The escalating war in the Middle East is rattling global markets and hitting Australian superannuation funds hard. Sharp falls in share prices, surging oil costs from attacks on energy infrastructure, and rising inflation fears are all weighing on retirement savings. Experts are urging members not to panic: super funds are diversified across shares, bonds, infrastructure and more, built for the long haul. Advice? Stay patient, avoid knee-jerk switches to cash (which can lock in losses), and remember history shows markets recover—patience usually pays off. Keep an eye on your options, but don't overreact.

#AusPol #Superannuation #MiddleEast

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-20/middle-east-war-australian-superannuation-funds/106468230

Concerns over super balances as around $250b wiped off Australian share market
By David Taylor

Experts are urging Australians to stay calm and weather the storm as the effects of the war in the Middle East reverberate through financial markets.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-20/middle-east-war-australian-superannuation-funds/106468230

#Superannuation #War #FinancialMarkets #DavidTaylor

UniSuper accused of greenwashing after quietly reducing environmental element of investment option https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/feb/20/unisuper-accused-of-greenwashing-after-quietly-reducing-environmental-element-of-investment-option

UniSuper says change was made ‘to expand the investible universe’ but complaint to Asic claims members were not properly informed

#greenwashing #superannuation #SDGs #sustainability

Debby Blakey Resigns as HESTA CEO: The End of a $100 Billion Leadership Era

https://orbitnewshub.com/debby-blakey-resigns-as-hesta-ceo/

#HESTA #DebbyBlakey #Superannuation #AusFinance #LeadershipNews #OrbitNewsHub #BusinessUpdate

First Guardian & Shield collapses devastated thousands of Aussies and exposed big holes in our $4.3T super system.
ASIC says it acted fast: blocked Shield investments Feb 2024, froze First Guardian Feb 2025.
Deputy Chair Sarah Court: “We shut it down quickly once we saw solvency or investor money issues.”
Allegations (untested in court): hundreds of millions sent offshore for directors’ luxuries — fast cars, big homes, pet projects.
ASIC chasing:

Hard-sell telemarketers pushing super out of APRA-regulated funds
Connected financial planners who got clients to sign SOAs
Ferras Merhi (Venture Egg/FSGA) — he vows to fight all claims in court

Licences cancelled: MWL, United Global Capital, FSGA.
Interprac (Sequoia-owned) still operating; CEO not worried, added new governance.
Offered via Macquarie, Diversa, Netwealth, Equity Trustees.
Macquarie + Netwealth repaying ~$421M. ASIC estimates ~40% recovery for retail investors. Legal action ongoing against others.
Also: APRA hits HESTA over 7-week outage; ASIC finds systemic death benefit failures.
Huge wake-up call for super regulation.

#Superannuation #ASIC #ABCBusiness

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBpHMWZyD2Q