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Monitoring super performance critical in light of new measures

While the government has announced plans to increase governance over the performance of super funds, super members will still need to actively monitor the performance of their fund to avoid being stapled to an underperforming one, says a mid-tier firm.

   

As part of its Your Future, Your Super package, the government revealed plans in the federal budget to staple existing superannuation accounts to a member in order to avoid the creation of a new account when the person changes their employment.

BDO partner, audit and assurance, James Dixon said placing an obligation on super funds to align performance with members’ best interests and ensure their members’ retirement savings are maximised is good news.

“All superannuation investment vehicles — whether they are a self-managed superannuation fund, a retail fund or an industry fund — should be on a level playing field when it comes to transparency and governance. Ensuring the needs of members are front and centre should remain the end game,” Mr Dixon said.

However, Mr Dixon noted that as with many announcements of this nature in the past, the devil is in the detail.

“Developing an appropriate benchmark to measure fund performance against will be key to this proposal,” he said.

“It must balance the need for short-term reporting transparency against the need for funds to invest for their members’ benefit. The metrics used to determine the benchmark itself must also be carefully considered, with a wide range of market, fund and investor factors that should be taken into account.”

He also stressed that despite this increase in government, Australian workers will need to actively monitor the performance of their super fund to avoid being stapled to an underperforming fund.

“APRA may eventually take action against an underperforming fund, but many factors influence whether a member should switch funds before that time,” Mr Dixon said.

Mr Dixon said super members may want to have a discussion with their planner or wealth adviser about their personal risk profile and the composition of the fund’s investments and their diversification, liquidity and any other factors that determine retirement goals.

 

 

Miranda Brownlee
22 October 2020
smsfadviser.com

 


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David has been in the Financial Services Industry for nearly 30 years. He was one of the founding Directors of the successful Financial Planning and Stockbroking Practice, Henderson Gregory Forrest, for a decade. Prior to that, he held senior roles in companies such as ING, KPMG Accountants and AMP. David was previously Chairman of OAMPS Superannuation Trustee Board and currently serves as an independent Board Director for several companies.

David’s extensive experience in all forms of superannuation, including Self Managed Super Funds (SMSF), Defined Benefit Funds, retirement funding through Account Based Pensions, stockbroking with a focus on Direct Share Investment, Taxation/Remuneration Planning, Centrelink, Aged Care and business management, equip him to advise expertly on all aspects of Financial Advice.

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Michelle’s career has spanned across the Financial Services, Retirement Living and Aged Care industries working in the private sector, not for profit and more recently with the state government for over 20 years. Her experience extends to many facets of the financial services industry, having worked in superannuation administration, technical support and financial planning practice administration.

Commencing with AMP and subsequently working in commerce and accounting roles with companies such as Brambles, Adelaide Bank Retirement Services, ECH Inc and SA Health and Wellbeing, Michelle returns to financial services after working in practice financial management at Henderson Gregory Forrest. This wide range of experience from senior accounting and management roles has provided Michelle with a strong background in business administration.

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