Retirement
Super funds set to end the year with double-digit returns
Returns for median balanced funds remained positive in October.
Super funds set to end the year with double-digit returns
Super funds are on track to record double-digit returns for the 2021 calendar year after both the median balanced and median growth options posted strong gains in October.
SuperRatings reported that the median balanced option has now grown 11.2 per cent year-to-date, with funds set to deliver returns well above their objectives at the end of the year.
SuperRatings executive director Kirby Rappell said: “2021 has been a strong year for superannuation, with returns nearly three and a half times those of calendar year 2020 and almost double the yearly average for the past 20 years.”
Returns for the median capital stable option remained flat during October, according to SuperRatings.

Meanwhile, a median return of 0.7 per cent for the month and 11.7 per cent year-to-date was recorded for balanced pension options. The median pension growth option gained 0.8 per cent, and the median capital stable option rose 0.1 per cent during the month.
The anticipated strong returns for super funds during the 2021 calendar year follows an even stronger performance during the 2020-21 financial year.
Balanced funds have returned a median of 18 per cent over the past year, while growth funds have returned 22.2 per cent.
Mr Rappell also commented on the recent introduction of super stapling that links individuals to their existing super fund when changing jobs.
“While this legislation will cut down on members having multiple super accounts, it is really important that members check which fund they are stapled to, to see if its performance stacks up and fees are competitive, as this could have a significant impact on their final retirement account balance,” he said.
Earlier this month, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) called for more engagement with super after finding that many Australians remained in poorly performing funds.
Only 68,000 of the one million accounts in super funds that failed APRA’s performance test had been closed, representing only 4.2 per cent of assets.

Superannuation
Aware Super slashes admin fees for retirees by up to 25 per cent
Aware Super has reduced administration fees for members with a retirement income account by up to 25 per cent and lowered the maximum annual fee. Read more

Superannuation
SuperAPI co-founder criticises Labor's superannuation tax as 'sneaky tax on young people'
The co-founder of SuperAPI has labelled Labor's proposed tax on superannuation balances above $3 million as a "sneaky tax on young people, tomorrow" disguised as a policy targeting wealthy retirees ...Read more

Superannuation
Election policies could reshape Australia's superannuation landscape, expert warns
Competing superannuation policies from Australia's major political parties could have significant implications for investors and retirees, according to a financial expert. Read more

Superannuation
Industry leaders weigh in on concessional super tax as Budget confirms $55bn investment
Changes to the taxation of superannuation earnings and contributions have drawn mixed responses from financial and payroll sector leaders, as the Federal Budget confirms over $55 billion in ...Read more

Superannuation
Call for indexation on super tax cap as $3m threshold draws criticism
A senior executive in the superannuation technology sector has criticised the Federal Government for failing to index the proposed $3 million superannuation tax cap, arguing the measure will unfairly ...Read more

Superannuation
Rest members back calls for fairer superannuation rules ahead of Federal Budget
Rest has called on the Federal Government to implement superannuation reforms aimed at improving fairness across the system, after member survey results showed strong support for a range of proposed ...Read more

Superannuation
Rest welcomes progress on ‘Payday Super’ reform
Rest, one of Australia’s largest profit-to-member superannuation funds, has welcomed the Australian Government’s release of draft ‘Payday Super’ legislation, which aims to align Superannuation ...Read more

Superannuation
SuperAPI and Humanforce partner to improve superannuation compliance for one million Australians
Superannuation engagement platform SuperAPI has partnered with human capital management provider Humanforce to streamline payroll and superannuation contributions for more than one million Australian ...Read more

Superannuation
Aware Super slashes admin fees for retirees by up to 25 per cent
Aware Super has reduced administration fees for members with a retirement income account by up to 25 per cent and lowered the maximum annual fee. Read more

Superannuation
SuperAPI co-founder criticises Labor's superannuation tax as 'sneaky tax on young people'
The co-founder of SuperAPI has labelled Labor's proposed tax on superannuation balances above $3 million as a "sneaky tax on young people, tomorrow" disguised as a policy targeting wealthy retirees ...Read more

Superannuation
Election policies could reshape Australia's superannuation landscape, expert warns
Competing superannuation policies from Australia's major political parties could have significant implications for investors and retirees, according to a financial expert. Read more

Superannuation
Industry leaders weigh in on concessional super tax as Budget confirms $55bn investment
Changes to the taxation of superannuation earnings and contributions have drawn mixed responses from financial and payroll sector leaders, as the Federal Budget confirms over $55 billion in ...Read more

Superannuation
Call for indexation on super tax cap as $3m threshold draws criticism
A senior executive in the superannuation technology sector has criticised the Federal Government for failing to index the proposed $3 million superannuation tax cap, arguing the measure will unfairly ...Read more

Superannuation
Rest members back calls for fairer superannuation rules ahead of Federal Budget
Rest has called on the Federal Government to implement superannuation reforms aimed at improving fairness across the system, after member survey results showed strong support for a range of proposed ...Read more

Superannuation
Rest welcomes progress on ‘Payday Super’ reform
Rest, one of Australia’s largest profit-to-member superannuation funds, has welcomed the Australian Government’s release of draft ‘Payday Super’ legislation, which aims to align Superannuation ...Read more

Superannuation
SuperAPI and Humanforce partner to improve superannuation compliance for one million Australians
Superannuation engagement platform SuperAPI has partnered with human capital management provider Humanforce to streamline payroll and superannuation contributions for more than one million Australian ...Read more