The Super Gap Explained: What Women Need to Know

For women, the concept of retirement can feel distant. It might not be something you think about often, especially with everything else that’s going on in life. It might even bring about a sense of stress, and it’s important to know that you’re definitely not alone.

Understanding the Super Gap

Recent research from AMP has shown that there is a considerable gap between men and women when it comes to retirement confidence. 

To summarise it quickly, here are some key figures:

• Only 41% of women are financially confident about retirement, compared to 59% of men.

• 73% of women are worried about having enough super for retirement, compared to 56% of men.

•  71% of women fear they won’t be able to afford their desired retirement lifestyle, compared to 53% of men.

• 51% of women hold back on day‑to‑day spending for fear of running out of money in retirement, compared to 42% of men.

Source: AMP, Retirement Confidence Plus, September 2025.

The research also tells us that single, divorced, or separated women feel even less confident about retirement.

There is a stark divide here between the genders, but it’s also important to note that if you looked at the stats for men alone, it would still be concerning. There’s room for improvement no matter where you look. 

First, we need to ask why this gender gap exists. In my experience as a female financial adviser, I’ve noticed a number of patterns across not only my clients, but also my personal and professional network that may contribute to this gap.

1.    Caring Responsibilities

Many women prioritise others before themselves, which is not a bad thing! When family members or children need care, the responsibility often falls to women in the family. It’s not always the case, but it’s something that happens often. This might involve women reducing their work hours, which has an effect on career progression and by extension, their super.

Childbirth is a clear example. Time out of the workforce can have a lasting financial impact. There have been recent efforts to address this, such as the Paid Parental Leave Superannuation Contribution announced in 2025, which means that the ATO will pay superannuation on government funded Parental Leave Pay. Measures like this acknowledge the gap and begin to address it.

2.    Life Expectancy

Women tend to live longer lives than men. This means that money for retirement also needs to last longer. In my previous article, I spoke about how people often underestimate how long retirement will actually be, with life expectancy increasing over time for both genders. 

It’s important for us to be aware of what we actually need for the retirement we want and have a plan to make it a reality. One of the biggest barriers to that is uncertainty, and not knowing whether that plan is even possible.

3.    Finding Support

As mentioned earlier, single women who may have gone through separation, divorce, or the death of a partner are more likely to feel uncertain. Situations like this are where support is important, emotionally and financially. 

Women are less likely than men to seek financial advice, and many of my clients have told me that this is because they have had bad experiences in the past, or they’re worried that they’ll feel judged or controlled. Unfortunately, one bad experience can be enough to discourage someone from seeking support again.

Closing the Gap

Going forward, I feel that women need three things to help close the gap and become more confident in their future: independence, strategy, and literacy.  

No one should be expected to have everything figured out, which is why financial advice can build confidence and reduce the uncertainty that so many of us feel day-to-day. 

My belief has always been that advice should be about warmth and understanding. It’s about you and your future. Closing the gap starts with knowing that you are supported with a strategy that is clear to you.

It doesn’t matter what stage of life you are at, starting with careful planning and trusted guidance can help you to make the informed decisions that work towards a clearer future with the confidence that you deserve. 

If you would like to better understand your current position and what is possible for your future, seeking personalised advice can be a valuable first step. A clear plan can make all the difference.

White Rabbit Advisory Pty Ltd is a registered tax (financial) adviser and any reference to tax advice contained in this document is incidental to the general financial advice it may contain. You should seek specialist advice from a tax professional to confirm the impact of this advice on your overall tax position. You should obtain financial advice relevant to your circumstances before making financial decisions. Whilst every care has been taken in the preparation of this information, it may not remain current after the date of publication and White Rabbit Advisory Pty Ltd and its related bodies make no representation as to its accuracy or completeness.

Published: February 2026 © Copyright 2026

White Rabbit Advisory Pty Ltd (ABN 54 676 177 138) is a Corporate Authorised Representative (No. 1314020) of Personal Financial Services Ltd (ABN 26 098 725 145). Australian Financial Services Licence (No 234459).