Default super funds outperformed self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs) in the year to last quarter’s end by two per cent before fees and tax, according to SuperGuard 360.
The SG360 SMSF Reference index showed returns of 5.4 per cent for the year to March 2018, as compared to 7.4 per cent for the SG360 Default Index, which represented MySuper products.
SuperGuard 360 put this down to SMSFs generally having lower asset class weightings to growth assets, especially international equities. The 12-month returns of international equities to last quarter’s end was around 10 per cent higher than that of their Australian counterparts.
The organisation said that three quarters of all SMSFs have assets under $1 million, and these funds have higher weightings to cash and lower weightings to equities than larger, higher-performing SMSFs.
It said that this meant that “the majority of SMSF members are in funds likely to achieve lower than ideal investment outcomes”.
The Future Fund’s CIO Ben Samild has announced his resignation, with his deputy to assume the role of interim CIO.
The fund has unveiled reforms to streamline death benefit payments, cut processing times, and reduce complexity.
A ratings firm has placed more prominence on governance in its fund ratings, highlighting that it’s not just about how much money a fund makes today, but whether the people running it are trustworthy, disciplined, and able to deliver for members in the future.
AMP has reached an agreement in principle to settle a landmark class action over fees charged to members of its superannuation funds, with $120 million earmarked for affected members.