What does the merger mean for Sunsuper members?
On 28 February 2022, Sunsuper members’ accounts transferred to Australian Retirement Trust and became Australian Retirement Trust Super Savings accounts
How will members benefit?
Australian Retirement Trust is one of Australia’s largest funds, proud to take care of over $200 billion in retirement savings for more than two million members. As a fund that works for members, not shareholders, we work in members’ best interests, and we're committed to returning profits to them as lower fees and better services.
What does the merger mean for members’ accounts?
Sunsuper Members’ accounts transferred to Australian Retirement Trust on 28 February 2022.
Refer to your significant event notice (SEN) and Sunsuper and QSuper are merging: Important information booklet that you would have received in January 2022 for more details.
Do I need to do anything?
You won’t be required to do anything for your accounts with Sunsuper to transfer to Australian Retirement Trust. Your new Australian Retirement Trust accounts will generally have the same features as your previous Sunsuper accounts but there is some important information that you need to be aware of, which was covered in your significant event notice (SEN) and Sunsuper and QSuper are merging: Important information booklet that you would have received in January 2022.
What if I have both a Sunsuper and a QSuper account?
If you have both a Sunsuper and a QSuper account, you should have received a communication from QSuper letting you know about the merger and any impact it will have on your QSuper account.
Your Sunsuper and QSuper accounts were not consolidated on 28 February 2022. This was to make sure you did not lose any benefits you had with either fund.
Some time after the merger, Australian Retirement Trust will contact you with details about these accounts, and options you may have to consolidate them. We encourage you to speak with your financial adviser before making any decision about whether consolidating your accounts is right for your circumstances.
Where do I find my disclosure material after the merger?
For Super Savings account members, you'll be able to find your Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and associated guides from or shortly after 28 February 2022 at australianretirementtrust.com.au/pds.
For Super Savings - Business and Super Savings - Corporate account members, you'll be able to find your PDS and associated guides from or shortly after 28 February 2022 on your employer's Australian Retirement Trust microsite. Details about the location of your employer's new microsite in Australian Retirement Trust were provided in your significant event notice (SEN). Otherwise, refer to the 'Changes to your employer plan in Australian Retirement Trust factsheet' on your employer's current Sunsuper microsite.
How will Australian Retirement Trust communicate with me?
Australian Retirement Trust will communicate with you in the same ways that you asked Sunsuper to communicate with you. For most members, this means Australian Retirement Trust will continue to deliver important documents digitally by default. If you have selected to receive your documents in paper form, this will continue in Australian Retirement Trust.
If you have previously unsubscribed from receiving marketing materials from Sunsuper, this will also continue to apply to marketing materials from Australian Retirement Trust.
Will the services you provide change?
As an Australian Retirement Trust member, you will be able to access the same product features, benefits and services you know and trust from Sunsuper, including:
- An investment capability with a proven track record of strong long-term returns, as demonstrated by our Balanced investment option for Super-savings accounts delivering 9.0% p.a. over 10 years to June 2022 and outperforming the comparative industry median over 1, 3, 5 , 7 and 10 years. 1
- Expert financial advice about your superannuation account included with your membership.
- Easy account management, 24/7, through our secure, online member portal and app.
- The latest super and investment information and education through our website articles, calculators, seminars, webcasts and podcasts.
- More in your back pocket through our member exclusive Australian Retirement Trust Rewards program offering rewards and everyday discounts.
1. The Australian Retirement Trust Super Savings Balanced option has adopted the pre-merger investment strategy of the Sunsuper Balanced option. The industry median return for the SR50 Balanced (60-76) Index comprises the 50 largest investment options with a similar asset allocation to growth style assets between 60-76%. Source: SuperRatings Fund Crediting Rate Survey - SR50 Balanced (60-76) Index, June 2022. The Super Savings Balanced option has identical investments to the Balanced Pool in the Lifecycle Investment Strategy. Members invested in the Lifecycle Investment Strategy are invested 100% in the Balanced Pool until age 55. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Investment returns are net of investment fees and costs and taxes (where applicable). Super Savings products issued by Australian Retirement Trust Pty Ltd (ABN 88 010 720 840, AFSL No. 228975) as trustee for Australian Retirement Trust (ABN 60 905 115 063). Consider the Super Savings PDS and TMD before deciding.
Questions about my account
What will the new name of my account be?
The name of your existing Sunsuper products and accounts have changed as you are now a member of Australian Retirement Trust, as detailed below.
Sunsuper |
Australian Retirement Trust |
| Sunsuper for life – Super-savings account | Super Savings Accumulation account |
| Sunsuper for life - Transition to retirement income account | Super Savings Transition to retirement income account |
| Sunsuper for life - Retirement income account | Super Savings Retirement income account |
| Sunsuper for life Business - Super-savings account | Super Savings — Business Accumulation account |
| Sunsuper for life Corporate - Super-savings account | Super Savings — Corporate Accumulation account |
| Sunsuper for life Corporate Defined Benefit | Super Savings — Corporate Defined Benefit |
| Sunsuper for life Corporate Lifetime Pension | Super Savings — Corporate Lifetime Pension |
Will my investments change?
No, the accounts you hold in Australian Retirement Trust will be invested in options that are identical to those your Sunsuper account was invested in immediately prior to the merger. The full range of options available to you in Australian Retirement Trust from 28 February 2022 will be identical to those that were available to you in Sunsuper.
Refer to your significant event notice (SEN) or page 7 of the Sunsuper and QSuper are merging: Important information booklet, at australianretirementtrust.com.au/merger for more details.
How do Sunsuper’s and QSuper’s investment returns compare?
Sunsuper’s and QSuper’s investment performance over the long term was comparable, with both Sunsuper and QSuper delivering strong long-term returns to members. We expect Australian Retirement Trust to benefit from that combined strength.
Both funds’ Balanced options have strong long-term performance – Sunsuper’s Balanced option for Super Savings accounts returned 10.2% p.a. over the 10 years to 31 December 2021, with QSuper’s returning 8.46% p.a. over the same time period.
Source: SuperRatings Fund Crediting Rate Survey - SR50 Balanced (60-76) Index, December 2021. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
Will this change the amount I receive from my Super Savings Retirement income account?
Your payment arrangements will continue as they were in your Sunsuper account, with the payee changing to Australian Retirement Trust
What will be the merged fund’s approach to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues?
Both QSuper and Sunsuper saw climate change as a material financial risk considered in making investment decisions and appointing investment managers. Both funds’ investment strategies included a commitment to aligning their investment portfolios with net-zero emissions by 2050 on the basis that it will promote members’ financial interests. Australian Retirement Trust’s approach to ESG will be one of the key areas of focus for the Chief Investment Officer.
Questions about my insurance
Will my insurance cover change?
No, the insurance arrangements you held in Sunsuper immediately prior to the merger will be the same arrangements you'll have in Australian Retirement Trust. This includes any cover amounts, premiums, policy terms and conditions as defined in our Insurance guide, and any special acceptance terms applied by the insurer when cover was underwritten.
Refer to your significant event notice (SEN) or pages 6-7 of the Sunsuper and QSuper are merging: Important information booklet, at australianretirementtrust.com.au/merger for more details.
Will the merger impact my current insurance claim?
No, all active insurance claims after the merger are being managed by the Trustee of Australian Retirement Trust. You will not need to do anything to continue progressing your claim.
Will the merger impact my beneficiaries?
No, all existing preferred, binding and reversionary beneficiaries that are detailed on your account have transferred over to your Australian Retirement Trust account.
Will the merger impact my TPD Assist / Income Protection payments?
Total & Permanent Disability Assist
So long as you continue to meet the Total & Permanent Disability Assist definition, you will not need to do anything for any support payments to continue. However, please be aware that any support payments made from 28 February 2022 onwards will now come from Australian Retirement Trust rather than Sunsuper.Income Protection
No, your Income Protection payments from the insurer will continue unchanged.
Questions about getting advice
Will I still be able to get financial advice about my QSuper/ Sunsuper account?
Yes. As an Australian Retirement Trust member, you will be able to access the same product features and services you know and trust including accessing financial advice over the phone as one of the great benefits included in your member fee. We also know many members have their own external financial adviser and we will continue to provide these services to support them to provide advice to you.
Will I still be able to receive advice and not have to pay for it?
As an Australian Retirement Trust member, you will be able to access the same product features, benefits and services you know and trust from Sunsuper, including:
- Expert financial advice about your superannuation account with the cost included in your membership.
Questions about managing my account
Will there be a disruption to processing of member requests?
Paper forms should have been submitted to us by 21 February 2022 to ensure we had enough time to process them before the merger. If we have not been able to process your form prior to the merger, or Australian Retirement Trust receives a Sunsuper form, we could require you to complete a new Australian Retirement Trust form. For more information about processing impacts due to the merger on paper forms, visit australianretirementtrust.com.au/forms.
For more specific details about the impacts on a range of transactions, see the 'What are the transaction processing cut-off dates' question below or refer to the 'Other things to consider' section of the Sunsuper and QSuper are merging: Important information booklet at australianretirementtrust.com.au/merger.
What are the transaction processing cut-off dates?
While we make every effort to keep processing and service disruptions to a minimum, there were transaction cut-offs leading up to the merger date. If we haven't been able to process your form prior to the merger, or Australian Retirement Trust receives a Sunsuper form after the merger, we may require you to complete a new Australian Retirement Trust form.
Below are the detailed transaction cut-off dates we communicated prior to the merge date. For further information see the Sunsuper and QSuper are merging: Important information booklet available at australianretirementtrust.com.au/merger
| Update your contact details |
From 28 February 2022, you’ll be able to access Australian Retirement Trust Member Online and the Australian Retirement Trust app to update your details. |
| Changes your investment option(s) |
From 28 February 2022 you’ll be able to access Australian Retirement Trust Member Online to change your investment options. |
| Opt-in for Standard insurance cover earlier |
If you want to opt-in for Standard insurance cover earlier than when cover automatically starts (where you currently have a balance less than $6,000 or under age 25) you’ll need to make this request in Member Online. From 28 February 2022, you’ll be able to access Australian Retirement Trust Member Online to opt-in to Standard cover. |
| Changes to your insurance cover |
To increase, decrease, change or cancel insurance cover you can access Australian Retirement Trust Member Online or use the relevant insurance forms. |
| Change the frequency of Income account payments |
You can access Australian Retirement Trust Member Online to change the frequency of payments. |
| Change your beneficiary arrangements |
From 28 February 2022, you can access Australian Retirement Trust Member Online, or complete the relevant form, to update your beneficiary arrangements. |
Will there be an impact to my direct debit payments?
No, existing direct debit arrangements you had in Sunsuper will continue in Australian Retirement Trust. Payments will be processed by Australian Retirement Trust instead of Sunsuper from 28 February 2022.
What if I'm making additional contributions?
Your employer makes contributions to your super.
Any contribution arrangements you have in place with your employer will carry over to your new Australian Retirement Trust account. This includes employer Superannuation Guarantee (SG) contributions, salary sacrifice arrangements, and member voluntary contributions made via your employer.
You make additional contributions via direct debit or BPAY®.
You’ll be able to continue making BPAY® payments with the same biller code and reference details you used in Sunsuper. If you’ve set-up direct debit arrangements, these will continue to be debited and payments will be processed by Australian Retirement Trust instead of Sunsuper after 28 February. ® Registered to BPAY Pty Ltd ABN 69 079 137 518.
You split contributions with your spouse.
From 28 February 2022, you’ll be able to request a split of eligible contributions paid to Australian Retirement Trust for the period 28 February 2022 to 30 June 2022 after 1 July 2022.
For further information see the Sunsuper and QSuper are merging: Important information booklet at australianretirementtrust.com.au/merger.
What if I’m changing jobs?
No matter if you change jobs before or after the merger, your membership details will remain the same for your employer to pay contributions to your account.
Visit Changing Jobs for help providing your employer with your details at any time.
When can I access Member Online?
From 28 February 2022, you can access your new Australian Retirement Trust account in Member Online using your same login details as your Sunsuper account.
Will my Member Online or Sunsuper app log in details change?
You will be able to log into Australian Retirement Trust Member Online and the Australian Retirement Trust app using the same details you had with Sunsuper.
For Sunsuper app users, you will need to update your app to the latest version so that it becomes the Australian Retirement Trust app (which for most members should have happened automatically).
Do I need to update the app?
From 28 February 2022, the Sunsuper app has become the Australian Retirement Trust app, displaying the new name and logo.
You will need to update the app on your smart device. For most users, we expect your smart device would do this automatically once the update is available. Otherwise, you can update to the latest version in your smart device’s app store.
If you aren’t a current user of the Sunsuper app and want to access the Australian Retirement Trust app after 28 February 2022, you’ll find it in the App Store (for iOS devices) and on Google Play (for android devices).
Will this impact how I receive my LTP payments (dates, blackout, who it comes from, etc)?
Your payment arrangements will continue as they were in your Sunsuper account, with the payee changing to Australian Retirement Trust.
I am changing jobs, what details do I need to provide my new employer?
Read our changing jobs page.
Am I eligible for the Retirement Bonus?
There will be no change to your Retirement Bonus as a result of the merger. More information about your retirement bonus.
If you have a Super Savings account and a QSuper account and you choose to combine your accounts, your retirement bonus (if eligible) won’t be transferred.
What if I had both a Sunsuper and QSuper account?
Your Sunsuper and QSuper accounts were not consolidated when we merged. This is to make sure you do not lose any benefits you have with either fund.
Some time in the future, Australian Retirement Trust will contact you with details about these accounts, and options you may have to consolidate them.
In the meantime, you can explore your options if you’d like to consolidate your accounts.
Read more merger FAQs
Still have questions? Check out our other popular merger FAQs or speak to our team via our contact us page or call 13 11 84 (8:00am - 6:30pm (AEST) Monday to Friday)
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