Superannuation is most likely front and centre for Australians in their mid-60s.

At age 66, Aussies have passed their preservation age (age 60), passed the average retirement age (age 65), and are just one year away from receiving their Age Pension payments (age 67, if eligible).

That means that at the age of 66, it is a great time to start living your dream retirement lifestyle.

But only if you have enough money in your superannuation.

After all, the balance you need at any retirement age depends entirely on your living situation, financial situation, and the lifestyle you want to live when you finally stop working.

Do you want to retire comfortably at age 66? Let’s break down what that might look like and how much money you’ll need.

What does a comfortable retirement lifestyle look like?

In Australia, retirement is generally split into two broad categories: comfortable and modest.

According to the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA), a comfortable retirement is defined as one that enables retirees to maintain a good standard of living well beyond the age pension. It budgets for expenses beyond a modest retirement, including top-tier private health insurance and regular leisure activities. It allocates funds for home repairs or renovations, and perhaps even an annual holiday.

Meanwhile, a modest retirement is defined as being able to cover expenses just slightly above what the full Centrelink Age Pension would provide from age 67. 

How much does it cost to retire comfortably?

ASFA estimates that a comfortable retirement costs around $55,923 per year for single Australians, and $78,566 for a couple. 

These figures also assume you’ll receive a part Age Pension, that you own your home in full, and that you’ll be able to plan and stick to your financial goals. It would also be wise to have an emergency fund set aside.

What do I need in my superannuation by age 66 to be able to afford that?

In order to fund a modest comfortable retirement, ASFA calculates that single Australians will need around $630,000. Meanwhile, couples will need around $730,000.

But, note that this figure assumes you’ll access your superannuation from age 67. It also assumes you’ll need to fund around 10 years of a comfortable retirement.

If you’re planning to retire slightly earlier, at age 66, it would be wise to factor in one additional year of retirement.

I’ve crunched the numbers using ASFA’s figures to work out what you should aim for. Singles should have closer to $686,000 in their superannuation and couples closer to $809,000 at age 66.

Remember also, that if you don’t own your home outright, you’ll also need to consider how you’ll pay your mortgage or rent on top of your other bills. 

The post How much superannuation do I need to retire comfortably at age 66? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 ASX 200 shares to buy now: experts
• Buy, hold, sell: BHP, Woodside, PLS Group shares
• Dexus’ portfolio valuations show office fall, industrial gain
• Genesis Minerals proposes Vault merger to create gold powerhouse
• Capricorn Metals hits upper end of FY26 gold production guidance, advances project expansions

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.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) rose 0.9% last week in a positive start to the new financial year. 

In FY26, ASX 200 shares put in a respectable performance, lifting 2.8% and delivering total returns of 7%.   

Here, we look at three ASX 200 shares that the experts have a bullish view on for FY27.  

Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP)

The Zip share price rose 5.5% to close out FY26 at $3.24 on 30 June.  

Jonathon Higgins from United Capital Partners (UCPS) has a buy rating on this ASX 200 buy now, pay later share for FY27.

Higgins considers Zip’s turnaround over the past few years as one of the best he’s ever witnessed. 

In a new note, Higgins points out that Zip is on track to report annual cash earnings of more than $260 million just three years after a $50 million cash earnings loss. 

Back then, Zip abandoned its plans for global expansion to instead focus on its core markets of Australia and the US.

Today, Higgins reckons the market is underappreciating Zip’s cost discipline and its prospects for further growth in the US. 

Compared to US-listed BNPL peers, Higgins says Zip shares are the cheapest and could be in for a re-rate in FY27.

UCPS has a buy rating on Zip with a target share price of $4.85. This implies a potential 50% upside over the next 12 months. 

Higgins commented: 

Sustainable earnings momentum against structural growth is hard to find on the ASX currently. 

Resmed CDI (ASX: RMD)

The Resmed share price fell 26.6% to $28.88 on 30 June amid a broader healthcare sector downturn in FY26. 

Blake Halligan from Catapult Wealth has a buy rating on this ASX 200 healthcare share. 

Halligan explained (courtesy The Bull): 

ResMed is a global leader in sleep apnoea devices and digital health platforms, benefiting from strong structural demand and resilient clinical positioning.

Despite the progression in GLP-1 therapies for treating sleep apnoea, ResMed’s CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) treatments remain superior at this point in time.

RMD continues to offer appealing growth, income and defensive healthcare exposure.

QBE Insurance Group Ltd (ASX: QBE) 

The QBE share price lifted 7.7% in FY26 to close the year at $25.19. 

In an article, fund manager Market Partners described QBE as one of the most compelling artificial intelligence (AI) cost-reduction stories on the ASX.  

The QBE share price has been on a tear since the insurer reported a 21% increase in net profit after tax (NPAT) for FY25 in February.

QBE shares hit a multi-year high of $25.32 on the first day of the new financial year. 

Gerrish explained their bullish view on the ASX 200 financial share in a recent webinar: 

They’ve been working hard over the last five, 10 years around simplification of their business.

So they went out there, they made a huge number of acquisitions… and it’s starting to pay benefits.

The experts said QBE was an emerging turnaround story, with the share price now trading at 15-year highs.

Gerrish added:

Turnarounds can take a lot longer than anyone envisages.

But once a turnaround is starting to gain traction like it is in QBE, then the stock can run a lot further and a lot longer than anyone thinks.

So, on 12x [P/E], growing earnings at high single digits, yielding 4.7% part-franked [dividends] with earnings tailwinds, we think QBE stacks up.

 

The post 3 ASX 200 shares to buy now: experts appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why BHP and these ASX shares could be strong buys this week
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• ASX healthcare shares have jumped 21% since June. Can the recovery continue?
• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy next week
• Healthcare shares lead the ASX 200 again as sector rotation gathers pace

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in Zip Co. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended ResMed. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares rose 2.77% and produced total returns, including dividends, of 7% in FY26.   

Here, we take a look at how one expert currently views three of the giants of the index at the start of FY27 (courtesy The Bull). 

Are they a buy, hold, or sell? 

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP)

The BHP share price skyrocketed 62% to close out FY26 at $59.40. 

Blake Halligan from Catapult Wealth has a buy rating on this ASX 200 mining share. 

He said: 

The global miner holds dominant positions in iron ore and copper and is leveraged to increasing demand during the energy transition.

A review of the Jansen stage 2 potash project in Canada resulted in a cost blowout of about $US2 billion to $US6.9 billion.

Despite the Jansen impairment and the risk of industrial action at iron ore operations in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, near term earnings momentum remains strong.

Elevated copper prices and strong iron ore prices supported performance in full year 2026.

The balance sheet remains robust with low net debt, while a recent dividend yield above 3 per cent adds income appeal.

BHP offers cyclical upside and long term growth exposure to copper.

The copper price rose by 18% in FY26 and iron ore lifted 7%. 

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS)

The Woodside share price increased 19% over FY26 to finish the financial year at $28.21.

Halligan has a hold rating on this ASX 200 energy share, and commented:

Woodside Energy is a major Australian LNG producer with a portfolio of global gas projects.

The company is increasing its stake in the Browse joint venture to 41.27 per cent via a $US225 million deal, reinforcing its strategy to extend the life of the North West Shelf.

This adds long term upside along with the Scarborough project, which is 94 per cent completed.

However, regulatory uncertainty, rising costs and policy risks in Australia temper the outlook.

While growth options are significant, execution and approvals risk support a balanced hold stance at current valuation levels.

Oil prices slumped to pre-war levels shortly after the US and Iran agreed to an interim peace deal last month.  

PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS)

PLS Group shares soared 275% to close out FY26 at $5.02. 

Halligan explained his sell rating on the ASX 200 lithium share: 

PLS Group is a leading Australian lithium producer focused on spodumene concentrate.

Over the past three months, sentiment has been driven by a sharp rebound in spot spodumene prices and improving earnings expectations.

Stronger spodumene prices are triggering global supply re-starts and expansions.

The company’s valuation already reflects elevated prices amid supply growth potentially adding pressure on margins.

Lithium spodumene was at the top of the list of best-performing commodities of FY26 by a long way.

The lithium spodumene price rose about 280%, and carbonate soared 160%. 

 

 

The post Buy, hold, sell: BHP, Woodside, PLS Group shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buy, hold, sell: Pro Medicus, BHP, Woolworths shares
• Why BHP and these ASX shares could be strong buys this week
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• Should you buy BHP shares in FY27? This is what experts think
• Why did ASX 200 lithium stocks like PLS, Liontown and Mineral Resources shares get smashed in June?

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in BHP Group. 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 recommended BHP Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.