Energy Super will launch an investment option that replicates its MySuper investment strategy as a way around the Federal Government's removal of fee caps on defaults.
Energy Super chief executive Robyn Petrou said the fund had been forced to launch a MySuper and a choice product with the same investment strategy in order to continue to offer the fee cap to members with higher account balances.
She said Energy Super would contact members with higher balances over the next 6-12 months to discuss the best options for individuals.
"There are some that should fall into the MySuper product and there are some that will need to have a think about whether they need to be in there or not - and those are the people that we will be focusing on," she said.
Last week at a Parliamentary Joint Committee meeting, the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) lobbied against the fee cap, with chief executive Pauline Vamos saying it was "not a good policy".
She said members should be treated equally and equitably, which did not mean every member paid the same amount. Trustees needed the flexibility to ensure fees were equitable and if appropriate, implement a cap on fees, Vamos said.
"Otherwise, we are going to have the bizarre situation - and it was confirmed by one fund yesterday - that they will feel they have an obligation to contact all of their larger account balance members in their MySuper products and encourage them to move to a choice product," she said.
The research house has offered a silver lining after super fund returns saw the end of a five-month streak last month.
A survey of almost 6,000 fund members has identified weakening retirement confidence, particularly among those under 55 years of age, signalling an opportunity for super funds to better engage with members on their retirement journey.
The funds have confirmed the signing of a successor fund transfer deed, moving closer to creating a new $29 billion entity.
A number of measures, including super on Paid Parental Leave, funding to recover unpaid super, and frameworks to encourage investment in the energy transition, have been welcomed by the superannuation industry.
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