Closure of the Future Focus investment option

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 has experienced fluctuations in relative performance over its lifetime. Persistent global political and economic challenges have led to more uncertainty, increasing the likelihood of continuing performance volatility for this investment option in future.

Together, these factors have placed significant limitations on how we’ve been able to manage the strategy of Future Focus, and we’ve been restricted in our ability to build a portfolio that can deliver the desired results for our members. 

Therefore, after careful analysis and consideration, Equip Super determined that the closure of Future Focus would be in our members’ best financial interest.

If you’re currently invested in the Future Focus investment option, here are your options.

1. Reinvest your money in a different investment option before 10 June 2026 
Choose a different investment option (or options) from our investment choice menu and make your investment switch before 10 June 2026.

OR

2. Do nothing, and we’ll automatically reinvest your money in Balanced Growth
You can leave your existing investment in Future Focus, and we’ll automatically reinvest it in our Balanced Growth investment option based on the 17 June unit price (the last unit price set for Future Focus). While we make the change, you won’t be able to access the Member Online portal from 10-19 June 2026. This doesn’t apply if you choose option 1. 

Not invested in Future Focus

If you’re not invested in the Future Focus investment option, you’re not affected by this change, and there’s nothing you need to do.

If you don’t do anything at all and your money remains invested in Future Focus, we’ll automatically transfer your Future Focus balance across to the Balanced Growth investment option based on the 17 June unit price. While we make the change, you won’t be able to access the Member Online portal from 10-19 June 2026. You’ll also receive confirmation once the switch is completed.

Any funds remaining in the Future Focus investment option after 10 June 2026 will be switched into the Balanced Growth investment option. The transaction will be based on the 17 June Future Focus unit price, which will be the last unit price set for the option. While we make the change, you won’t be able to access the Member Online portal from 10-19 June 2026. 

If you’re an accumulation member and you’ve chosen to have your future contributions directed to Future Focus, these will be redirected to Balanced Growth unless you change your investment choice before 10 June.

Yes. Incorporating ESG factors into our investment processes and decision-making is an essential component when it comes to meeting our fiduciary obligations to our members. We also believe it’s fundamental to achieving investment success.

Not only does this form part of our investment beliefs, it’s also integral to our investment approach across all options on the menu, including the Balanced Growth option. 

Closing the Future Focus investment option in no way changes our commitment to integrating the consideration of these factors into how we manage our investment portfolios. This can include issues such as the rights of workers and their safety; the responsible use of artificial intelligence; the use of drinking water for industrial processes, and companies’ preparedness for climate change. 

These are examples of factors our underlying investment managers may consider as part of their decision-making across our investment portfolio. 

You can learn more about our approach to responsible investing here. 

Responsible investment is an integral component of Equip Super’s investment process. The closure of Future Focus simply means we won’t have a single investment option that’s specifically designed to have a higher allocation to sustainable investments than our other investment options.

Yes. Responsible investment is integral to our investment process. Our approach is guided by the Fund’s Responsible Investment Policy, which sets out how ESG factors are incorporated into our investment decisions. 

For the majority of the investment options on our investment choice menu (except for the Index Diversified and Cash options), the Responsible Investment Policy sets out how our investment team seeks to address ESG risks and opportunities to achieve long-term growth and better risk-adjusted returns without detriment to a well-diversified portfolio. 

We do this by taking action across four key areas:

1. ESG integration – this is the practice of considering ESG factors when making investment decisions.
2. Active ownership –the role large investors can have with investee companies and managers to encourage improvements to business practices and corporate governance (this is sometimes called ‘asset stewardship’).
3. ESG filters – these are used to apply both positive and negatives screens to the portfolio.
4. Advocacy – how we look to have an influence over issues that have the potential to impact investment performance, but which may not be able to be adequately addressed by the Fund directly.

You can find more information on our approach to responsible investment and the outcomes we’re achieving on our website. For our latest Annual Report refer to Annual Report 2024-2025. We also provide members with reporting on specific issues and action in the Fund’s Climate Change Report and Modern Slavery Statement – please refer to equipsuper.com.au/responsible-investing

If you don’t make your own investment switch before 10 June, we’ll automatically transfer your Future Focus investment across to the Balanced Growth investment option.

We’ve chosen Balanced Growth because it’s most closely aligned with Future Focus.

• Both options are designed for members seeking a diversified investment structure aligned with a balance between risk and return. 

• Both options have similar strategic allocations to growth assets compared to the strategic allocations invested in defensive assets. 

• Both options have an investment objective to achieve a net return of at least 3% p.a. above CPI over a 10-year period. 

• Both have a standard risk measure risk level of medium to high where the estimated number of negative annual returns over any 20-year period of between 3 to less than 4. 

• Both have delivered strong historical performance, with similar risk profiles. For example, over the five years to 28 February 2026, the Balanced Growth (accumulation and Transition to Retirement Income) investment option returned an average of 7.71% a year, and Future Focus (accumulation and Transition to Retirement Income) returned an average of 5.83% a year. Over the same five-year period to 28 February 2026, Balanced Growth (Retirement Income) returned an average of 8.41% a year, and Future Focus (Retirement Income) an average of 5.95% a year.

The tables below compare the returns for the Balanced Growth and Future Focus investment options (for accumulation and Transition to Retirement Income members, and for Retirement Income members), for periods ending 28 February 2026. The last row in each table shows the outperformance of Balanced Growth versus Future Focus. 

Performance of accumulation and Transition to Retirement Income investment options

Periods ending 28 February 2026
Source: Equip Super, 28 February 2026

Performance of Retirement Income investment options

Periods ending 28 February 2026
Source: Equip Super, 28 February 2026

View our investment returns page for the most recent returns.

Yes, our responsible investing approach is a critical component of the investment strategy of the Balanced Growth investment option, just as it is for the majority of our investment options. You can find out more about our responsible investment approach in other parts of this FAQ, or read about our approach in detail in our Responsible Investment Policy which is available at equipsuper.com.au/responsible-investing.

Importantly, members moving to Balanced Growth will retain exposure to investment in climate-related infrastructure like batteries and renewable energy. 

Across the Fund we apply exclusions to our listed shares and fixed income portfolios (with the exception of the Index Diversified option) that reduce portfolio exposure  (compared to the relevant benchmark) to thermal coal, controversial weapons and  tobacco – these exclusions are based on the definitions and revenue limits set out in the How we invest your money booklet. 

No. You’re free to choose any other investment option (or options) that you feel will suit your needs. But if you don’t choose, we’ll automatically transfer your Future Focus investment to the Balanced Growth investment option based on the 17 June unit price. 

If you’d like help deciding which option is best for your circumstances and objectives, we’re here to help. The Equip Super Advice team can provide you with personal advice about choosing your investments – at no additional cost to you. This service is part of your membership with us. Use our online booking form to book a time that’s convenient for you.

Accumulation members can choose from 11 different investment options on our investment choice menu, including seven diversified options and four sector-specific options.

Retirement Income, Transition to Retirement Income and defined benefit members with additional voluntary accounts can choose from 10 different investment options on our investment choice menu, including six diversified options and four sector-specific options.

You can find out more via our investment options page.

Different types of investments are designed to meet different goals and needs. If you’re not sure which option suits your circumstances, we encourage you to speak with one of our Advisers. The Equip Super Advice team can provide you with personal advice about choosing your investments – at no additional cost to you. This service is part of your membership with us. Use our online booking form to book a time that’s convenient for you.

You can make an investment switch at any time. If you want to avoid automatically being switched to Balanced Growth and temporarily not having access to Member Online from 10-19 June, it’s important to switch your Future Focus investment to another Equip Super option before 10 June.

It’s easy to switch and there’s no cost. Simply:

• Log into Member Online, or

• Contact us directly, or

• Complete and submit a Change investment option form.

No. There’s no cost to change your investment option (or options).

If you transfer your Future Focus investment into another Equip Super investment option (or options) before 10 June 2026, access to your account via Member Online won’t be affected.

However, if you do nothing, and we make the change from Future Focus to Balanced Growth on your behalf, you won’t be able to access Member Online during the changeover period that runs from 10 – 19 June. You can avoid this simply by switching to another investment option before 10 June. 

From 10 June 2026 4pm, any contributions that are received for the Future Focus investment option will instead be applied to the Balanced Growth option.

No. Pension payments will be paid in accordance with your normal payment dates.