Cbus Superannuation Fund Industry Insights and Investments

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The Cbus Superannuation Fund is a significant player in the Australian superannuation industry. It has over $80 billion in funds under management.

Cbus has a strong presence in the construction and building industry, with over 750,000 members and more than 1,000 employer sponsors.

The fund's industry insights and investments are crucial to its success. Cbus has a dedicated investment team that manages its assets.

Cbus has a diverse investment portfolio, with a focus on Australian and international shares, property, and infrastructure.

Features

Cbus is a popular superannuation fund with over 136,000 employers making it the default fund for their employees, and it manages roughly $85 billion in retirement savings.

One of the standout features of Cbus is that it's an industry super fund, which means it's run to benefit its members rather than shareholders. This approach ensures that the fund's decisions are focused on the needs of its members, rather than maximizing profits.

Credit: youtube.com, The Investor Agenda: CBUS Super Fund

Cbus offers 5 pre-mixed investment portfolios, making it easy for members to choose an investment option that suits their needs. You can choose from these 5 ready-made options, or opt for the default low-fee, no-frills MySuper option, which is the Cbus Growth option.

If you're interested in investing in the building industry, Cbus has options that include infrastructure investments, which can support the industry where many of its members work. This can be a great way to align your investments with your career goals.

Eligible members receive automatic death and total permanent disablement (TPD) cover, providing an added layer of security and peace of mind. This default insurance cover is included as part of the Cbus membership package.

Here are the 5 pre-mixed investment portfolios offered by Cbus:

  • Conservative
  • Conservative Growth
  • Growth
  • Aggressive Growth
  • High Growth

You can also consolidate your existing super into your new Cbus account, either when joining or at any time after, by logging into your online portal. This can be a convenient way to simplify your superannuation arrangements.

Industry Superannuation Fund

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Cbus is a super fund that deals with superannuation and public offer, managing investments in the construction, building, and allied industries. It's based in Parramatta, New South Wales.

Cbus primarily focuses on managing superannuation for the construction, building, and allied industries. This specialization allows it to understand the specific needs of its members.

The fund is based in Parramatta, New South Wales, which gives it a strong local presence and connection to the industries it serves.

Superannuation Fund Investments

Cbus Industry Superannuation Fund is a super fund that deals with superannuation and public offer. It's based in Parramatta, New South Wales.

Cbus typically invests in construction, building, and allied industries.

Cbus has made 2 investments, with their latest investment being in Forth Ports as part of their Secondary Market on October 11, 2018.

Pre-Mixed Investment Portfolios

If you're looking for a hassle-free way to invest your superannuation, pre-mixed investment portfolios are a great option.

Credit: youtube.com, Australian Superannuation Investment options for retail and industry funds

You can choose from a range of portfolios that offer a different mix of high-risk growth assets and low-risk defensive assets. Each portfolio carries a different risk level.

The Growth option is the default MySuper option, and it's designed to suit most members. It invests in more growth assets and aims to deliver consistent, high returns over the long term.

Here's a breakdown of the different portfolios:

The Conservative option has the lowest risk, but it doesn't aim for as high of returns as the other options over the long term.

Investment Options

Cbus offers a range of investment options to suit different risk levels and goals. You can choose between a range of ready-made diversified investment portfolios.

Each portfolio offers a different mix of high-risk growth assets and low-risk defensive assets, carrying a different risk level. Growth assets include Australian and international shares, private equity, infrastructure, and property, while defensive assets include infrastructure, property, fixed income, and cash.

Credit: youtube.com, Cbus investment update - Managing the Growth investment option and MySuper changes

Cbus has a default MySuper option, which is the Growth option, designed to suit most members. This option invests in more growth assets and aims to deliver consistent, high returns over the long term.

The Growth option has a medium to high risk level and a benchmark asset allocation of 72% growth assets and 28% defensive assets. This means that out of every dollar invested, 72 cents is invested in growth assets and 28 cents is invested in defensive assets.

If you're looking for a lower-risk option, you can consider the Conservative portfolio. This option has a low to medium risk level and invests two thirds of your balance in defensive assets, with a benchmark asset allocation of 31% growth assets and 69% defensive assets.

Here are the details of Cbus' investment portfolios:

Acquisitions and Partnerships

Cbus Industry Superannuation Fund has been actively expanding its reach through strategic acquisitions and partnerships. Their latest acquisition was EISS Super, which they acquired on December 17, 2021, for a valuation of $XXM.

Credit: youtube.com, Cbus Super Fund and Freedom of Information

Cbus has also partnered with several key organizations, including the Finance Sector Union, with whom they signed an "industry-first" agreement on AI protections for employees on October 10, 2024. This partnership aims to introduce protections for employees in the face of generative AI disruption.

Here are some of Cbus' notable partnerships, including the type of partnership, business partner, and country:

1 Portfolio Exit

Cbus Industry Superannuation Fund has a notable portfolio exit, Peplin, which was taken private on September 3, 2009.

The fund sold Peplin to LEO Pharma for a valuation of $XXM. This type of exit is known as a "take private" deal, where a company is acquired by a private entity, in this case, LEO Pharma.

In contrast to a traditional acquisition, a take private deal involves the buyer purchasing all outstanding shares of the company, effectively removing it from public trading. This can be a strategic move for companies looking to restructure or refocus their operations.

Here's a breakdown of the key details surrounding Cbus Industry Superannuation Fund's portfolio exit:

This acquisition highlights the importance of strategic decision-making in portfolio management, as it can have significant implications for both the fund and the acquired company.

Industry Superannuation Fund Partnerships

Credit: youtube.com, Channel partner strategies: Services, acquisitions and partnerships

Cbus Industry Superannuation Fund has made strategic partnerships with various businesses. One of their recent partnerships was with Finance Sector Union on October 10, 2024.

The partnership with Finance Sector Union is significant as it introduced industry-first protections for employees when it comes to generative AI disruption. This agreement is a groundbreaking Enterprise Agreement that sets a new standard for employee protections in the industry.

Cbus Industry Superannuation Fund has a total of 5 strategic partners and customers. These partnerships are listed below:

These partnerships demonstrate Cbus Industry Superannuation Fund's commitment to collaborating with other businesses to achieve common goals.

AustralianSuper

AustralianSuper is a major Australian superannuation fund that manages over $140 billion in assets, making it one of the largest super funds in the country.

It's worth noting that AustralianSuper was established in 2006 through the merger of four state-based funds, which was a significant consolidation of the superannuation industry at the time.

Credit: youtube.com, Kristian Fok – Australia’s CBUS Superannuation CIO (Capital Allocators, EP.66)

AustralianSuper has a strong focus on investment and has a range of investment options available to its members, including a default MySuper option that is designed to be a straightforward and low-cost way to invest for retirement.

The fund has a long-term approach to investing and has a team of experienced investment managers who work to achieve strong returns for members over the long term.

AustralianSuper has a strong commitment to responsible investing and has implemented a range of strategies to reduce the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks associated with its investments.

Insurance and Protection

AustralianSuper and Cbus insurance options are worth considering when choosing a superannuation fund. Cbus offers automatic insurance cover for death and total and permanent disability (TPD) for all members, provided they have no pre-existing conditions.

You'll receive death cover, which pays out to your beneficiary in the event of your unexpected death. TPD cover pays out if you become disabled and can no longer work.

Credit: youtube.com, Does Cbus benefit from not paying insurance claims?

Insurance fees will affect your super balance, so it's essential to understand the deal you're getting. AustralianSuper received an insurance rating of 68, while Cbus received a 65 for its insurance options.

If you're under 25 with a low balance (less than $6000), you won't have any insurance cover applied automatically. You can increase, reduce, or cancel your cover at any time after joining.

You also have the option of adding income protection insurance and life insurance cover at any point.

Joining and Managing Super

You can join Cbus super online at any time, and the application process is surprisingly quick, taking less than 20 minutes to complete.

To get started, make sure you have some essential details ready, including your Australian residential address, phone number, email address, tax file number (TFN), and chosen investment option and insurance cover.

You may also want to have details of your existing super fund handy, in case you'd like to consolidate your funds during the application process.

Here are the specific details you'll need to have ready:

  • Australian residential address
  • Phone number and email address
  • Tax file number (TFN)
  • Chosen investment option and insurance cover
  • Details of your existing super fund (if consolidating)

Once you've completed your application, you'll receive your membership details by email.

How to Join Super?

Close-up of a golden piggy bank on financial documents, symbolizing savings and investment.
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Joining a super fund can seem daunting, but it's actually quite straightforward. You can join Cbus super online at any time, and the application process should take less than 20 minutes to complete.

To get started, you'll need to have some basic details handy, including your Australian residential address, phone number and email address, tax file number (TFN), and chosen investment option and insurance cover. You'll also need to have details of your existing super fund if you want to consolidate your funds during the application process.

Having all these details ready will make the process much smoother. You'll be able to complete your application quickly and easily.

Here's a list of the details you'll need to have handy:

  • Your Australian residential address
  • Your phone number and email address
  • Your tax file number (TFN)
  • Your chosen investment option and insurance cover
  • Details of your existing super fund if you'd like to consolidate your funds

Once you've completed your application, you'll receive your membership details by email.

No Super Code

The super fund industry has a major issue on its hands - there's no super code of conduct. Unlike many other sectors, super funds have quietly ditched their voluntary non-binding code in 2021, replacing it with a set of guidelines that aren't enforceable or binding.

Crop unrecognizable accountant counting savings using notebook and calculator
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This lack of regulation has raised concerns about transparency and accountability, particularly given the sector's rapid growth and increased exposure to financial risks. The Reserve Bank warned in September that the sector's size could create new risks to the stability of financial markets.

Super trustees have been accused of breaching their fiduciary duties by spending members' money on sponsorship, promotions, and advertising, estimated to be over $400 million a year. Regulators, APRA and ASIC, have been criticized for not enforcing the law in this area.

Link, a service provider to many super funds, has faced issues with underinvesting in systems, data, and personnel. The Productivity Commission identified concerns regarding concentrated industry exposure to Link, but was assured by some funds that they would bring the services back in-house if needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is CBUS a good super fund?

Cbus Super is a large and well-established fund with over $91 billion in member benefits, ranking 8 in total benefits and 7 in membership. Its size and scale suggest a strong and stable investment environment, but it's worth doing further research to determine if it's the best fit for your individual needs.

Who owns CBUS superannuation?

Cbus Super is owned by United Super Pty Ltd, a superannuation fund that manages its investments. Cbus Property Pty Ltd, a wholly-owned entity of United Super, handles the development and management of Cbus Super's property investments.

What does CBUS stand for?

CBUS stands for Construction and Building Unions Superannuation Fund. It is a superannuation fund for Australian workers in the construction and building industry.

Can I take money out of my CBUS Super?

You can withdraw up to $10,000 from your CBUS Super account before retirement in cases of severe financial hardship. However, any withdrawal is subject to tax and specific eligibility criteria.

Carole Veum

Junior Writer

Carole Veum is a seasoned writer with a keen eye for detail and a passion for financial journalism. Her work has appeared in several notable publications, covering a range of topics including banking and mergers and acquisitions. Veum's articles on the Banks of Kenya provide a comprehensive understanding of the local financial landscape, while her pieces on 2013 Mergers and Acquisitions offer insightful analysis of significant corporate transactions.

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