Bold moves for Super: reforms, regulation, and the housing investment debate

#6. Co-hosts Sarah Penn and Neil Benson break down the latest news and debates in the superannuation sector. We cover:

• Legislative inaction: Despite big talk from government and industry summits, there’s little movement yet on significant superannuation or tax reforms.
• Super funds vs. ATO: HESTA and ART are taking legal action against the ATO over imputation credits, fighting for millions owed to members and highlighting rare but bold fund challenges to regulators.
• Performance test wrap-up: All 54 MySuper products passed this year, signaling improved standards, but some products—especially trustee-directed ones—remain borderline or repeatedly fail.
• Product closures and member impact: Funds are reviewing and closing underperforming or underutilized investment options, which can be challenging for members accustomed to “set and forget” strategies.
• Housing investment hurdles: Discussion on the role of super funds in addressing the housing crisis; fund appetite tempered by regulatory barriers and the lack of collaborative investment pathways with government and global partners.
• Retirement income guidance: Treasury’s draft guidance pushes funds to segment retired cohorts, but Sarah questions the practicality when funds lack access to broader financial data like Centrelink or home ownership.
• Annuities debate: Despite financial wellness benefits, annuities have an image problem and low demand, with Sarah arguing sales challenges outweigh consumer appetite, while Neil remains optimistic for innovation.
• Data-driven advice barriers: Funds can’t access enough external data to offer holistic advice; calls for leveraging consumer data rights and streamlining processes to improve member outcomes and reduce advice costs.
• Rethinking member engagement: The importance of designing processes that help customers provide funds with the right information, enabling more effective support and digital solutions.
• Upcoming events: Recommendations for FSC’s retirement conference, member engagement forums, and the ASFA conference on the Gold Coast.

This episode unpacks systemic friction points in super—from regulatory reform and investor confidence to practical hurdles in retirement solutions and member support.