Kate Farrar
Australians are significantly less confident about retirement than they were six months ago, with retiree confidence falling from 60% to 47% and pre-retiree preparedness declining from 38% to 31%, according to 2026 research findings released last week by Brighter Super, Queensland’s third-largest non-government financial institution.
New data from Brighter Super’s 2025–26 State of Retirement report suggests the gains in 2025 may have been influenced by stronger investment markets and easing inflation, rather than sustained improvements in long-term financial preparedness.
The decline in 2026 comes amid ongoing cost-of-living pressures, market volatility and renewed uncertainty about the global economic outlook.
“This report reinforces how quickly sentiment can shift with changing economic conditions, and the need to focus on long-term preparedness rather than short-term confidence,” said Brighter Super CEO Kate Farrar.
“The data suggests many Australians still judge their retirement readiness through the lens of recent market performance rather than long-term financial preparedness,” she said.
The findings are drawn from surveys conducted in 2024, 2025 and 2026 by Investment Trends, an independent research and insights company.
“The data also shows Queensland continues to outperform national averages, while Brighter Super members report stronger outcomes than both state and national benchmarks,” said Investment Trends Head of Research Julian Cappe.
Across all states, retiree confidence and pre-retiree preparedness declined. Despite this, Queensland’s retiree confidence rate of 50% outperformed the national rate of 47%, while pre-retiree preparedness in Queensland was 33% compared with 31% nationally.
“It’s pleasing to see Queensland sitting just ahead of the national results, but there is more work to be done. Our research shows Australians who plan early are nearly twice as likely to enjoy a comfortable retirement,” Ms Farrar said.
The sharp reversal in national sentiment highlights a broader challenge for the superannuation sector: confidence remains highly sensitive to market conditions. Previous Brighter Super research found retirees experiencing financial strain were significantly more likely to fear outliving their retirement savings, highlighting the gap between short-term confidence and long-term financial resilience.
“This reinforces the importance of engaging members earlier in their retirement journey, before uncertainty and market volatility begin to influence decision making,” Ms Farrar said.
At a fund level, Brighter Super outperformed both state and national benchmarks, with member retirement confidence rising to 76% in 2026, up from 50% in 2024, while pre-retiree preparedness remained steady at 38% despite national and state declines.
“This highlights the impact of our sustained investment in accessible guidance and affordable advice. We’re committed to ensuring all members can retire confidently with the help of advice,” she said.
That commitment was recognised when Chant West awarded Brighter Super ‘Best Fund: Advice Services 2026’. The award recognises funds offering a strong range of advice services that are relevant and accessible to members.
