Welcome to the sixth edition of CEO Online

In this edition, I’ll bring you up to date with:

Investment performance

Performance of the PSSap investment options continues to be strong. As at 30 April 2007, the Trustee Choice default investment option had returned 15.8% per annum (p.a.) since its inception on 1 July 2005, well above its medium term target of 7% p.a.

The other three pre-mixed options have also performed well since inception, with the Aggressive option returning 18.4% p.a., the Balanced option 11.6% p.a. and the Conservative option 8.7% p.a.

For those members creating their own investment mix using our single asset class investment options, performance has generally been strong, with all but the fixed interest and cash options delivering double digit returns.

The fixed interest option’s performance since inception of 2.8% p.a. is low, but reflects a rising interest rate environment and the fact that rising interest rates depress the capital values of fixed interest securities. Overall though, the last twenty-two months has seen strong performance figures for the PSSap.
Remember that past performance is no indication of future performance. Returns are volatile and it is impossible to predict when they will go up or down.

Find out more about your Fund’s investment performance 

Members give our super education roadshow the thumbs up

This year we launched our super education roadshow and it has been a great success in helping members get more from their PSSap super.

The roadshow is an extension of our At Work for You program which provides super education workshops at your place of work. The roadshow offers the same worthwhile information as our workplace workshops, but uses public venues around Australia.

Over 250 members have attended the public workshops this year. Here’s what some had to say:

Registrations are essential as places are limited.

Find out more about At Work for You and how to register

The deadline to provide your Tax File Number is fast approaching

The Government’s Better Super comes into effect from 1 July 2007, requires all super funds to have members’ Tax File Numbers (TFNs) in order to accept after-tax contributions. I provided an update for members in the last edition of CEO Online.

Although it is not compulsory for you to provide us with your TFN, if we don’t have it by 1 July 2007, there could be a significant impact on your superannuation benefits because:

We have asked employers to assist us collect TFNs for members at their agency. We have also written to members for whom we do not have a TFN on record.

You can check if we have your TFN on record by looking at your most recent PSSap Statement – if we have it, it will be shown there.

If it is not on your statement, you can provide your TFN by asking your employer to send it to us OR using the Provision of Tax File Number form

Do you know when you can or must withdraw your super?

Your superannuation is intended for your retirement and is therefore a long-term savings vehicle.

Under the law, super is generally payable when you reach your preservation age and permanently retire from the workforce, or if you become totally and permanently disabled or die.

There are other circumstances, such as compassionate grounds, under which you may be able to access some of your benefit earlier.

It’s important to understand your options in the event of:

Find out more about withdrawing your super