Your 60s are a turning point in your life where the priority for your superannuation and your finances needs to switch from growth to preservation.

After all, at the age of 61, you’re just four years from the average Australian retirement age and six years from potentially receiving the Age Pension payment. 

The question is, do you know exactly how much you have in your super, and exactly how much money you need to fund your retirement when you decide to stop working.

Here’s a rundown of what the average Aussie has at age 61, and what you actually need to retire comfortably.

What is the average superannuation balance at age 61?

There isn’t an exact figure for the average superannuation balance at age 61, but the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) has a good guideline.

ASFA’s data shows that at age 60 to 64, the average Australian male has around $395,852 in their superannuation. Meanwhile, the average 60 to 64 year old female has less, at approximately $313,360.

How does your balance compare to the average Aussie the same age?

What does a comfortable retirement look like?

ASFA defines a comfortable retirement as being able to maintain a good standard of living above and beyond the Age Pension. 

It assumes you’ll have top-level private health insurance, own a good brand of car, and do regular leisure activities. 

It allocates funds to set aside to build an emergency fund, for home repairs or renovations. And perhaps even go for the occasional meal out, and an annual domestic trip.

How much will that cost me?

According to ASFA, a comfortable retirement for Australians aged 65 to 84 years old is expected to cost around $54,840 per year for single Aussies. It is expected to cost roughly $77,375 per year for a couple. 

These figures also assume that you’ll be entitled to receive a part Age Pension payment once you reach age 67.

That means ASFA’s data indicates that by age 67, single Australians need a superannuation balance of approximately $640,000. And couples should have closer to $730,000.

How do I know if I’m on the right track?

Unfortunately, at up to $395,852, the average superannuation balance at age 61 falls short of what Aussies at the same age actually need in order to reach the retirement lifestyle they want.

I’ve crunched the numbers and it turns out that in order to reach the superannuation balance needed by age 67, at age 61 you’d need closer to $519,000 in your super.

That’s significantly higher than the average balance for both men and women the same age.

How can I bridge the gap between my average balance and what I actually need?

At age 61, it’s not too late to catch up.

The first thing to do is check that your super fund is performing well and your risk profile is appropriate for your age. 

Next, you’ll need to focus your attention on making extra contributions however you can. Individuals can make concessional (before-tax) super contributions, such as salary sacrificing, taxed at a reduced rate and up to an annual cap. You can also make after-tax payments within your annual limits. 

It also makes sense to check in with Government contribution rules. There are several rules and co-contribution rules you might be eligible for, depending on your personal circumstances. Every cent counts when it comes to compound growth!

The post Average superannuation balance for 61 year olds in 2026. How does yours compare? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• If I’d invested $7,000 in Zip shares 3 months ago, guess what I’d have now!
• Reliance Worldwide closes Australian brass sites
• Where to invest $500 on the ASX right now
• I’d buy this ASX share because it offers almost everything an investor could want
• The US-Iran peace deal just wavered. Here is what this means for these ASX shares

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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Every year that goes by makes the ASX share Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. Ltd (ASX: SOL) more appealing to me.

The investment house regularly adds to its portfolio, which helps improve the quality of the business and increase its long-term prospects.

For example, it recently announced that it was selling its stake of a property investment trust worth $1.9 billion. Management said that this transaction will provide an opportunity for Soul Patts to reallocate capital toward opportunities it’s seeing across domestic and international markets.

This move could help the growth trajectory of the portfolio with the investments it makes with its new war chest. It’s looking at both local and international investments.

There are three areas that make me think this ASX share could be a good buy today.

Diversification

Plenty of investors just want to invest in quality options that provide good diversification and deliver solid returns. That’s partly why exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are so appealing to a lot of Aussies, allowing them to track the market.

Soul Patts has a diversified portfolio across a number of industries, including resources, telecommunications, financial services, building products, property, agriculture, water entitlements, swimming schools, electrification, credit and plenty more.

By owning this investment, investors can get access to a diversified portfolio through just one holding.

With its steadily adjusting portfolio over time, I think this company can future-proof itself and continue its excellent longevity. It’s already more than 120 years old.

Passive dividend income

In multiple ways, Soul Patts is the ultimate ASX dividend share, making it a great choice for passive income.

The company has paid a dividend every year in its listed existence, including through the world wars, global pandemics, economic recessions, various Prime Ministers and so on. Nothing has stopped that passive income flowing. It’s not guaranteed, though, of course.

Soul Patts also has the record for the longest continuous dividend growth streak on the ASX. It has hiked its regular payout every year since 1998, so it’s approaching 30 years of non-stop dividend growth.

It pays its dividend from the investment cash flow from its portfolio of shares, property, credit and private businesses. Soul Patts usually has a reasonably generous dividend payout ratio, but it still retains a material amount of its cash flow each year to invest in opportunities.

The cash flow growth can come from a combination of the organic growth of its own investments, as well as additional investments over time.

The only thing that doesn’t stand out as much is the dividend yield – at the time of writing it has a grossed-up dividend yield of 3.5%, including franking credits.

Capital growth

Some investors may be more focused on capital growth than dividends or diversification.

Soul Patts is not a high-flying AI company, but it’s the sort of business that has been able to provide steady compounding thanks to the growth in the value of the portfolio.

Over the last five years, the Soul Patts share price has risen 41%, at the time of writing. Past performance is not a guarantee of future returns of course, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it delivered a similar (or better) return over the next five years.

I’m seeing the business shift its portfolio towards a more growth-orientated focus, which I think will be a big positive for the longer-term returns.

As the years go by, I think it’s becoming more attractive as an investment for capital growth.

When combined in a portfolio with other attractive ASX shares, I think it’s a very good buy today.

The post I’d buy this ASX share because it offers almost everything an investor could want appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Term deposits or ASX dividend shares as the RBA holds?
• How to invest in ASX shares when you can’t find stocks to buy
• Why are Soul Patts shares pushing higher again on Thursday?
• How much is needed in superannuation to target an $8,000 monthly passive income?
• These ASX dividend shares keep giving investors a pay rise

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Peace, it turns out, is easier said than done.

The market has turned jittery after Iran said it had re-closed the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend following Israeli strikes on Lebanon.

That news lands just days after the US and Iran signed an interim peace deal and oil began flowing through the Strait again, sending prices sharply lower.

US and Iranian officials are now in Switzerland for further discussions, but the renewed closure shows just how fragile the agreement remains.

For these ASX shares, that uncertainty has direct and immediate implications.

How oil prices have whipsawed on peace deal headlines

The speed of the reversal has been extraordinary.

Oil prices fell to US$76.64 a barrel for WTI and US$79.38 a barrel for Brent on Friday, as traders sold down prices following the peace deal signing and the resumption of shipping through Hormuz.

That fall came after months of extreme volatility.

Brent crude has previously bounced following fresh US attacks on Iranian targets, only to fall again days later on renewed peace optimism.

The market has now whipsawed in both directions multiple times since the conflict began on 28 February 2026. Today’s renewed Strait closure adds yet another reversal to that pattern.

What it means for Woodside, Santos, and Beach Energy shares

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of elevated oil prices in 2026, rising 21% year to date.

A renewed closure of the Strait would likely reverse that recent decline and push the share price higher again.

However, Woodside’s longer-term investment case is not solely dependent on the oil price, with Scarborough LNG now 94% complete. The project is on track for first cargo in Q4 2026, providing earnings support regardless of where oil settles.

Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) is up approximately 18% year to date and fell 8% in a single session when the original peace deal news broke. This illustrates just how sensitive the stock remains to Middle East headlines.

Santos’ Barossa LNG project is already producing at 75% of its planned 2026 rates, giving the business some insulation from oil price swings.

Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) remains the most leveraged of the three to oil price movements, given its smaller size. The company has continued to underperform even during periods of rising oil prices due to its own production guidance downgrade earlier in FY 2026.

Why the broker community remains divided on these ASX shares

Peak Asset Management holds a hold rating on Woodside. The asset manager has noted that the company continues to execute strongly operationally even as quarterly production fell 8% due to seasonal weather events, with the average realised oil price rising 11% in Q1 2026.

This nuanced view, constructive on operations but cautious on the unresolved geopolitical backdrop, reflects the difficulty brokers face in pricing these stocks while the Hormuz situation remains this unsettled.

The key lesson for investors

The most important thing for ASX investors to understand is that this situation remains unresolved.

The Strait of Hormuz has opened and closed multiple times since February. Each reversal has triggered a sharp and immediate share price reaction across Woodside, Santos, and Beach Energy.

Positioning a portfolio for a single, confident outcome carries real risk given how quickly this situation has shifted in both directions over the past four months.

Foolish Takeaway for these ASX shares

The US-Iran peace deal has wavered just days after being signed, with Iran re-closing the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend.

For Woodside, Santos, and Beach Energy shareholders, that means the volatility that has defined 2026 is unlikely to disappear soon.

Investors in all these ASX shares should expect continued share price swings as the situation in the Middle East continues to evolve in real time.

The post The US-Iran peace deal just wavered. Here is what this means for these ASX shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday
• Up 23% this year, should I buy Woodside shares today?
• Buy, hold, sell: JB Hi-Fi, Westpac, Santos shares
• Buy, hold, sell: Life360, Woodside, CSL shares
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday

Motley Fool contributor Mark Verhoeven has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.