A $100,000 retirement income is well above what most superannuation benchmarks assume you will actually need.

But it is also the number a lot of Australians aim towards.

So what balance gets you there?

The answer is more encouraging than you might expect, though it does demand some planning.

What the superannuation benchmarks actually say

The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia publishes the country’s most widely used retirement budgets.

For the March quarter of 2026, its comfortable standard sits at $55,923 a year for a single person and $78,566 for a couple.

The modest standard is much lower, at $36,434 and $52,473 respectively.

ASFA estimates a single homeowner needs a lump sum of $630,000 to fund a comfortable retirement, while a couple needs $730,000.

Those figures assume a 6% investment return alongside some Age Pension support.

A $100,000 income is therefore roughly 80% above the comfortable benchmark for a single retiree.

It also sits well beyond the point where the Age Pension assets test offers any assistance at all.

The maths behind $100,000 a year

Once you retire and convert your balance into an account-based pension, the government sets minimum withdrawal rates.

For anyone aged between 65 and 74, that minimum is 5% of the balance each year.

Running that calculation in reverse gives you the following figures.

A balance of $2 million drawn at 5% produces exactly $100,000 a year.

That is the headline answer.

For a couple the burden is shared, so around $1 million each achieves the same household income.

It is worth remembering that earnings inside a retirement phase pension are generally tax free, and so are the withdrawals for anyone over 60.

A $100,000 pension income is consequently worth a great deal more than a $100,000 salary.

Where the transfer balance cap fits in

There is a ceiling on how much you can move into that tax-free environment.

From 1 July 2026, the general transfer balance cap rose to $2.1 million per person.

This means that at the 5% minimum drawdown rate, a fully used $2.1 million cap generates $105,000 a year.

The system is effectively designed to support roughly this level of income for one retiree.

How much superannuation you would realistically need

The honest answer is around $2 million in superannuation for a single retiree.

A couple targeting the same household income needs a similar amount between them.

That may seem like a daunting figure against the average balance, which sits closer to $308,600 for Australians aged 70 to 74.

Getting there with ASX shares

This is where growth assets do the heavy lifting.

The Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS) is the most popular way Australians own the local market.

It tracks the S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) across more than 300 holdings and charges just 0.07% a year.

Since inception the fund has returned an average of roughly 9.22% annually.

At that rate, $500,000 invested at age 45 would grow to about $2 million by age 61 without a single extra contribution.

Compounding, rather than the size of your contributions, does most of the work.

Foolish takeaway

Retiring on $100,000 a year is achievable, but it takes roughly $2 million and a long runway.

The good news is that superannuation remains one of the most tax-effective structures available to Australian investors.

Start early, keep your fees low, and let the market do the compounding for you.

The difference between a modest retirement and a comfortable one is usually decided decades before you stop working.

The post How much super do you need to retire on $100,000 a year? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How I’d make investing easy with Vanguard ETFs
• Top 3 ASX ETFs for a first-time investor in 2026
• How to turn $10,000 into $100,000 with ASX shares
• Is $2 million really the new superannuation target?
• How much do I need to retire on $100,000 a year at 60?

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.

Having $50,000 to invest is a good problem to have.

But it can also make the decision feel harder.

With a larger sum, investors may not want to put everything into one narrow idea. A better approach could be to build around a mix of broad global exposure, proven technology leaders, and a focused long-term growth theme.

With that in mind, here are three ASX exchange traded funds (ETFs) that could be worth considering.

Betashares Global Shares ETF (ASX: BGBL)

The first ASX ETF to consider is the Betashares Global Shares ETF.

This fund gives investors exposure to a large basket of global shares across developed markets.

That means it is not tied to the fortunes of the Australian economy. Instead, investors can gain exposure to global companies across technology, financials, healthcare, industrials, consumer goods, and communications.

Major holdings include Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) and Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL).

I think this ASX ETF could work well as a foundation holding because it offers significant diversification in one trade. It was recently recommended by the team at Betashares.

Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ)

Another ASX ETF to consider is the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF.

This fund is more growth-focused than the BGBL ETF. It gives investors exposure to 100 of the largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq exchange.

These companies are involved in some of the biggest shifts in the global economy, including artificial intelligence, cloud computing, digital advertising, software, ecommerce, streaming, chips, and consumer technology.

Holdings include Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) and Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN).

This ASX ETF can be volatile because it has a heavy tilt toward technology and growth shares. But for investors with a long-term view, it provides exposure to companies that are shaping how people work, shop, communicate, and use technology.

VanEck Global Semiconductor ETF (ASX: SMHG)

A final ASX ETF that could be worth a closer look is the VanEck Global Semiconductor ETF.

This is the most targeted option of the three. The fund gives investors exposure to companies involved in semiconductors and semiconductor equipment.

That makes it a way to invest in the chips behind artificial intelligence, cloud computing, data centres, electric vehicles, smartphones, automation, and advanced manufacturing.

Holdings include Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE: TSM) and Nvidia.

This is unlikely to be a smooth ride. Semiconductor shares can be cyclical and sentiment can move quickly.

But the long-term theme is powerful. The modern economy needs more computing power, not less, and semiconductors sit at the centre of that demand.

This fund was recently recommended by the team at VanEck.

The post The best ASX ETFs to buy with $50,000 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Top 3 ASX ETFs for a first-time investor in 2026
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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Amazon, Apple, BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) has just given investors another look at the strength of its banking franchise.

For me, three parts of the business stood out from its FY26 result and support the long-term investment case.

A broad franchise

CBA’s scale across Australian banking remains one of its biggest strengths.

The bank says it is the main financial institution for one in three Australians and one in four Australian businesses. During FY26, it also grew at or above the wider banking system across home lending, business lending, consumer finance, household deposits, and business deposits.

I think the range of that growth is particularly encouraging.

CBA has relationships with customers across everyday banking, savings, mortgages, credit cards, business finance, and investing. Those relationships give it plenty of opportunities to serve customers as their financial needs change over time.

A customer might begin with a transaction account before eventually taking out a home loan, opening an investment account, or starting a business.

The more products customers use, the deeper that relationship can become.

For me, this enormous customer base provides CBA with a strong foundation to keep growing alongside the Australian economy.

Business banking continues to impress

I also like what CBA is building in business banking.

Around one in four Australian businesses now considers CBA its main financial institution, and the bank continued increasing its share of business lending and deposits during FY26.

This gives CBA exposure to another large part of the economy.

Businesses need funding to buy equipment, expand premises, manage working capital, and pursue new opportunities. They also need transaction accounts, payment services, and other banking products to run their day-to-day operations.

CBA can build much broader relationships with these customers than simply providing a loan.

I think the bank’s ability to serve businesses of varying sizes gives it a considerable opportunity as Australian companies grow and invest over the years ahead.

Its strong position in this market also complements the enormous retail franchise, giving CBA several avenues for long-term growth.

Technology remains a major strength

CBA has spent years building one of Australia’s strongest digital banking offerings, and I think this remains an important competitive advantage.

The CommBank app sits at the centre of the relationship for millions of customers. The bank continues adding tools that help people manage spending, savings, home loans, investments, and other parts of their finances.

It is also pushing further into artificial intelligence. CommBank Companion is being developed to help retail and business customers interact with their financial information conversationally, while the bank is investing in AI across areas such as customer service, productivity, and fraud detection.

I think technology can help CBA make banking easier while strengthening customer relationships.

It can also improve how quickly the bank makes decisions and handles routine processes. For example, CBA says around 70% of proprietary home loan applications are now automatically decided on the same day.

Continuing to invest heavily in these capabilities could help CBA protect its leading position as customer expectations keep changing.

Foolish takeaway

CBA’s FY26 result reinforced several of the reasons I like the business for the long term.

Its enormous customer franchise gives it plenty of opportunities to grow existing relationships, business banking continues to strengthen, and its technology investment could keep making the bank more valuable to customers.

Those are three qualities I would be happy to back for many years.

The post 3 reasons to buy CBA shares following its results appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Want income for life? Here’s how I’d build an ASX dividend portfolio
• My top 5 ASX 200 shares to buy and hold
• By August 2027, CBA shares could turn $15,000 into…
• With $30 billion in FY26 income, should I buy CBA shares today?
• How much do I need in my superannuation to earn $50,000 per year in passive income?

Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has positions in Commonwealth Bank Of Australia. 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.