Super news for September 2025

Almost half of Australian investors are using AI tools to make investment decisions, with 12% using it extensively and 36% using it sometimes, according to the latest Australian Retail Investor Confidence survey by Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ).

CA ANZ surveyed 1000 retail investors with more than $10,000 in investments and found that of those that used AI, 81% were at least somewhat satisfied with the information it provided.

“We have seen adoption of AI grow rapidly for both personal and professional use, but it is interesting to see investors are using it to guide where their money goes,” CA ANZ chief executive officer Ainslie van Onselen said.

“The results of this year’s survey show mum and dad investors, and the younger demographic, are turning to AI platforms like ChatGPT or Co-Pilot to guide their investment decisions,” she added.

Younger investors aged 18 to 29 were more likely to use AI to inform investment decisions, with 78% saying they used it, and at 15% male investors were more likely to use AI extensively for this purpose, compared to 9% of women.

Senate committee cancels inquiry

The Senate Economics References Committee has recommended that the Inquiry into wealth management companies not continue.

While associations such as the Financial Advice Association of Australia (FAAA) are “deeply disappointed”, the FAAA said they will pursue other paths to have the collapse of wealth management companies, such as Dixon Advisory, Shield and First Guardian, investigated.

“The decision to end the Inquiry seems extraordinary, particularly in the light of recent news about the collapse of Shield and First Guardian, potentially involving over $1 billion in consumer losses from their super,” FAAA chief executive officer, Sarah Abood, said following the announcement of the cancellation.

Financial services misconduct an ongoing concern

The Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) received 7,561 reports of misconduct, raising 11,060 issues, in the first half of 2025.

More than half of these reported issues, or 5,909, were in the financial services and retail investor category. This category includes credit issues, licence obligations, and other conduct related to advice, insurance, and misleading and deceptive or unconscionable behaviour.

Self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs) have attracted regulatory attention, with auditor concerns for SMSFs being among six issues identified by ASIC for further review. Additionally, misconduct targeting superannuation savings has been designated as an enforcement priority by ASIC for 2025.

“The data underscores why many of ASIC’s enforcement priorities focus on consumer and retail investor protection … This data shows exactly why we regularly issue consumer warnings and update our advice through Moneysmart to help empower consumers and protect them,” ASIC chair Joe Longo said.

Super sector tops $4 trillion

Total superannuation assets increased by 4.8% over the June quarter to $4.3 trillion as at June 2025, of which $3.0 trillion was in APRA-regulated funds.

Total assets in SMSFs increased by 5.5% to $1.05 billion while total contributions increased by 14.1% to $210.2 billion in the year ending in June 2025. The superannuation guarantee increased from 10.5% to 11% over the same period.

Employer contributions increased by 10.1% over the year to $151.1 billion and member contributions increased by 25.8% over the year to $59.1 billion.

Benefit payments rose 12.8% to $132.5 billion for the year ending June 2025, driven by a 14.3% increase in lump sum payments to $73.3 billion and an 11.0% rise in pension payments to $59.2 billion.

Advised retirees feel confident

Nearly three quarters, or 71%, of retirees who accessed financial advice felt confident about their next phase of life, according to research of more than 2000 adults aged between 35 and 75 by the $155 billion superannuation fund UniSuper.

Among Australians who have received financial advice, 68% reported knowing the amount of money required for retirement. Conversely, 48% of the general population indicated uncertainty about how much they would need to retire comfortably.

“This research reinforces what we’ve long believed at UniSuper – quality advice is the single most powerful tool we have to empower the next generation of retirees and help them achieve better outcomes with confidence and clarity,” UniSuper general manager of financial advice and education Andrew Gregory said when releasing the research.

Eighty percent of working Australians who received financial advice felt confident they could retire at their planned age. That compared to 90% of Australians who reported having some concerns about retirement.

“The confidence gap between those who have received financial advice and those who haven’t speaks volumes about the power of guidance. At UniSuper, 66% of members starting a retirement income stream have already tapped into our advice services, and 80% of our retirees have leaned on support to retire with greater clarity, confidence and peace of mind,” Gregory said.