The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) is reminding product issuers that as part of their implementation of Protecting Your Super Package (PYSP), they need to take care that, from 1 July 2019, Product Disclosure Statements (PDSs) do not suggest exit fees will be charged on superannuation products.
Exit fees would be banned under PYSP from 1 July 2019 and would affect superannuation products, so the line needed to be eliminated from the relevant PDSs as well as ensuring no exit charges were charged in practice.
ASIC said it understood the timeline may be difficult for some issuers but encouraged them to make the change as soon as possible.
The regulator said it would be releasing a report on fees and cost disclosure in PDSs in the second half of 2019 following a consultation period earlier this year. It said it would take the changes under PYSP into account when compiling this report.
The Super Members Council (SMC) has called for streamlined super reporting to cut costs, boost investment flows, and strengthen retirement outcomes.
AustralianSuper’s reliance on unlisted assets dragged on performance over the past year, as the rally in listed markets left funds more heavily weighted to equities outperforming their peers.
IFM Investors has urged for government-industry collaboration to accelerate projects, unlock capital, and deliver long-term returns for Australians.
With super funds turning increasingly to private credit to lift returns, experts have cautioned that the high-yield asset class carries hidden risks that are often misunderstood.