Policy makers should start demanding answers about why not-for-profit industry superannuation funds continue to outperform bank-owned funds, Industry Super Australia (ISA) believes.
ISA pointed to SuperRatings’ data for the decade ending 31 May 2017 which found that industry funds in the SR 50 Balanced Option outperformed bank-owned super funds on average by two per cent.
ISA public affairs director, Matt Linden, said the two per cent difference could cost $200,000 in savings at retirement for the average earner.
“With pension access tightening, compulsory superannuation is becoming increasingly central to the wellbeing of Australians as they age,” he said.
“This chronic under-performance of retail funds, which hold just over a quarter of all super savings, should be a big concern for forward-thinking policy makers.
“But when it comes to returns on the retirement savings of hard working Australians, the silence is almost deafening.”
A member of the super fund has approached ASIC to investigate potentially misleading or deceptive representations by UniSuper regarding the holdings of its sustainable portfolios.
The median growth fund delivered 1.9 per cent in March, adding to the “stunning” rally that has seen super funds gain 11 per cent since November.
Vanguard has affirmed its support for the current super performance test, emphasising the importance of keeping the process straightforward.
While some superannuation funds have gone down the route of internalisation, others say they favour ‘smart partnering’ with external managers for diversification appeal.
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