16 February, 2026

Helping you manage volatility in retirement

Finished work and relying on your super for regular income payments? If market volatility – and its impact on your account balance – is keeping you up at night, we can help.

Read on to find out how we can support you when markets are unstable.
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Market volatility explained

Volatility happens when investment prices rise and fall, often sharply and suddenly. We can’t predict volatility but it generally occurs when there’s uncertainty about the economy, inflation and interest rates, or other global events, which leads investors to change how they value assets.  

Even though it can be unsettling, temporary volatility is a normal part of investing.  

Volatility can also have benefits – for example, it gives us the opportunity to invest in assets at a lower price. 

 

How we protect your money

At CareSuper, we prepare for market volatility and protect your super with strategies that aim to minimise the impact of negative returns when markets fall.  

  • Investing across global markets means we expect downturns to happen from time to time. That’s why we use diversification to reduce risk by spreading our investments across a range of asset types and markets. While not always the case, typically when one asset class goes down, another performs well and that’s why diversification is an important building block for CareSuper’s pre-mixed options.   
  • We also invest your super in a way that minimises the impact of negative returns when markets fall. This is called ‘downside protection’ and it means your super is better prepared for market downturns, and you can be more confident about recovering losses. 

 

How much risk is right for you?

It generally comes down to the level of risk that supports your current retirement lifestyle and gives you peace of mind at the same time. 

  • Someone with a higher risk appetite and a long-term outlook might be comfortable with lots of fluctuation in their investments. 
  • Someone with a shorter investment horizon or a lower-risk approach won’t be comfortable seeing their account balance go up and down. 

If you’re worried about how your account is invested, talk to us. Our Super Advisers can help you assess the right level of investment risk for your needs, and make sure your investment options match your comfort level.1  

Our top tips for handling volatility in retirement

  • Know the risks of switching to cash 
    Moving to a lower-risk asset class like cash during market volatility might feel safer, but history shows that it may come at a cost. Switching investment options can lock in your losses and make it more costly to re-enter the market when share prices recover. 
  • Stay invested  
    Keeping your money invested in the super system in retirement can help it last longer. If you have a retirement income account with us, you can receive regular payments while aiming to grow your balance with investment returns and tax advantages. 
     
    We offer a range of retirement income options, including a Managed Income product where we handle the investment decisions and manage your account to deliver you  stable income over the long-term.  
  • Talk to an expert 
    Being with CareSuper means you don’t have to face market volatility on your own. Our team are the experts in super, so you don’t have to be. 

    You can speak with a Super Adviser to help you make informed decisions about your account at no extra cost.1 If you’ve already talked to us before – that’s not a problem. You can speak to us as many times as you need. 

 

Helping you retire with confidence

Find out more about the expert advice available to you, learn more about your investment options or get in touch with any other questions and we’ll help you out.  

More information

 

1 CareSuper Advice is a financial advice service available to CareSuper members through CareSuper Advice Pty Ltd, ABN 78 102 167 877, AFSL No. 284443 which is licensed to provide financial advice services and deal in financial products. CareSuper Advice Pty Ltd is a wholly owned company of CareSuper (Secretariat Co) Pty Ltd ABN 29 104 826 413, a related entity of CareSuper Pty Ltd ABN 14 008 650 628, AFSL No. 238718 (Trustee) which is the trustee of CareSuper ABN 74 559 365 913 (Fund). 

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