Australian superannuation median growth funds returned a positive 7.5 per cent for the 2016 calendar year thanks to Australian listed property returning 13.2 per cent in December, according to Morningstar.
The research house's latest survey found Australian listed property was the best-performing growth asset class in December 2016, followed by Australian equities (11.8 per cent), global listed property (8.3 per cent), and global equities (7.9 per cent).
Maple-Brown Abbott was the best performing growth fund for the year, returning 10 per cent, followed by Care Super Balanced (9.4 per cent), Optimum Growth and Energy Super Balanced (both at 8.8 per cent), and HESTA Super Core Pool (8.4 per cent).
CBUS Growth was the top MySuper option over the year to 31 December 2016 at 9.6 per cent, followed by Care Super Balanced (9.4 per cent), and Energy Super (8.8 per cent).
The survey found the best performing balanced (40 to 60 per cent growth assets) super funds were Energy Super Capital Managed (7.3 per cent), Optimum Balanced Growth (7.1 per cent), and EISS Super (6.6 per cent).
The two funds have announced the signing of a non-binding MOU to explore a potential merger.
The board must shift its focus from managing inflation to stimulating the economy with the trimmed mean inflation figure edging closer to the 2.5 per cent target, economists have said.
ASIC chair Joe Longo says superannuation trustees must do more to protect members from misconduct and high-risk schemes.
Super fund mergers are rising, but poor planning during successor fund transfers has left members and employers exposed to serious risks.