The average industry superannuation fund member is around $2,000 a year better off than their retail counterparts, according to Industry Super Australia (ISA).
ISA pointed to SuperRatings data that found that, on average, 16 industry super funds outperformed 77 retail super funds over a 10-year period after fees had been deducted from investment returns.
ISA’s ‘compare the pair’ model found that a sales representative with around $75,000 in super and earning the average salary in 2008 was around $2,000 a year better off if they had their super in the average industry super fund.
ISA director of public affairs, Matt Linden, said: “Using a net benefit, or after fee calculation, helps demonstrate to consumers how hard their fund is working for them after everything is taken into account”.
Linden noted the Australian Securities and Investments Commission’s (ASIC’s) new fee disclosure arrangements would not impact the model as the comparisons had been returns net of all fees and costs.
A major super fund has defended its use of private markets in a submission to ASIC, asserting that appropriate governance and information-sharing practices are present in both public and private markets.
A member body representing some prominent wealth managers is concerned super funds’ dominance is sidelining small companies in capital markets.
Earlier this month, several Australian superannuation funds fell victim to credential stuffing attacks, which saw a small number of members lose more than $500,000.
Small- to medium-sized funds have become collateral damage in an "imperfect" model for super industry levies, a financial institution has said.