How to prioritise super when you’ve got 5 minutes, 1 hour or 1 afternoon according to financial advisers

Super has a habit of staying out of sight. It ticks along quietly in the background until something in life brings it back into focus – maybe it’s end of financial year and you’re wondering whether you should be contributing more; or you might be going through a job change that raises questions about your super setup; or maybe you have just purchased a home and thinking differently about your insurance needs. 

Suddenly, super feels important. And potentially overwhelming. 

That’s often the point where people assume they need a costly financial adviser. AMP intrafund financial advisers see this moment often when customers book in to use their service. And while people might come looking for answers, advisers usually begin somewhere else – helping people work out what deserves attention now, and what can wait. 

Here’s how AMP’s expert financial advisers typically help members with their super when they book in for a consultation, depending on how much time someone has. 

If you’ve got 5 minutes: working out what matters right now 

When you’ve only got a short amount of time, advisers recommend prioritising awareness and education. 

“People should ask themselves; do they really understand how super works? It’s not embarrassing not to know, after all no one teaches you formally,” says AMP Intrafund Financial Adviser Tim Waterson. 

Spending a bit of time learning the basics – what super is, how it works, and what role it plays in your financial future – can make the whole system feel far less daunting.  

Once that’s clear, advisers often suggest simple checks that help people feel oriented again. These quick sense‑checks can surface issues people haven’t looked at for years, without creating more overwhelm. 

“Do you have any other super funds?” AMP Intrafund Financial Adviser Yvonne Wilson often asks clients. It’s a simple question, but one that can quickly reveal whether consolidation might help reduce admin, fees or complexity that has quietly built up over time. 

The Australian Tax Office (ATO) offers a service to check for lost super or multiple accounts. Check out their page on lost super for more information. If you’re an AMP Super member, you can check to see if you have multiple super accounts and consolidate your super in My AMP.  

“I always check to see if they have nominated a beneficiary on their super,” says AMP Intrafund Financial Adviser Janice Arnott. It’s a small detail that’s easy to overlook, but one that can make a meaningful difference to how smoothly super is passed on if something unexpected happens. 

For AMP Intrafund Financial Adviser Ekta Lalwani, even a short window is enough to encourage awareness and confidence. 

“Read your last two annual super statements thoroughly to understand the value your super fund adds to your financial wellbeing,” she says. The statement is often the first time people see their balance, fees, investment performance and insurance laid out in one place, which can make super feel more tangible and less abstract. 

“I’d also suggest they check the contribution history, to ensure that the correct contributions have gone into super, in a timely manner and that they are the correct type,” says Tim.  

5 minute to-do list: 

• Check your statement and contributions

• Check for multiple accounts

• Update your beneficiaries

If you’ve got 1 hour: replacing uncertainty with understanding 

With a full hour, advisers suggest getting expert guidance – using specialist knowledge to make sense of super’s moving parts and help people understand what actually matters for their situation. 

“One hour is a good amount of time to speak to an adviser. They are the expert in the field and can quickly identify what strategies can benefit the client in the short and long term,” says Yvonne. 

For AMP Super members, that guidance doesn’t always require a full, formal advice process. Members can access 24/7 Digital Financial Advice, plus book intrafund advice sessions with AMP advisers such as Tim, Yvonne, Ekta and Janice, making it easier to get expert help when questions arise. 

For many people, that expertise matters because super isn’t something they’ve ever been taught in a structured way – it’s learned piecemeal, often only when a question or concern arises. 

“Many people don’t have a basic grasp of how superannuation works – and that’s completely understandable. There’s a lot of legislation involved, and members don’t know what they don’t know,” says Tim. 

An adviser’s role at this stage isn’t to rush decisions, but to translate complexity into plain language and explain how different choices could play out over time. 

“A qualified adviser can explain the pros, cons and consequences of different options, and tailor the conversation to a member’s unique situation,” says Ekta. 

That personalisation is important, because super isn’t one‑size‑fits‑all. Rules may be the same, but how they apply depends on income, life stage, risk tolerance and long‑term goals. 

“Everyone’s situation is unique,” Tim explains. “It can be challenging for an untrained person to be across all the legislation that affects them.” 

With that foundation in place, advisers often use the time to review some of the biggest drivers of long‑term outcomes – particularly how super is invested. 

“In an hour we can do an investment review to find out whether or not the investment options are the most appropriate,” Tim says. “Choosing the right investment option will have a substantial impact on a member’s retirement outcome.  Members are often unaware that this choice alone can alter the course of their life.” 

1 hour to-do list: 

• Speak to a financial adviser or access digital tools and advice

• Explore your investment options

If you’ve got one afternoon: Big picture confidence 

When people have a full afternoon to spend on their super, advisers often focus on helping them understand the parts that tend to cause the most uncertainty later on – particularly insurance, and what super is actually meant to do once work ends. 

“People feel much more confident if their insurance cover is fit for purpose,” says Tim . This isn’t just anecdotal evidence, superannuation insurer TAL released research that shows that only 18% of people who don’t know whether they have insurance in super feel financially confident, compared with 77% of those who actively understand their cover. 

Insurance tends to take more time to work through because it isn’t just about the policy itself. Advisers need to understand the full picture – what assets someone has, what debts they carry, who relies on their income, and what cover already exists inside and outside super. Life changes like buying a home, starting a family or changing jobs can all affect whether insurance still does what it’s meant to do. 

Insurance inside super is often set up years earlier, then left untouched as circumstances evolve. An afternoon allows advisers to slow down and explain what cover someone actually has, what it’s designed to protect, and how it fits alongside their super balance and broader financial position. For many people, simply understanding their insurance – rather than changing it – is what restores confidence. 

That broader view naturally extends to life after work, which is an area advisers say many people feel unprepared for. 

“Members often feel unsure about what to do with their super once they retire,” Tim says. “Understanding what options are available can help them make more effective decisions as they approach retirement.” 

Those conversations typically focus on what super is designed to provide in retirement – whether that’s a regular income, flexibility to draw down savings over time, or balancing access to money with long‑term security. Exploring these options early can help people feel more in control and avoid last‑minute decisions when retirement is already close. 

One afternoon to-do list 

• Check how much insurance you need 

• Consider what options are available after retirement

What advisers want people to take away 

Super can feel overwhelming when it’s left untouched for too long. But as advisers see every day, it rarely needs a dramatic overhaul to feel more manageable. 

A short check‑in can stop small questions turning into bigger worries. A longer conversation can bring clarity around insurance, retirement and what to think about next – without forcing decisions before you’re ready. 

The most important step is the one that fits into your life right now. That might be five minutes today, or a longer conversation when you have the space. Either way, confidence starts with understanding.