Superannuation investors are encouraged to maintain a long term perspective and will not be able to access their superannuation until they have:

• Permanently retired from the workforce

• Reached the minimum age set by law, called your 'preservation age'. See the table below.

However, you may access your super once you reach the age of 65, regardless whether you have retired or not. A person may now retain their superannuation funds (in the accumulation phase) on an indefinite basis until death.

Please contact your super fund or one of the financial planners at Intellichoice for more information.

If you have not reached the minimum age set by law, you may get part of your super earlier only if the following occurs:

• if you suffer permanent incapacity for work; or

• in cases of severe financial hardship, (the Trustee must follow approved guidelines to determine severe financial hardship); or

• on 'compassionate grounds' (there are strict guidelines for release on compassionate grounds and both APRA and the Trustee must approve the release); or

• if you are an eligible temporary resident of Australia, who has the option of accessing their super benefits after permanently leaving Australia; or

• upon termination of gainful employment on or after 1 July 1997 where your preserved benefits at the time of the termination are less than $200.

Special access rules apply to any restricted and unrestricted non-preserved benefits you may have. Please speak with your super fund or speak to a financial planner at Intellichoice on 1300 55 10 45 for more information.