Starting at 40 isn’t too late — but your plan needs clearer targets. Use the calculator to estimate contributions and timelines.
Use the Start Late? CalculatorStarting to invest at 40 still gives you 25 years of compounding before a typical retirement age of 65 — more than enough time to build meaningful wealth. At $1,000 a month you could accumulate around $810,000 by 65, and at $1,500 a month you're on track for over $1,200,000. While starting at 40 requires higher monthly contributions than starting at 25, many Australians in their 40s are actually better positioned to invest — with higher incomes, lower expenses as kids grow up, and mortgages being paid down. The key message is simple: starting now is always better than waiting longer. Use the calculator above to model your own numbers.
| Monthly investment | Total contributed | Balance at 65 (7%) |
|---|---|---|
| $200/month | $48,000 | ~$104,000 |
| $300/month | $72,000 | ~$156,000 |
| $500/month | $120,000 | ~$260,000 |
| $750/month | $180,000 | ~$391,000 |
| $1,000/month | $240,000 | ~$521,000 |
| $1,500/month | $360,000 | ~$781,000 |
| $2,000/month | $480,000 | ~$1,042,000 |
Choose a target retirement amount, or start with an income goal using the Retirement calculator.
For Australians starting to invest at 40, the picture is often better than it looks. Superannuation has been compulsory since 1992, so most Australians in their 40s already have a substantial super balance building in the background — often $150,000-$300,000 depending on income history. Your outside-super investment portfolio adds to this, not replaces it. The two most effective strategies for Australians at 40 are: making voluntary concessional super contributions (taxed at 15% instead of your marginal rate, up to $30,000 pa) and building a separate ETF portfolio in low-cost index funds like VAS or VGS. Combined, these two streams can produce a very strong retirement position even starting at 40. Use Sharesight to track both your super and personal portfolio performance in one place.
Often no. You still have decades of potential compounding — but you need a plan and consistent contributions.
Try increasing retirement age by 1–3 years and re-running. Small timeline increases can reduce the needed monthly amount.
It depends on interest rates and your risk tolerance. This tool is for modelling and education only.
Use /retire.html to estimate a nest egg for an income goal, then plug that target into /startlate.html.
No. You can subtract guaranteed income from your target needs when planning.