Superannuation is an important part of financial planning especially when it comes to your retirement. This is a long term savings plan that will provide you with income once you retire and it is important to choose the right fund so that your financial future can be stable.
First, you have to understand
What your risk tolerance is and what your investment goals are. To decide this, you have to consider your retirement goals such as the income level you want to have at the age at which you are planning to retire. You have to consider how much investment risk you can take. And this will help guide you on your superannuation choices. You also need to consider the performance and returns of the super fund. You have to carry out a Super Comparison by evaluating the historical performance of different finds over time and how their returns perform compared to industry benchmarks. You have to look for super funds that have delivered consistently strong returns in the long term. Short term performance should not be what you judge the fund on. The growth of your super balance will be affected by fees and charges so you have to compare the fee structures of different super funds. Some of the factors to consider here are investment management fees, administration fees and fees based on performance. You have to look for a super fund that comes with competitive fee structures so that you can ensure value for money without compromising the performance of investment.
There are different investment options available
With each super fund but you have to decide whether these options align with your risk profile and investment goals. You have to look for a fund that offers a wide range of investment options across fixed income, cash, property and equities. You need to ensure diversification so that investment risk can be managed while maximising your returns in the long term. Many super funds will provide insurance coverage such as income protection insurance, life insurance etc. You will need to evaluate the offerings of these insurances and check their premiums, coverage levels and policy features. You have to consider what your insurance needs are and whether the insurance options provided by the super fund meet your requirements.
The flexibility
And accessibility of the super fund have to be considered when it comes to managing the account, withdrawing and contributing. You have to check whether it comes with convenient features like flexible options for contributions, online access to the account and the ability to make additional contributions or withdrawals when needed. The member services and support offered by different super funds can vary so you need to look into this to understand the educational resources, customer service and financial advice available. You need to look for a super fund that offers comprehensive member support such as retirement planning tools, educational seminars and financial planning services so that you can make informed decisions about the fund. Also, you can consider super funds that have ethical or socially responsible options for investment.