How much do I need in my superannuation to earn $7k per month in passive income?

Earning a passive income off your superannuation balance is easier than you’d think.

You just need to know how to invest it, and understand what level of passive income to expect.

The benefit of investing your superannuation for a passive income in retirement is that it comes with the added benefit of low tax rates and long-term compounding.

The only downside is that you can’t access it until you reach retirement age.

But how much do you actually need in your super to be able to earn the passive income you want in retirement?

Let’s break it down, using a monthly $7,000 passive income as a guide.

How much do I need in my superannuation to get a passive income of $7,000 every month?

There’s a simple calculation you can use. First you’d need to work out what your monthly passive income totals over the year, then divide that annual passive income figure by the dividend yield of your portfolio.

For example, $7,000 x 12 = $84,000. Divide that by a 3% yielding portfolio and you’ll need a $2.8 million portfolio in order to earn $84,000 per year (or $7,000 per month).

Of course, a $2.8 million superannuation balance isn’t achievable for many Australians. 

But the good news is that, as your dividend yield increases, the superannuation balance required to earn the same passive income goes down.

For example, a portfolio with a dividend yield of around 6% only needs to be half the size of one with a dividend yield of around 3% to generate the same level of passive income. 

How much do I need in my superannuation if my portfolio yields 4%?

To earn $84,000 per year off a 4% yielding portfolio, you’d need to have a balance of around $2.1 million.

ASX shares that could fit the bill are things like Westpac Banking Corporation Ltd (ASX: WBC), ANZ GRoup Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ), or Transurban Group (ASX: TCL). These all yield 4% or a little more.

• How much do I need in my superannuation if my portfolio yields 5%?

To earn the same $84,000 per year off a 5% yielding portfolio, you’d need to have a superannuation balance closer to $1.68 million.

Shares that yield 5% or just over are things like Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) Universal Store Holdings Ltd (ASX: UNI) and AGL Energy Ltd (ASX: AGL).

What about for a 6% yielding portfolio?

A superannuation balance around $1.4 million can earn the same passive income on a 6% yielding portfolio.

Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd (ASX: HVN), Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) and Dexus Industria REIT (ASX: DXI) are good examples of ASX shares that yield around 6%.

And for a portfolio that yields 7% or 8%, what do I need then?

Higher yielding shares mean investors can earn the same passive income off a much smaller superannuation balance, but they do come with added risk.

A $1.2 million or $1.05 million portfolio yielding 7% or 8% respectively, could earn $84,000 in passive income.

Higher yielding options are ASX shares like the BetaShares Australian Top 20 Equities Yield Maximiser Complex ETF (ASX: YMAX), GQG Partners Inc (ASX: GQG) or Centuria Office REIT (ASX: COF).

The post How much do I need in my superannuation to earn $7k per month in passive income? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• These ASX shares could generate $12,000 per year in passive income
• What’s not to love about these discounted ASX shares with big dividend yields?
• How much must I invest in Westpac shares to earn a $1,000 passive income in 2027?
• 3 ASX dividend shares to buy with 5%+ yields
• Are Westpac shares a top buy this week?

Motley Fool contributor Samantha Menzies has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Transurban Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Harvey Norman and Transurban Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Gqg Partners and Universal Store. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.