1 July 2021 (updated annually)
How many super funds do you have? Chances are you are probably not keeping track of where your super money is invested. In fact, you could even be losing money right now. Consolidating all your super into one account puts you back in control of your retirement savings and it will save you account-keeping fees.
If you have changed jobs, changed your name or moved house, chances are you may have lost track of where your super is invested.
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) estimates lost superannuation to be worth around $13.8 billion as at 30 June 20201.
By tracking down and consolidating your super accounts, you will save having to pay multiple sets of administration fees. Over the years, this could add up to thousands of dollars towards your final superannuation benefit.
Lost super refers to super accounts where the member has simply forgotten about their account, or their fund has lost track of the member's contact details. In some instances, there may be super accounts in your name that you didn't even know existed.
In Australia, complying super funds (funds which meet certain Government requirements) are required by law to notify the ATO of lost members.
A member becomes lost when two written communications are returned to the super fund unclaimed. Lost members' details are given to the ATO and their account balance is held by the super fund until claimed or, transferred to the ATO.
If you've lost track of one of your super accounts, you can start by calling the ATO's superannuation help line on 13 28 65 and choose the lost members' register option. Make sure you have your tax file number handy. Your financial adviser can also help you track down your super and consolidate it.
Your existing super fund may include life insurance, income protection insurance or other personal insurance. If you want to maintain the same or a greater level of insurance, check with your new super fund if this cover can be established before closing your existing super fund otherwise you may be in a position of having no insurance cover.
It generally takes several weeks to close an existing super fund and transfer the funds to a new super fund. This is because the underlying investments in your existing super fund have to be sold and underlying investments in your chosen super fund purchased. During this time, a portion of your funds are likely to be invested in cash rather than your selected assets.
All super funds charge fees. The fund's product disclosure statement outlines the fees and costs associated with exiting your super fund.
Your financial adviser is not limited to any one superannuation provider; they can, therefore, provide you with advice on a range of superannuation funds and will always look to provide you with the most cost effective and appropriate fund for your specific needs.
Sophie has changed jobs since she finished university and she has also moved house once. Sophie has one super fund from her first job and one fund from her part-time job while she was studying. Sophie now works for a company with a corporate super plan, so unless she tells her employer to make contributions to an existing super fund, she ends up with three super funds! Sophie is paying fees and insurance premiums for all of these accounts:
Part-time job super fund | Old super fund | Corporate super fund | Combined total | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Amount invested | $64,978 | $48,464 | $113,442 | $226,884 |
Administration fees | $1,430 | $947 | $1,024 | $3,401 |
Management expense ratio (MER) | $442 | $402 | $964 | $1,808 |
Total product fees | $1,872 | $1,349 | $1,988 | $5,209 |
Adviser service fee | $136 | $242 | $749 | $1,127 |
Insurance premiums | $100 | $100 | $100 | $300 |
Total overall fees payable per annum | $2,108 | $1,691 | $2,837 | $6,636 |
By having two extra super funds, Sophie is paying more fees than she needs to. By consolidating all her super into her corporate super account she will be able to reduce her ongoing fees per annum. Taking five minutes to fill in the appropriate forms will make a big difference to her final account balance at retirement.
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1. Australian Taxation Office - Check now for your share of $13.8b in lost super