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AXIS Financial Group

Super performance

Is super well managed?

Super receives a lot of attention from the government and over the last 30 years this has regularly resulted in regulatory interventions. Following the recent Royal Commission, the government is once again poised to introduce further controls. What they must be saying is that they’ve fixed it all! If that is to be true, then the service model the government expects the financial services industry to work to must be clearly defined.

But really, the question we should be asking is whether super is delivering value to the account holder – the owner of the asset.

The problem with super

The creation of compulsory super in Australia is an impressive achievement for a country of our size – super is one of the biggest savings pools in the world! As the asset has grown, more and more service providers have cropped up offering up different products and supposedly different services. These product providers have prospered and grown alongside Australia’s super asset.

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Financial services companies, banks, unions, accountants and financial planners have all unified to create a large industry, but they do not necessarily deliver good service. As super is an employer funded personal asset, many employers have discovered the need to have a default fund to ensure they meet their obligations under the super guarantee rules. Things have become even more complicated with the introduction of various license regimes and the imposition of ever more complicated regulation.

Employers who pay attention

The most complicated component of any employee package is very much their super. Company management rely on the financial services industry to provide value but to date they must have been (or will be) disappointed.

It’s near on impossible for any remuneration manager to maintain the technical expertise to properly analyse the value being delivered by their current super provider and then to know how to actually see service improve in a way that would allow them to announce that their employer fund is a superior benefit and capable of optimising the balance of their employee super accounts.

Super providers hold their cards close to their chest and will not reveal anything that shows them in a bad light, making it difficult to implement effective change.

For instance, the MySuper default was introduced to reduce cost but not necessarily to increase investment performance. The regulations around cost disclosure provides for only some of the costs. There are other costs in all products that are not disclosed but all impact on the return that could be earned at individual account balance. As an employer, you would expect any supplier to fully inform you on all costs that might be incurred in the delivery of the end value to your employees but this is not the case.

There is also a difference in investment choice menu across all products and the quality of the options available. The majority of members are in the MySuper option but it is possible to obtain higher returns without extra risk if the right options are available from the investment choice menu. Investment costs and possibly administration fees are higher if you start to invest outside of MySuper. However again, a lack of knowledge around corporate super products stops you from knowing what services to demand and value you want delivered.

The good employer

Despite this, in the past couple of years, employers have started to adopt new practices around the management and provision of financial benefits to their employees. Employers are finding ways to differentiate themselves from others, to help them attract, retain and motivate the best people. The most notable indicator of this development is the number of remuneration managers now examining employee reward structures and their benchmarking against others in their industry.

They have some information to work with, the government actioned Productivity Commission was designed to examine the super market and recommend changes but to date these recommendations have not been fully endorsed by the government.

A second initiative from the government is a heat map analysis carried out by APRA. Click the link for more information https://www.apra.gov.au/mysuper-product-heatmap

The limiting factor around this analysis by APRA is that it only compares costs, investment returns, and the sustainability of member outcomes around MySuper. Much more information is required to properly evaluate super as a remuneration benefit.

Benefit Performance

So what can employers do? Every employer needs more information than their product provider is going to tell them. So step one is to find a source of technical evaluation and benefit design. Many employers try to create benefit by commissioning change without actually understanding the problem. A key element of company performance is the motivation of its work force and so it’s important to take the time to find the right information and consider the value of the products and service you are receiving.

AXIS Financial Group can help you to evaluate your super provider and find the right fit, get in touch today.

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This document was prepared and issued by AXIS Financial Group (ABN 21 092 889 579, AFSL 233680). The information contained within it is not advice. It provides general information only and does not take into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs. You should assess whether the information is appropriate for you and consider talking with your financial adviser before making an investment decision. Information in this publication, which is taken from sources other than AXIS Financial Group, is believed to be accurate. However, subject to any contrary provision in any applicable law, neither AXIS Financial Group, nor its employees and directors, provide any warranty of accuracy or reliability in relation to such information or accepts any liability to any person who relies on it.

Let’s talk about the right super fit for your employees.

Testimonials

Mitsui & Co. (Australia) Ltd engaged AXIS Financial Group in reviewing the existing employer super arrangements and clarifying which product provider might be best for Mitsui & Co. (Australia) Ltd and it’s group of companies.

AXIS Financial Group provided a concise explanation as to who might be best and why, in particular ensuring that the internal project team had the information to feel confident as decisions were made. The project team moved from arguably being daunted by the prospect of improving this particular employer funded employee entitlement and better understood how to manage super as a remuneration benefit through the detailed analysis and explanation provided by AXIS Financial Group

Antony Auliso
General Manager - Human Resources Division
Mitsui & Co. (Australia) Ltd

I want to thank AXIS Financial Group for their efforts in handling insurance claims on behalf of the employees of WesTrac. From the moment AXIS Financial Group were appointed to the task, they moved so seamlessly into position and have made sure that WesTrac is not only better serviced as a result but also more informed about claims progress. I also note the outstanding results achieved by AXIS with respect to marketing and placement of our employer super policy.

It seems nothing is a problem for the AXIS team and I would commend all employers to consider this service.

Gary Carter
Group Insurance Manager
WesTrac Pty Ltd

AXIS Financial Group’s knowledge of employer super is second to none.

DXC tasked AXIS Financial Group with consolidating multiple superannuation funds to a
single company-wide default fund. They delivered, displaying superior knowledge of their
industry, along with the highest level of service and diligence.
From start to finish – the initial analysis of our previous funds, the detailed tender process,
the transition to our new fund, and post-transition – AXIS Financial Group always made
themselves available for support.
We strongly recommend speaking to AXIS Financial Group for all matters relating to
employer super.

Michael McGoldrick
Director, Compensation Asia Pacific
DXC Technology