There is a correct make-up for everyone. I'm personally sacrificing 5.5%. As long as I've got enough pre-super and post-super, it'll be fine. We should definitely take the tax advantages now.
Agree with this view - a balance needs to be struck between pre & post retirement, and it's up to everyone to figure out what that line is for each of themselves.
People also forget that you can add money into super any time before you are 65. Like everything with super, there are pros and cons...
- Between preservation age and 65 an early retiree could move everything gradually into super. I assume that your super will be in pension phase, so any dividends... will not be taxed, and your own income from superannuation will not be taxed either, so from preservation age onwards, superannuation is currently the best way to go.
- It is probably strongly advisable not to move investment properties (or any other large item that doesn't generate much income) into super, because you will have difficulties later on with the compulsory withdrawal rates, unless you have quite a lot in other investments that you are prepared to use for withdrawal instead.
- Superannuation withdrawal rates are greater than 4% once you are over 65. This means that you could end up with most of your money outside super (if you are following the 4% rule), even if you put it all inside super to start with. I'm not sure where you should put the excess. However, because super is not taxed (except in certain circumstances), you can have a reasonably large income (let's say $18,000) outside super before you need to think about tax.
- If you retired early, you will probably be living on a small income during the years between retirement and preservation age, so you won't be paying much (if any) tax. Adding money to superannuation may not be tax effective in those years.