A letter from Dave Woodall, CEO Superannuation

Welcome to our end-of-financial-year update.

With 30 June just around the corner, this edition is packed with timely insights and practical content to help you and your employees make the most of super. We share an EOFY checklist to help your employees boost their retirement savings and maximise tax savings, plus a summary of key tax and super changes for you to be aware of.

It’s also a great time to reflect on the progress we've made together. Over the past 12 months, we've focused on delivering better outcomes for your employees, including strong investment performance, lower fees for many of our members, enhanced digital security, and an uplift in our administration capabilities. These initiatives are part of our ongoing commitment to supporting your business and helping your employees feel more confident about their financial future.
 

SS&C business partnership transition update

As you may know by now, Insignia Financial has entered an arrangement with SS&C Technologies (SS&C), a global technology leader, which is intended to simplify and transform our superannuation business.

From 1 July, Insignia Financial will subcontract a range of administration and technology functions for our superannuation business to SS&C. This arrangement includes the transition of people, technology and premises from Insignia Financial to SS&C.

When our Technology and Operations teams transition to SS&C on 1 July, most things will remain unchanged for your business and employees. You’ll continue to engage with the same contacts on the same phone numbers and email addresses. At 1 July, all member data will remain on Insignia Financial’s superannuation platforms, with adherence to APRA’s regulations and Insignia Financial’s privacy policy and information classification and handling standards.

As we implement our Master Trust FY26-30 Strategy with SS&C, you can expect enhanced services including streamlined, competitive products, faster and more consistent support, and innovative retirement solutions with AI-driven personalised experiences. Onboarding will be quicker and smoother, while member data remains securely stored in Australia, with ongoing commitment to privacy and security.

We remain focused on delivering value, stability, and growth for your business and employees.
 

Strong, top quartile 5-year performance for the MySuper Growth Portfolio

The MLC MySuper Growth Portfolio – where the majority of our MySuper members are invested – delivered a strong 9.3% p.a. over five years ending 31 March 2025. This strong longer-term performance places the portfolio in the top quartile of MySuper funds surveyed over this 5-year period¹. This is great news for our members, helping them work towards financial wellbeing in retirement.

Steve Gamerov, Head of Diversified Portfolios at MLC Asset Management noted: “Our investment approach emphasises a long-term focus, prioritising sustained growth and stability. A strong 9.3% p.a. over five years is great news for members in our MySuper Growth Portfolio.”

Find out more about what has driven this strong performance.

Hear more from Steve Gamerov and our experts at MLC Asset Management at our next Expert Insights Quarterly Investment Webinar in August – register here.
 

Supporting your employees’ super savings through market volatility

In early April, new US trade policies caused significant market volatility, raising concerns about an economic downturn. During such periods of market volatility, it’s natural for members to feel uneasy amidst the uncertainty. And we know many members have felt concerned regarding this recent market volatility. However, it’s crucial to remember that super is a long-term investment. Our investment strategy is designed to withstand these fluctuations by focusing on sustained growth and stability over the long-term.

Our MySuper Growth Portfolio exemplifies this approach. It is a robust, well-diversified portfolio that seeks to capture growth opportunities while managing potential downturns. By diversifying investments across various asset classes, including unlisted assets like private equity, property, and infrastructure, we aim to reduce risk and enhance returns. Find out more about how we manage your employees super in times of market volatility.

We manage your employees’ super prudently using a disciplined, research-driven process supported by rigorous governance and active portfolio management. This helps to ensure your retirement savings are strategically positioned to pursue growth while navigating market challenges.
 

MLC Socially Responsible Growth Option

For members looking for investments that focus on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors, we also offer the MLC Socially Responsible Growth option. This is a diversified investment option managed by our investment experts in a way that considers relevant ESG factors.

The option delivered an 8.0% return for the 12-months to 31 March 2025². This strong performance ranked the MLC Socially Responsible Growth option as the 2nd highest-performing option in the SuperRatings Growth (77-90) Index Survey over this one-year period.³

It was also the top-performing option in the Chant West Survey for Socially Responsible High Growth Funds over this same 12-month period to 31 March 2025.⁴

The strong performance of the MLC Socially Responsible Growth option demonstrates that prioritising socially responsible investments hasn’t come at the expense of returns. Our commitment to socially responsible investing continues to deliver competitive results for members.

During the year, we also made significant strides to diversify and strengthen the investments in the MLC Socially Responsible Growth option. In the March 2025 quarter, we increased the option’s exposure to fixed income credit – investments that provide regular interest payments, such as bonds or loans – with the appointment of Infradebt, an Australian specialist private credit manager. Infradebt specialises in ethically screened investments, focusing on renewable energy and social infrastructure projects. This helps to ensure your investments are not only growing but also contributing to sustainable and socially responsible initiatives.

Learn more about the MLC Socially Responsible Growth option. You can also find more information on our responsible investment policy.
 

Preparing for Payday Super

As part of the Government’s upcoming reforms to strengthen the superannuation system, it is proposed that from 1 July 2026, employers will be required to pay Superannuation Guarantee (SG) contributions at the same time as salary and wages – commonly referred to as Payday Super.

This shift from quarterly to more frequent payments is designed to improve retirement outcomes for employees by reducing the risk of unpaid or delayed super. For employers, this change will mean aligning payroll systems to ensure SG contributions are received by employees’ super funds within seven calendar days of each payday. While the legislation is not yet in effect, we encourage you to begin reviewing your payroll processes and systems to prepare for a smooth transition. We’re here to support you every step of the way.
 

Reduced administration fees and changes to tax benefits for your employees

As part of our continued commitment to supporting financial wellbeing and prioritising our members’ best interests, I’m pleased to reaffirm our dedication to continually reviewing and enhancing our product and services offering.

From 1 October 2024, we reduced the percentage Administration fee charged to member accounts for MLC MasterKey Business Super and MLC MasterKey Personal Super, and the Plan Management fee charged to member accounts for Plum from a maximum of 0.30% pa to 0.15% pa. Any fee arrangements that are equal to or below 0.15% pa remained unchanged.

We’re also changing the way that we pass the benefits of tax deductions (tax benefits) received by the MLC Super Fund (the Fund) back to your employees’ super account from 1 July 2025.

This will not impact members whose accounts are receiving regular employer contributions.

This is for your information only, you or your employees are not required to take any action. For more information you can read the recent article here. A letter or email has been sent to your employees with all details of the changes.

These tax benefit changes also support our commitment to providing the best products, services and retirement outcomes for you and your employees.
 

Increased account security

We now require our members to provide their mobile phone number for them to be able to log in to their account at mlc.com.au as part of a multi-factor authentication check. We’ve made this change to further increase the security of their account. If your employee’s account doesn’t have a mobile phone number attached to it, they’ll be prompted to provide one the next time they log in to their account.

Financial scams are on the rise and becoming increasingly sophisticated, making them harder to spot. Our new cyber security resource centre explains the common types of scams, essential guidance to help you recognise them, along with practical tips to protect yourself and your loved ones. Go to mlc.com.au/cyber-security to learn more.

Think you might be facing a scam? Click here to learn the steps to take immediately.
 

Enhanced digital tools and support

Retirement can often feel overwhelming and knowing where to start can be the hardest part. That’s why our super advice and digital support tools are designed to help your employees, our members, take control of their super and maximise its potential.

1. Introducing the Retirement Projector

In January 2025, we introduced a new tool to our digital support offering – the Retirement Projector. The Retirement Projector can help members find out how much super they might have in retirement and how little changes now could make a big difference.

Your employees can use the calculator to:

• get a super projection for them and their partner
• assess whether they might be eligible for a government age pension
• find out their risk appetite when it comes to investing
• explore how making additional contributions can help grow their super.

Are your employees’ retirement ready? Access the Retirement Projector tool today.

2. Get a personalised super report

Another tool available to members is our Personal Super Calculator. By securely using the individual’s information, it generates a personalised super report in under 10 minutes. This report provides advice and strategies your employees can take today to help them create the future they want tomorrow.

3. Welcome to our SuperFit program

We’ve also launched additional workbooks in our SuperFit program. These short practical guides are designed to help your employees shape up their super and increase their knowledge to feel more confident in retirement.

Our five workbooks help your employees at different stages of their retirement planning journey, providing practical steps and resources to build their super savings to achieve their retirement lifestyle goals.

From Shape Up in your 50s; to Step Up at 55; to Working Out at 57; Make a Move from 60, and; to Tone Up at 65, we cover all the key age triggers and points to help keep your employees’ super on track for a secure retirement. Visit the SuperFit landing page to learn more.

4. Financial Clarity. Just like that.

MLC Money View is an easy way for your employees to understand their current financial situation and get a projection of their financial future.

They can simply drop in their personal and financial details and the secure tool will build a customised dashboard that can help them understand what their home or investment property are worth, and how their budget is shaping up. It can also give your employees an idea if they’ll have enough in retirement. Try MLC Money View today and they’ll get a customised view of their finances in as little as five minutes – available to all Australians at no cost.
 

Getting expert help over the phone with our Financial Coaches

Getting expert help is all part of being with MLC. As a service to our members, our team of Financial Coaches provide general advice related to super, at no additional cost.

The service offers general advice on a wide range of financial topics that can help your employees better understand super, and how to make informed decisions to help them maximise their retirement savings.

Our Financial Coaches also offer a Government Age Pension Concierge service. This service is available to members where they, their spouse, or their de facto partner, are aged 66+.

Members can book an appointment with a Financial Coach. It costs nothing extra to talk to us – this service is included as part of their membership.
 

Resources to help your employees on their retirement journey

We have a range of further useful resources that can help your employees build financial confidence, grow their super and plan for retirement.

Our News & views section of the website has a range of content to help your employees stay informed with the latest news and views on retirement, superannuation and investments. Check out some of the recent articles:

• Planning for retirement? Start with these 5 steps
• Super advice – anytime, anywhere

We look forward to continuing our relationship and supporting your employees’ financial journeys. Stay tuned for more updates, and as always, don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or feedback.

Warm regards,
Dave Woodall
CEO, Superannuation | Insignia Financial