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Life
HESTA members have shared how they feel when they think about their retirement — and it’s not the version splashed across glossy ads and finance pages.
Based on a HESTA survey of 437 members conducted in May 2026, the results1 tell a story: there’s the retirement dream you were sold, and then there’s the one that actually fits.
The retirement you see isn't the retirement you live
Only 11% of members say the retirement they see in the media reflects the retirement they see for themselves "extremely well" or "very well". Another 57% land somewhere in the middle. Not wrong, just... not quite right. And 32% say it reflects their future vision poorly or extremely poorly. That's a lot of quiet dinner cruises and lawn bowls that don't match the retirement most of our members are picturing.
What retirement actually feels like
So what does retirement feel like, in your own words? When we asked members how they feel thinking about it, the most common words weren't "relaxed" or "golf". They were "happy", "comfortable", "money", "time", "work" and, honestly, "worried", "stress" and "anxious" too. One member summed it up simply: “excited, but apprehensive about having enough to maintain the lifestyle I want”. That's not a stock photo of a beach. That's real life.
Give me clarity, not a script
When we asked what would be useful right now, members didn't ask for more inspiration. They asked for clarity: 51% want to understand how the Age Pension works alongside super, 44% want a realistic picture of retirement for someone in their situation, and 40% just want to know how much they personally need. Not someone else's number: theirs.
Retirement isn't one-size-fits-all, and members are telling us loudly that they don't want to be handed a script. Some are already retired and still figuring it out ("difficult to respond, I've been retired since 2012," one member told us). Some are years off and just want a plan that fits their actual life, not a brochure. Some want to know how their partner's pension affects their own plans.
All of them want support that meets them where they are.
Sound familiar? Our Retirement Experts can help you build a plan that makes sense.
Tax time: less lecture, more help
At tax-time, the survey told a similar story. Nearly half of members say the run-up to 30 June leaves them feeling neutral, and a meaningful share feel confused or stressed rather than in control. But when asked what would make it easier to take action, you opted for practical things: a step-by-step guide, a personalised nudge, a simple calculator, or just the option to speak with someone2.
Not a lecture. Not a stereotype. Just help.
The good news? All these features are now available to HESTA members. Start by checking out what personalised suggestions are waiting for you in your online account.
We hear you
So we're not going to tell our members how to feel about retirement, or hand them a version that isn't theirs. We're going to keep listening and keep building the tools, guidance and conversations that help each member get to the retirement they really want. No script. No cliches. Just your retirement, on your terms.
want more help to do your next decades your way?
Book a time with a retirement specialist.
1 Survey “Retirement and Tax Time”, HESTA, n = 437 HESTA members, May 2026.
2 HESTA can only provide tax advice around superannuation. You may need to speak to a financial or tax adviser about your whole financial situation.
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