From 1 July 2026, a number of changes come into effect that may affect your Equip Super account. In addition, on 10 June 2026 the Future Focus investment option was closed to members and removed from our investment choice menu.
The details of these changes are set out below.
The Future Focus investment option was closed on 10 June 2026. Since its inception, only a small number of our members have invested in the Future Focus investment option. As a result, the funds held within the option have remained low relative to our other investment options.
In addition, Future Focus experienced fluctuations in relative performance over its lifetime. Persistent global political and economic challenges led to more uncertainty, increasing the likelihood of continuing performance volatility for this investment option in future.
Together, these factors placed significant limitations on how we were able to manage the strategy of Future Focus, and we were restricted in our ability to build a portfolio that could deliver the desired results for our members.
Therefore, after careful analysis and consideration, we determined that the closure of Future Focus would be in our members’ best financial interest. Learn more >
Continuing commitment to responsible investment
While Future Focus was originally designed as a standalone ESG (environmental, social and governance) focused investment option, today, responsible investment and ESG considerations are integrated across the entire Equip Super investment portfolio. In 2026 the Fund was recognised by independent ratings agency, SuperRatings, as a ‘Sustainable Recognised Fund’. Based on the sustainability practices of the fund, this award places Equip Super in SuperRatings’ top 10 funds for sustainability.*
Learn more about our approach to responsible investment >
* SuperRatings. Based on peer relative position around the sustainability practices of the fund. For more information refer to www.superratings.com.au/top-10-super-funds
The rating is issued by SuperRatings Pty Ltd ABN 95 100 192 283 (SuperRatings) a Corporate Authorised Representative (CAR No.1309956) of Lonsec Research Pty Ltd ABN 11 151 658 561, AFSL No. 421445. Ratings are general advice only and have been prepared without taking account of your objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider your personal circumstances, read the product disclosure statement and seek independent financial advice before investing. The rating is not a recommendation to purchase, sell or hold any product. Past performance information is not indicative of future performance. Ratings are subject to change without notice and SuperRatings assumes no obligation to update. SuperRatings use proprietary criteria to determine awards and ratings and may receive a fee for the use of its ratings and awards. Visit superratings.com.au for ratings information. © 2024 SuperRatings. All rights reserved.
Strategic asset allocations changes
We made small adjustments to the strategic asset allocations (SAAs) for some of our investment options on 1 July 2026. The tables below only indicate where changes have occurred. For full asset allocation information, please refer to the more detailed information for each individual investment option.
MySuper and Balanced Growth
| Asset class | Previous SAA (%) | New SAA (%) | Change (%) | Current range (%) | New range (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overseas shares | 30 | 31 | +1 | 5-45 | No change |
| Property | 7 | 6 | -1 | 0-20 | No change |
| Infrastructure | 9 | 11 | +2 | 0-20 | 0-25 |
| Traditional fixed interest | 12 | 11 | -1 | 0-30 | No change |
| Cash | 5 | 4 | -1 | 0-15 | No change |
| Growth/Defensive | 70/30 | 71/29 | +1/-1 |
Balanced
| Asset class | Previous SAA (%) | New SAA (%) | Change (%) | Current range (%) | New range (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overseas shares | 22 | 23 | +1 | 5-45 | No change |
| Infrastructure | 6 | 9 | +3 | 0-20 | 0-25 |
| Cash | 14 | 10 | -4 | 0-20 | No change |
| Growth/Defensive | 52/48 | 55/45 | +2/-2 |
Growth
| Asset class | Previous SAA (%) | New SAA (%) | Change (%) | Current range (%) | New range (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overseas shares | 38 | 39 | +1 | 5-45 | No change |
| Property | 5 | 4 | -1 | 0-20 | No change |
| Infrastructure | 6 | 7 | +2 | 0-25 | No change |
| Traditional fixed interest | 4 | 3 | -1 | 0-30 | No change |
| Growth/Defensive | 82/18 | 83/17 | +1/-1 |
Growth Plus
| Asset class | Previous SAA (%) | New SAA (%) | Change (%) | Current range (%) | New range (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overseas shares | 44 | 45 | +1 | 30-58 | No change |
| Property | 6 | 5 | -1 | 0-13 | 0-15 |
| Infrastructure | 6 | 7 | +1 | 0-13 | 0-20 |
| Cash | 2 | 1 | -1 | 0-10 | No change |
| Growth/Defensive | 93/7 | 94/6 | +1/_1 |
Capital Stable
| Asset class | Previous SAA (%) | New SAA (%) | Change (%) | Current range (%) | New range (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overseas shares | 12 | 13 | +1 | 0-20 | No change |
| Property | 7 | 6 | -1 | 0-25 | 0-15 |
| Infrastructure | 8 | 10 | +2 | 0-15 | 0-20 |
| Traditional fixed interest | 31 | 26 | -5 | 10-45 | No change |
| Cash | 14 | 17 | +3 | 5-35 | No change |
| Growth/Defensive | 35/65 | 37/63 | +2/-2 |
Defined Benefit
| Asset class | Previous SAA (%) | New SAA (%) | Change (%) | Current range (%) | New range (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overseas shares | 21 | 22 | +1 | No change | No change |
| Property | 7 | 6 | -1 | 0-25 | 0-20 |
| Infrastructure | 7 | 9 | +2 | No change | No change |
| Cash | 8 | 6 | -2 | No change | No change |
| Growth/Defensive | 54/46 | 55/45 | +1/-1 | No change | No change |
Standard risk measure changes
A standard risk measure (SRM) is given to each investment option. It’s designed to provide members with an indication of how many years of negative returns we might expect from that investment option over a 20-year period.
The table below shows the adjustments of expected negative returns with the relevant risk labels for each investment option from 1 July 2026.
| Old SRM to 30 June 2026 | New SRM from 1 July 2026 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Investment option | Negative returns | SRM label | Negative returns | SRM label |
| Diversified options | ||||
| Growth Plus | 4.5 | High | 4.5 | High |
| Growth | 4.2 | High | 4.2 | High |
| MySuper/Balanced Growth | 3.5 | Medium to high | 3.5 | Medium to high |
| Balanced | 3.0 | Medium to high | 3.1 | Medium to high |
| Capital Stable | 1.7 | Low to medium | 1.8 | Low to medium |
| Index Diversified | 4.4 | High | 4.4 | High |
| Defined Benefit | 2.8 | Medium | 2.9 | Medium |
| Sector-specific options | ||||
| Australian Shares | 5.7 | High | 5.7 | High |
| Overseas Shares | 5.1 | High | 5.2 | High |
| Diversified Fixed Interest | 2.8 | Medium | 2.8 | Medium |
| Cash | 0 | Very low | 0 | Very low |
The base investment fees and costs for each investment option remain unchanged for the next year. Performance fees and transaction costs have been recalculated based on the experience of the past 12 months.
Below are the investment fees and costs for each investment option (for accumulation and retirement income accounts) effective 1 July 2026.
Investment fees and costs are not deducted from your account directly, but are deducted from the underlying asset value of each investment option, and reflected in the daily unit prices.
| Investment option | Investment fees and costs | Performance fee (5-year average) | Transaction costs | Total investment fees and costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Growth Plus | 0.56% | 0.03% | 0.14% | 0.70% |
| Growth | 0.51% | 0.03% | 0.14% | 0.65% |
| Balanced Growth | 0.52% | 0.03% | 0.14% | 0.66% |
| MySuper | 0.52% | 0.03% | 0.14% | 0.66% |
| Balanced | 0.42% | 0.02% | 0.13% | 0.55% |
| Capital Stable | 0.37% | 0.02% | 0.12% | 0.49% |
| Index Diversified | 0.05% | 0.00% | 0.02% | 0.07% |
| Australian Shares | 0.44% | 0.01% | 0.11% | 0.55% |
| Overseas Shares | 0.45% | 0.03% | 0.09% | 0.54% |
| Diversified Fixed Interest | 0.14% | 0.00% | 0.01% | 0.15% |
| Cash | 0.04% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Defined Benefit | 0.51% | 0.04% | 0.16% | 0.67% |
For members with income protection cover, we’ve clarified the monthly income definition. Below is a description of how monthly income is defined and calculated.
Calculating your monthly income
The monthly income we use to calculate your income protection benefit depends on your work situation just before you became disabled.
If you own all or part of the business or practice you work for, we use one twelfth (1/12) of the business income earned over the 12 months before your disability that came directly from your own work and effort after allowing for business costs and expenses.
This does not include investment income, profit distributions, or similar payments that may continue even if you are totally or partially disabled.
In addition to the changes shown above, the following changes apply specifically to our Transition to Retirement Income and Retirement Income accounts from 1 July 2026.
From 1 July 2026, there is no minimum account balance for members starting a Transition to Retirement Income or Retirement Income account. Previously, a minimum balance of $25,000 applied to starting these accounts.
From 1 July 2026, there is no requirement to maintain a minimum balance of $1,000 in a Transition to Retirement Income or Retirement Income account.
This threshold is the maximum income on which employers are required to pay compulsory super. For the 2026-27 financial year, SG contributions must be paid for employees earning up to $270,830 a year, and the maximum amount of SG contributions payable for the year is $32,500, the new concessional contributions limit.
There are limits on how much you can contribute to your super each financial year. These are called the contribution caps. From 1 July 2026, new limits will apply on concessional (before tax) and non-concessional (after tax) contributions, as shown below:
| Contribution type | Financial year 2025-26 | Financial year 2026-27 |
|---|---|---|
| Concessional | $30,000 | $32,500 |
| Non-concessional | $120,000 | $130,000 |
The government sets a limit on how much you can contribute to your super each financial year using non-concessional (or after-tax) contributions. It’s called the non-concessional contributions cap.
However, you may be able to “bring forward” your non-concessional contributions caps from the next two years and combine them with your caps from the current year. Your ability to bring forward your non-concessional caps depends on your super balances, and these amounts are changing from 1 July 2026 – as shown below.
| Financial year 2025-26 | Financial year 2026-27 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Total super balance at 30 June 2025 | Non-concessional contributions cap | Total super balance at 30 June 2026 | Non-concessional contributions cap |
| Less than $1.76m | $360,000 (over 3 years) | Less than $1.84m | $390,000 (over 3 years) |
| $1.76m to less than $1.88m | $240,000 (over 2 years) | $1.84m to less than $1.97m | $260,000 (over 2 years) |
| $1.88m to less than $2m | $120,000 (1 year) | $1.97m to less than $2.1m | $130,000 (1 year) |
| $2m or greater | Nil | $2.1m or greater | Nil |
The government will make a co-contribution of up to 50 cents for every after-tax dollar you contribute to your super. The maximum co-contribution is $500 if total income is $49,293 or less. The amount of the co-contribution reduces for every dollar you earn over $49,293 and cuts out completely at $64,293.
| Income | Previous thresholds (to 30 June 2026) | New thresholds from 1 July 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum income | $47,488 | $49,293 |
| Maximum income | $62,488 | $64,293 |
The transfer balance cap is set by the government and limits how much money you can transfer into the retirement phase. If you exceed the cap, you may pay additional tax.
The superannuation general transfer balance cap increased by $100,000, reaching $2.1 million for the 2026-27 financial year, up from $2.0 million for 2025-26.
Individuals commencing their first retirement phase income stream on or after 1 July 2026 will have a personal transfer balance cap of $2.1 million.
The defined benefit income cap, relevant for lifetime pensioners, will rise to $131,250 for 2026-2027, up from $125,000.
From 1 July 2025, the government will pay 12% super contributions as part of the Commonwealth Paid Parental Leave Scheme. This means that if you receive government-funded parental leave pay, you will also receive a super contribution from the ATO into your super account.
The super contribution is paid as a lump sum after the end of each financial year in which the parental leave was taken.
Contributions begin in the 2026-2027 financial year.
Parental leave pay under the scheme covers up to 26 weeks (or 130 days based on a five-day working week) and is paid at the national minimum wage.
To make sure your super contributions are paid to the correct account, check that your personal details, including your name, address and super fund, are up to date with both the ATO and Services Australia.
From 1 July 2026, employers must pay super contributions at the same time they pay an employee’s wages, rather than only quarterly. The contributions must reach the employee’s super fund within seven business days of payday.
This means that for members who only received quarterly super contributions, super will be paid more frequently and will appear in your account sooner. With more regular contributions, your super account balance can grow sooner, and you’ll be able to see payments appear in your account more quickly.
This change is designed to reduce unpaid super, giving members better transparency of the contributions, and support their long-term retirement savings.
Learn more about Payday Super and what it may mean for you >
Currently, earnings on super investments held in accumulation or transition to retirement income accounts are taxed at a flat rate of 15%, regardless of the account balance.
From 1 July 2026, if you have a total super balance* of more than $3 million at either the start or end of the financial year, you’ll be subject to an additional tax.
In most circumstances, investment earnings on balances held in a retirement income account are not subject to tax. However, if you have a retirement income account and your total super balance is more than $3 million at either the start or end of the financial year, you will be subject to an additional tax.
This tax applies to realised earnings on the proportion of your total super balance above $3 million. The tax is calculated based on the growth in your total super balance and adjusted for contributions and withdrawals.
For the 2026-27 financial year, the threshold is $3 million. This threshold will be indexed in future. The first Division 296 assessments will be issued in the 2027-28 financial year.
There are two tiers of additional tax:
The Division 296 tax will be charged directly to you.
* Your total super balance is the sum of all the total super balance values of each of your Australian superannuation interests.
Learn more about Division 296 tax and what it may mean for you >
Equip Super is partnering with you, every step of the way – helping get you super equipped, so you get the most out of your super. If you have any questions about these changes, or if you’d like to talk to us about how they may affect you and your Equip Super account, we’re here to help.
| We acknowledge all First Peoples of the beautiful lands on which we live and work, and their enduring knowledge and connections to Country. We honour the wisdom of and pay respect to Elders past and present. |  |  |