Time to think about Retirement
Retirement readiness indicators
Rough benchmarks by age
Most people know they should be saving for retirement. Fewer have a sense of whether what they're doing is actually enough. These benchmarks won't give you a personalised answer — but they'll tell you whether you're in the right ballpark.
The core question
Retirement planning comes down to one calculation: will the assets you've accumulated generate enough income to cover your living costs for as long as you live?
In NZ, the answer depends on three things: your KiwiSaver and other investment balances, whether you'll own your home outright, and whether NZ Superannuation (currently around $500 per week for a single person, $770 for a couple) covers a meaningful part of your needs.
Age-based ballpark figures
These are rough guides, not guarantees. They assume a growth fund, consistent contributions, and retirement at 65.
- By 30: 1x your annual salary in KiwiSaver. If you're earning $60,000 and have $60,000 saved, you're on track.
- By 40: 2–3x your annual salary.
- By 50: 4–5x your annual salary.
- By 60: 6–7x your annual salary.
- At 65: 8–10x your annual salary, depending on your expected lifestyle and whether you own your home.
These figures assume you want to maintain roughly your current lifestyle in retirement. If you plan to spend less — a paid-off home helps enormously — you need less. If you want to travel extensively or have higher costs, you need more.
The NZ Super consideration
NZ Superannuation kicks in at 65 and provides a baseline income for most retirees. As of 2025, it's around $26,000 a year for a single person living alone. That covers basics for many people — but not much beyond that.
If your retirement spending target is $60,000 a year, NZ Super covers roughly 40% of it. The rest needs to come from KiwiSaver and other assets.
Signs you may be behind
- You've taken extended contributions holidays from KiwiSaver
- You're over 40 and in a conservative fund
- Your KiwiSaver balance is significantly below the multipliers above
- You're counting on a property sale to fund retirement but don't have a clear plan for what comes after
None of these are unfixable — but they're worth taking seriously sooner rather than later.
How to use it with SortMe
SortMe shows your KiwiSaver balance. Use that alongside your current salary to sense-check where you sit against the age-based multipliers. If you're behind, the earlier you know, the more time you have to adjust.
When to get advice
Retirement planning is one of the highest-value things a financial adviser does — the decisions made in your forties and fifties have compounding consequences. Naked Finance works with SortMe users to build realistic retirement projections and close the gaps.
These articles are financial education, not personalised financial advice. For advice specific to your situation, talk to a licensed financial adviser.