Super!

Sadly, the 17.5% gender pay gap combined with breaks from the workforce associated with maternity leave means women are at a considerable disadvantage to men when it comes to the funds they have to retire on. A 2012 Suncorp-ASFA Super Attitudes Survey found women hold just 37% of Australia's total super account balances.

In line with International Women's Day, ASFA is encouraging women to start thinking about super. It's a big job given 81% of us "are not currently engaged" with our super, according to ASFA/Suncorp research. A new independent website called Super Guru, which provides information and tools to get the most out of their superannuation, should help.

According to Vamos, women need to accumulate $250,000 in super by the time they retire, in order to supplement the pension (giving them a total of $500,000). That's a lot of money to earn when you factor in career breaks, a slow start on salary and numerous debts associated with education, property and raising children. Indeed, for most of us it's almost impossible without making voluntary super contributions on top of compulsory savings.

For women planning to take two years out of the workforce while raising children, Vamos recommends they contribute an extra 1% over the course of their working life. She adds that while it'd be sensible for school-leavers to start making voluntary contributions – and she makes such contributions on behalf of her own daughters as a "Christmas present" each year – the reality is that most women will wait until they've finished university and joined the workforce in a full-time and secure capacity before making such contributions. All women, at least by the age of 25, should be considering their super.

So what can you do right now? Here's what ASFA recommends:

1. Roll you super accounts into one. You need to know your tax file number.
2. Get excited about your super. Check your account balance and insurance arrangements regularly, remembering that it's your money and you have the right to know how it's performing.
3. Build it up. Make voluntary contributions and pay an additional 1% if you've had/are considering having children.