In this guide
Super funds top the trust rankings
Australians trust their superannuation fund to act in their best interests more than any other government or financial institution, according to research by the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA).
Australian super funds received the highest share of number one trust rankings in the ASFA 2025 survey and were also the most likely to be placed in respondents’ top three trusted organisations.
“It’s heartening to see Australians place such trust in the super system and their super funds,” ASFA chief executive officer Mary Delahunty said.
“We all have a role in guarding that trust. The super sector has had a great year for financial returns and has also made meaningful improvements to the service members receive,” she said.
The survey also found nearly 80% of people trust their fund to make sound financial decisions and more than 90% agreed that superannuation plays an important role in ensuring financial wellbeing in retirement.
Most members, or 79%, had a positive or very positive level of satisfaction with their fund’s performance.
Netwealth to compensate First Guardian failures
Netwealth has agreed to pay over $100 million in compensation to over 1,000 investors who invested in the failed First Guardian Master Fund via the Netwealth Superannuation Master Fund (NSMF).
Late last year the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) commenced proceedings in the Federal Court against Netwealth Superannuation Services (NSS) and Netwealth Investments as trustees of the NSMF. But Netwealth has also admitted it failed to obtain sufficient information about the First Guardian Master Fund prior to offering it as an investment option via the Netwealth Superannuation Master Fund (NSMF).
“This is a welcome outcome for many Australians and stems the significant losses that threatened their retirement savings,” deputy chair Sarah Court said.
The regulator has accepted a court-enforceable undertaking that will ensure NSMF members are compensated 100% of what they invested in First Guardian, minus any amounts withdrawn. These compensation payments need to be made by 30 January 2026.
Because of Netwealth’s cooperation and announcement to provide compensation, ASIC will not be seeking a monetary penalty in its proceedings due to theexceptional nature of the case.
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Australians’ super engagement still low
Disengagement with super and inattentiveness to investment choice could be costing Australians thousands of dollars at retirement, according to new research by Colonial First State (CFS).
According to CFS head of technical services Craig Day, a 25-year-old who shifts into a higher-growth super investment option early in their working life, then moves to a balanced option as they approach retirement, could retire with around $200,000 more than someone in the same situation who stays in the balanced option throughout their career.
“When people stay in the status quo, whether that’s remaining in a conservative default option or a single asset, they risk missing out on significant long-term growth,” Day said.
CFS’s national survey of 2,250 Australians found that although more than half (54%) consider their superannuation to be an investment, that falls to 48% for those under 50. It also revealed that just 46% of Australians have actively chosen how their superannuation is invested and 29% don’t know how their superannuation is invested at all.
Property remains a popular investment, but only 11% of Australians under 50 expect property to be their largest investment in retirement, compared to 21% of those aged 50 to 64.
… but early action pays off
Young Australians who better understand superannuation are up to six times more likely to take actions that improve their retirement savings, according to research by the Super Members Council (SMC).
Super knowledge is a super power
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“The more you think about your super, the more likely you are to do something that could boost your savings and help you live the life you want in retirement,” SMC acting chief executive officer Georgia Brumby said.
The survey also found an increase in confidence in the super system, with 64% of Australians agreeing that the system works well for them.
80% said that super will be critical to their retirement, and the proportion that believes they will have enough super for retirement exceeded 50% for the first time.
“Super is a long-term investment – so the earlier you engage, the bigger the payoff,” Brumby said.
The SMC is urging Australians to use the summer break to engage with their superannuation and consider factors to boost their balance, such as consolidation of more than one super fund and making additional contributions to super when possible.
New retirement income solution from Betashares/CFS
ETF provider Betashares has partnered with Colonial First State to launch Retirement Income separately managed accounts (SMAs) on Colonial First State’s Edge platform.
The SMAs target income generation of 2% per year above traditional benchmark portfolios via a combination of defensive, ‘smart beta’, and equity income strategies. (So-called smart beta aims to combine the benefits of passive investing with active investment strategies.)
“The accessibility of high-quality investment solutions that assist people to meet their income goals in retirement is one of the biggest challenges in wealth management, particularly given the growing number of people heading into that phase of their lives,” Betashares chief executive officer Alex Vynokur said.
“We’re pleased to partner with Betashares to bring Retirement Income SMAs to CFS Edge, giving advisers ETF-based portfolios designed for clients moving into and through retirement,” CFS executive director of managed accounts Francy Taylor said.
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