Dentist visits more popular than reviewing superannuation funds

Say ahhh: New research shows Australians would rather visit the dentist than review their super. Source: Supplied

Sunsuper customer service general manager Steve Travis says the research found about 46 per cent of Australians take notice of their super but that the negative attitudes many people harbour towards it is a concern.

"It's heartening almost half of Australians were interested and managing their super, but what was alarming and surprising was some of the lengths that people identified that they would rather do than manage their super," he says.

"Giving up television for a week or visiting the dentist was something that they would rather do, which I find really surprising."

The survey, which quizzed more than 1500 people, found 16 per cent would rather give up TV for a week than monitor their super, 13 per cent would prefer to visit the dentist and 7 per cent would rather have their in-laws over to stay.

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Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia chief executive Pauline Vamos says super gives members a lot of choice, so people should be engaged in how their retirement savings are tracking.

"The last thing we want is people who don't engage and have multiple accounts and insurance they don't need, or they're in a portfolio that's not right for them," she says.

"We ask people to think about what their lifestyle will be in retirement and giving up today for tomorrow, even if you give up one coffee a day it can put nearly $150,000 into your super account."