How does your superannuation balance compare with other Australians approaching retirement?

It is a question worth asking, particularly as you get closer to finishing work and enjoying your retirement.

So, let’s look at the latest figures for Australians aged around 57 and 67.

What’s the average super balance at 57?

According to the latest Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) figures, Australians aged 55 to 59 have an average superannuation balance of $243,300. This gives us a reasonable guide for someone aged 57.

At this stage, retirement may be getting closer, but there could still be plenty of opportunities to increase your savings.

Someone planning to retire at 67, for example, would have another decade of potential investment returns and superannuation contributions ahead of them.

Those final working years could make a considerable difference, particularly if earnings are higher than earlier in their career.

Making additional contributions, where affordable and within contribution limits, could also help improve their retirement position.

How much super does the average 67-year-old have?

By age 67, things look a little different. APRA’s latest figures show that Australians aged 65 to 69 have an average superannuation balance of $290,600.

That is approximately $47,300 more than the average for Australians aged 55 to 59.

However, there is something important to remember when comparing these numbers. Many Australians in their late 60s have already retired and started accessing their superannuation.

Their balances may reflect a combination of investment returns and retirement withdrawals.

How much super is enough?

Of course, knowing the average balance is only part of the story.

The more important thing to know is whether those savings will provide enough income to enjoy retirement.

The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) estimates that a single homeowner needs approximately $630,000 in retirement savings at age 67 to support a comfortable retirement.

For couples, ASFA estimates that a total combined balance of $730,000 is required for a comfortable retirement.

Both estimates assume they receive some Age Pension support over time.

These figures are considerably higher than the average super balance reported by APRA for Australians aged 65 to 69, although the couples’ target represents combined savings.

Someone who owns their home outright and qualifies for the Age Pension may need considerably less than someone who is renting or hoping to fund a more expensive lifestyle.

For Australians approaching 57, these figures could provide a good reason to review their superannuation strategy while there is still time to make changes.

And for those approaching 67, understanding their expected spending, other savings, and potential Age Pension entitlement could help determine how far their superannuation will go.

The post Here’s the average Australian superannuation balance at 57 and 67 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro 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.

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares have been pushed into the spotlight in 2026 amid ongoing oil supply concerns and macroeconomic pressures.

Volatility surrounding continued conflict in the Middle East has been a strong tailwind for Woodside shares so far this year. 

The US-Iran war has shown renewed signs of cooling. But each time it looks like conflict is calming down, it ramps back up again. The region is highly volatile, and the movement of oil from the area will continue to be uncertain until a final resolution is reached. 

Oil shipping disruptions and production cuts pushed oil prices to a multi-year high of around US$111 per barrel in April. 

Trading Economics data crude oil is now trading around US$89 per barrel. That’s a 4% increase over the past month and 45% higher than last year.

It’s not just volatile oil prices driving the company’s shares higher, either. ASX energy companies have also enjoyed a rise in production and improved cash flow.

Woodside grabbed headlines late last month when it posted its first-half FY26 update. The company reported a 13% increase in operating revenue, a 27% increase in NPAT, a 7% increase in underlying NPAT, and a huge increase in free cash flow to US$352 million.

This strong performance is great news for investors, especially those looking to earn a good passive income from their investment in Woodside shares.

What’s the latest out of Woodside shares?

At the time of writing, Woodside shares are trading for $31.41 each. That’s a 33% increase for the year-to-date and 26% higher than this time last year.

What does Woodside’s dividend look like?

Woodside traditionally makes two fully franked dividend payments to shareholders every year, payable in March and September.

As part of the company’s latest financial update, its management declared a fully franked interim dividend of 57 US cents per share (the equivalent of 79.5 Australian cents). It paid this to investors last month. 

At the time of writing, that translates to a dividend yield of around 5.1%.

What is the oil and gas major forecasted to pay its shareholders in FY26 and FY27?

CommSec forecasts show Woodside is expected to pay a full-year FY26 dividend of AU$1.764 in FY26 and AU$2.149 in FY27.

So, how many Woodside shares do I need to generate $1,000 per month in passive income in FY27?

First, we’d need to calculate what $1,000 per month in passive income is over the year ($12,000). The oil and gas giant doesn’t pay monthly, so we can only calculate it annually.

In order to earn $12,000 per year in passive income from Woodside shares in FY26, at $1.764 per unit, investors would need to own around 6,802 shares.

To earn the same amount from the $2.149 projected dividend in FY27, investors would need to own roughly 5,583 Woodside shares.

What would that cost?

At a $31.41 share price, 6,802 shares would require an investment of approximately $213,650 for FY26. This would give an annual passive income of around $12,000 (equivalent to $1,000 per month).

To earn the same amount in FY27, the 5,583 shares would cost closer to $175,362.

The post How many Woodside shares do I need to buy for $1,000 per month of passive income? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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.

10 years is a long time in the share market.

If I were buying S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares with that timeframe in mind, I would want businesses with opportunities that can keep expanding.

With that in mind, these three ASX 200 shares stand out to me.

Sigma Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SIG)

I think Sigma Healthcare looks very different today following last year’s merger with Chemist Warehouse.

The combined business now brings together a major pharmacy retail network and Sigma’s pharmaceutical wholesale operations, creating scale across several parts of the healthcare supply chain.

FY26 gave investors an early look at that potential. Revenue reached $10.8 billion, while normalised EBIT increased by more than 20%. Sigma is also working towards $100 million of annual integration synergies by FY29.

But I think the 10-year opportunity goes far beyond extracting merger savings.

Chemist Warehouse still has room to expand its store network and international presence, while Sigma can use its scale across distribution, retail pharmacy, and own-brand products to keep growing alongside it.

If management executes well, I think this ASX 200 share could be significantly larger a decade from now.

Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG)

Breville is an ASX 200 share that I think has done an excellent job of turning a local brand into a global one.

Its premium coffee machines remain an important growth engine, but what interests me over 10 years is the model behind them.

Breville continually invests in new products, marketing, and new geographic markets, giving it several ways to keep growing without relying on consumers simply buying more of the same appliances.

FY26 revenue reached a record $1.81 billion, and remarkably, the company has now increased revenue, gross profit, and EBIT in every financial year since FY15.

Newer markets also provide another avenue for expansion. Breville has been building its presence in markets including China and the Middle East while continuing to develop its established businesses in the Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.

I think that global runway could keep the business growing well beyond the next few years.

Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1)

Megaport is the higher-growth pick of the three ASX 200 shares.

It has traditionally helped businesses connect data centres and cloud providers through its global software-defined network. More recently, its acquisition of Latitude.sh has expanded that opportunity into AI infrastructure.

Latitude.sh provides GPU and CPU computing power, storage, and networking for AI workloads, and the early demand has been strong. 

Megaport has already announced a series of very large strategic contracts through the business, giving it a much bigger growth avenue than connectivity alone.

For me, that is what makes the 10-year story so compelling. 

If Megaport can keep building both sides of the business, it could become a much larger digital infrastructure company by 2036.

Foolish takeaway

I cannot know what the market will look like in 2036.

I would rather spend a 10-year holding period backing ASX 200 shares that still have ways to expand. Sigma, Breville, and Megaport all give me that potential, but through three completely different parts of the economy.

That is enough for me to be comfortable buying them and giving the businesses plenty of time to grow.

The post 3 ASX 200 shares I would buy and hold for 10 years appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino 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 Megaport. 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.