Super Review

One in three Australians approaching retirement are failing to actively manage their superannuation, with uncertainty and low confidence preventing many from preparing for life after work, according to new research from Aware Super. The research, which surveyed Australians aged 55 to 75 who are not fully retired, found 32 per cent were not taking steps to improve or plan for their retirement.

Hostplus has delivered another year of strong returns for members, with its flagship Balanced (MySuper) option returning 10.8 per cent for the year to 30 June 2026 as global equities and private markets helped the fund navigate ongoing market volatility. The industry fund’s Indexed Balanced option returned 11.06 per cent over the financial year, while its High Growth option delivered 12.61 per cent.

The Greens have renewed their campaign to extend compulsory superannuation to all workers under 18, accusing Labor of siding with the Coalition to maintain rules they say leave more than half a million young Australians without retirement savings.

Russell Investments is to be acquired by an investor consortium led by US venture capital firm B Capital. Based in California, B Capital is a venture capital firm and the investor consortium it has formed also includes the California Public Employees’ Retirement System, known as CalPERS. The consortium’s deal will mean the exit of current stakeholders TA Associates and Reverence Capital Partners who have partnered with Russell since 2016.

Only three of Australia’s major superannuation funds managed to improve on last year’s investment performance, with AustralianSuper, UniSuper and Rest bucking the broader trend amid a year of geopolitical uncertainty and market volatility. With the majority of funds now having reported their FY25-26 returns, AustralianSuper strengthened performance across both its Balanced and High Growth options.

Rest has expanded its exposure to Australian industrial and commercial property after acquiring a significant minority stake in Melbourne’s Moorabbin Airport, adding another large-scale real asset to its growing unlisted property portfolio. The profit-to-member superannuation fund acquired a one-third stake in the airport as part of a consortium led by Barings, which has settled the purchase of the 294-hectare site from Goodman Group.

AustralianSuper has committed a further $500 million to India’s National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF), lifting its total exposure to India across all asset classes to $3.3 billion as the nation’s largest superannuation fund deepens its investment in one of the world’s fastest-growing economies.

Super funds have delivered a fourth consecutive year of strong returns despite one of the most volatile years in recent memory, with the median balanced option estimated to have returned 9.1 per cent for the 2025-26 financial year. New estimates from SuperRatings show international equities once again powered member returns, helping funds rebound from sharp market falls earlier in the year triggered geopolitical upheaval.

Australia’s superannuation sector has largely completed reporting its FY25-26 investment returns, revealing another year of solid gains despite heightened geopolitical tensions, persistent inflation and bouts of market volatility. While most funds fell short of the exceptional returns recorded in FY24-25, retail funds generally outperformed their industry peers on headline returns, led by Colonial First State’s 12.74 per cent MySuper growth return.

Cbus has appointed former HESTA executive Joshua Parisotto as its new chief member officer, bolstering its leadership team as the industry superannuation fund continues to enhance its services and financial advice offering for members. Parisotto brings more than a decade of experience in senior super leadership roles, including the past six years at HESTA, where he held positions including chief engagement and growth officer, chief member engagement officer and chief advice officer.