% p.a.(for $2,000 and over)Yes up to $250,000Bonus rate for the first 4 months from account opening on balances over $2,000 only, available to new customers only.
A high interest savings account that still lets you access your cash, no monthly account keeping fees and top up as many times as you like.
CompareCompareWebSavings Account
A high interest savings account that still lets you access your cash, no monthly account keeping fees and top up as many times as you like.
- Maximum rate
- 1.00% p.a. (for $2,000 and over)
- standard interest rate
- 0.05% p.a.(for $2,000 and over)
- Govt Deposit Guarantee
- Yes up to $250,000
- account fee per month
- $0.00
- Maximum rate conditions
- Bonus rate for the first 4 months from account opening on balances over $2,000 only, available to new customers only.
- Access
- BPay, Branch access, Internet banking
- Minimum balance
- $1.00
- Other restrictions
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the WebSavings Account
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Savings Maximiser
Maximum rate
standard interest rate
Govt Deposit Guarantee
1.35% p.a. (for $0 to $100,000)0.05% p.a.(for $0 and over)Yes up to $250,000For customers who have an Orange Everyday and in each month deposit at least $1,000 into a personal ING account, make at least 5 settled card purchases using the linked ING debit card and grow the account balance.
No ING fees. Great variable rate every month when you grow your balance each month in addition to other eligibility criteria.
CompareCompareSavings Maximiser
No ING fees. Great variable rate every month when you grow your balance each month in addition to other eligibility criteria.
- Maximum rate
- 1.35% p.a. (for $0 to $100,000)
- standard interest rate
- 0.05% p.a.(for $0 and over)
- Govt Deposit Guarantee
- Yes up to $250,000
- account fee per month
- $0.00
- Maximum rate conditions
- For customers who have an Orange Everyday and in each month deposit at least $1,000 into a personal ING account, make at least 5 settled card purchases using the linked ING debit card and grow the account balance higher at the end of the month (excluding interest) than it was at the end of the previous month.
- Access
- Phone banking, Internet banking
- Minimum balance
- $0.00
- Other restrictions
- Must be linked to an Orange Everyday transaction account to receive the bonus rate. Where multiple Savings Maximiser Accounts are held, the bonus rate is only applied to one nominated account.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Savings Maximiser
^See information about the Mozo Experts Choice Savings Account Awards
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