Review your superannuation strategy: Check your contributions, investments and overall approach to ensure they still align with your circumstances and retirement goals.
17 August, 2026
Three financial moves before the end of 2026
First Financial Team
The first half of 2026 has thrown more than its fair share of financial curveballs. Throughout this year, we’ve been communicating the importance of looking long-term and avoiding making emotion-driven decisions as the headlines regularly jumped from positive to negative outlooks. As the second half of 2026 is well underway, our advice remains the same.
Time in the market is the key, and having experienced experts helping you map your financial strategy is essential. However, sitting back and doing nothing is not pushing you forward. In this article, we examine three practical moves to consider before the end of the year.
"Time in the market is the key, and having experienced experts helping you map your financial strategy is essential."
Give your superannuation a mid-year health check
Superannuation can be easy to put in the “long-term” basket and leave untouched. But small decisions made today can have an impact over time. Talk to your financial adviser and review how much is going into your super, where it is invested and whether your current strategy still reflects your circumstances and retirement goals.
You may want to consider whether making additional contributions is appropriate. These could include salary sacrifice arrangements or personal contributions, some of which may be tax-deductible depending on your circumstances. Personal contributions can be made in addition to compulsory employer contributions, although contribution caps and eligibility requirements need to be considered.
For couples, it can also be worthwhile looking at superannuation as a household asset rather than considering each partner’s balance in isolation. If one partner has accumulated considerably less super, perhaps due to time out of the workforce or reduced hours, strategies such as spouse contributions or contribution splitting may be worth discussing. In some circumstances, contributing to a lower-income spouse’s super can also provide a tax offset.
Can you increase your savings outside super?
Now is a good time to review your cash reserves and ask a simple question: Are our savings doing the job we need them to do? For some households, the priority may be to establish or rebuild an emergency fund. We recommend aiming for enough to cover around three months of expenses. Even small, regular contributions can build valuable financial breathing room.
You may be saving for a holiday, renovations, education costs, a new car, or simply building a larger financial buffer. Whatever your goal, make it specific.
Rather than saying, “We need to save more”, decide how much you would like to have set aside by the end of December and work backwards to establish a weekly or fortnightly target. Automating that amount into a separate savings account can make the process easier.
Decide where your next dollar should go
If you have additional cash flow available over the coming months, where will it make the greatest difference? Should you increase your super contributions? Build your cash reserves? Reduce debt? Put more towards the mortgage? Save for a planned expense? Or invest outside super?
There isn’t one answer that will suit everyone.
A younger family with a mortgage and significant upcoming expenses may place a higher value on accessible savings. Someone approaching retirement may have a very different set of priorities and could benefit from examining opportunities within superannuation.
Start by reviewing your household cash flow. Look at what has actually come in and gone out over the past few months, rather than what you think you spend. A budget can help identify where money is going and reveal opportunities to redirect some expenditure towards savings or other priorities.
Then consider the next six to 12 months. Are there major expenses approaching? Has your income changed? Are you carrying expensive debt? Do you have sufficient cash available for an unexpected event?
The aim isn’t necessarily to cut spending everywhere. It is to make deliberate choices about where your money can have the greatest impact.
Use the rest of 2026 purposefully
Financial progress generally comes from a series of small, consistent decisions. If you’re unsure of what is achievable for the rest of the year and beyond or how to do it, financial advice can be valuable. A financial adviser can help you look at your superannuation, savings, investments, debt and future goals together, rather than treating each decision in isolation.
The objective isn’t simply to finish the year with more money. It’s to make sure your money is working as hard for you as possible.
"The objective isn’t simply to finish the year with more money. It’s to make sure your money is working as hard for you as possible."
The financial advice experts
The team at First Financial comprises financial experts who help hundreds of Australians retire well and make informed, intelligent financial decisions. We cover everything from retirement and financial advice, investment and wealth management, superannuation and SMSF, insurance, tax, aged care, legal and lending services.
Contact us for holistic, well-rounded financial management strategies.
Key Takeaways
Strengthen your savings: Build or replenish your emergency fund and set specific savings targets for upcoming expenses or financial goals.
Decide where your next dollar will work hardest: Consider whether extra cash is best directed towards super, savings, debt, your mortgage or investments.
Make deliberate financial decisions: Reviewing your actual household cash flow and upcoming needs can help you make purposeful choices for the rest of 2026.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I review my superannuation before the end of the year?
A regular superannuation review can help ensure your contributions, investments and overall strategy still reflect your circumstances and retirement goals. Small adjustments now may have a meaningful impact over the long term.
Should I consider making additional super contributions?
Depending on your circumstances, additional contributions through salary sacrifice or personal contributions may help build your retirement savings and potentially provide tax benefits. Contribution caps and eligibility requirements apply, so it’s important to seek advice before making changes.
How can couples make the most of their superannuation?
Couples may benefit from looking at super as a household asset rather than focusing on each balance separately. Strategies such as spouse contributions or contribution splitting may be worth considering where one partner has accumulated less super.
How much should I have in emergency savings?
As a general guide, aiming to save enough to cover about 3 months of household expenses can provide valuable financial breathing room. The right amount will depend on your income, expenses and individual circumstances.
What is the best way to reach a savings goal?
Start by setting a specific amount you want to save by a particular date, then work backwards to establish a manageable weekly or fortnightly target. Automating regular transfers into a separate savings account can make it easier to stay on track.
Should I put extra money into super, savings or my mortgage?
There is no single answer, as the best option depends on your goals, stage of life, debts, upcoming expenses and need for accessible cash. Reviewing your overall financial position can help determine where your next dollar is likely to have the greatest impact.
Why is reviewing household cash flow important?
Looking at what has actually come in and gone out over recent months can provide a clearer picture of your spending than relying on estimates. It can also reveal opportunities to redirect money towards savings, debt reduction, investments or other priorities.