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With 2026 well underway , I want to thank you for your continued support and the meaningful role you play in looking after your employees’ financial wellbeing. The start of a new year brings fresh energy and an opportunity to refocus on what matters most - helping your people feel confident and secure about their financial future.
The year ahead is already shaping up to be an important one for employers. With significant regulatory changes progressing, evolving expectations from workforces, and new opportunities to enhance the employee experience, we remain committed to working alongside you to navigate what’s next. Our shared momentum from 2025 has set a strong foundation, and I’m looking forward to building on that progress together.
As we move into this next chapter, I’d like to share a number of key updates that will help you stay informed and prepared for what’s ahead.
Super that works hard towards your employees’ retirement
IOOF Balanced Growth – delivered a strong return of 10.55% p.a. over 3-years to 31 December 2025. This return places IOOF Balanced Growth in the top 10 MySuper options surveyed over this period, as reported by SuperRatings.* The investment option also returned 8.81% for the 1-year to 31 December 2025.
These returns were mainly driven by strong global share markets, especially big technology companies. To help balance out market ups and downs, your employees’ super is also invested in a mix of other assets - like property, private companies and essential infrastructure. This blend helps protect your employees’ savings through different market conditions while keeping their money working steadily towards retirement.
For more information on how our main investment options performed, please read IOOF's investment performance update.
Payday Super is coming – avoid disruption and get ready for the change
The move to Payday Super from 1 July is one of the biggest changes to the super system in years – and it’s fast approaching. Under this change, employers will need to pay super at the same time as salary and wages, rather than quarterly – a major shift in payroll processes.
In our recent webinar, we went beyond the basics, bringing together senior representatives from the Australian Taxation Office, Financial Services Council and SuperChoice to provide clear, practical guidance on what matters most for your business right now. As our panel of industry experts answered questions from you, our employers, their insights offered a grounded view of what employers should be preparing for today, along with the steps that can make the transition smoother and more efficient.
Thank you to those who submitted questions as part of the Q&A session – we’re working to get your questions answered and published to the website. As this reform progresses, we’ll continue to provide timely updates and practical support to help you prepare with confidence.
Check out the webinar recording and more at our dedicated Payday Super hub.
You can also register for our next webinar where we’ll move beyond the fundamentals and focus on what the transition looks like in practice - so your business can be confident and compliant.
The Middle East in turmoil: conflict scenarios, economic consequences, and portfolio positioning
The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has pushed oil prices higher and contributed to short-term market volatility. While these developments may cause headline concern, history shows that markets often recover quickly once the likely impact becomes clearer.
Our focus remains on what we can control: actively monitoring geopolitical risks, assessing potential economic and market outcomes, and positioning portfolios thoughtfully. Scenarios we’re tracking include potential oil price paths and their likely effect on growth and inflation.
By maintaining a long-term, disciplined approach, we aim to balance risk and opportunity, helping clients navigate volatility with confidence.
Read our latest insights to see how we’re responding strategically.
Top rated super
It was great to see IOOF Super, awarded The Heron Partnership 5 Star Quality Rating for 2026 - the highest rating by Heron.
This recognition reflects our ongoing commitment to delivering quality outcomes and gives employers and members confidence that their super is supported by a consistently high performing and highly rated fund.
You can view the full list of our recent awards and ratings on IOOF’s awards page.
Thank you for your continued support and the trust you place in us. I look forward to working together to deliver even stronger outcomes for you and your employees in 2026.
Warm regards,
Dave Woodall
CEO, Superannuation