How to get more financial certainty in retirement

After spending many years working and saving for your retirement, you may find it a challenge to transition from earning a steady employment income to living off a pension or investments. 

Suddenly you’re in unfamiliar territory, having to make strategic decisions about where best to put your super now that you need regular access to funds. Should you invest in potentially volatile growth assets such as shares, or choose safer options with typically lower returns, like fixed interest or cash?

Even the returns from low-risk investment options aren’t guaranteed, so at a time when you look forward to a stress-free lifestyle you may find yourself worrying about economic forces beyond your control negatively impacting your retirement funds.

You want greater certainty and control over your finances

Having shed the shackles of establishing a career, paying off a mortgage and raising a family, you’ve earned the right to enjoy a carefree, financially stable lifestyle. A game of golf when you feel like it, an annual holiday somewhere warm and sunny, a weekly lunch with friends – those are the things you should focus on now! 

But you’ve arrived at a whole new ball game when you start drawing down on and reducing the finite resource that is your super savings. At the same time, you may be looking for a way for your funds that remain invested to continue to grow while you withdraw an income for daily living expenses. 

And there lies the question: how do you obtain a good return on your superannuation investments during retirement but also manage living expenses with a steady and reliable inflow of money?

So, you’re searching for viable options. Do you: 

• Transfer your super to your bank account, 
• Utilise short-term investment accounts that generally offer low returns with low risk? 
• Invest in the share market for higher returns but at greater risk?

Exploring your super fund investment options

An alternative option to taking out your super and putting it in the bank or an investment account, is to switch it to a pension account with your super fund. This can offer a range of benefits, including:

• Keeping your retirement funds invested and growing.
• Providing a regular and reliable income to meet expenses. 

Introducing the innovative Hostplus pension investment option – CPIplus

Hostplus, widely recognised for low admin fees¹, strong long-term returns², and wide-ranging investment choices, have designed CPIplus, an investment option for retirees seeking more certainty over their super.

CPIplus sets a return each year in advance at a particular percentage above inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index, or CPI³. 

What’s more, CPIplus has an extra safeguard built into it. Not only does the option aim to deliver a consistent annual return above inflation, but it also sets a lower limit for returns at zero per cent. In other words, CPIplus returns will not be below zero.

This innovative pension investment option aims to mitigate the risks associated with investing and inflation while providing more consistency and less volatility than investing in growth assets like shares. 

Though it’s low risk, it also aims to provide higher returns than conservative assets such as cash or fixed interest.

CPIplus is designed to mitigate the risks associated with investment and inflation. It is also designed to provide consistency of investment returns and make it easier to budget and manage cashflow, while allowing flexibility to access funds and switch investment options. 

The following features show how CPIplus helps provide peace of mind by offering stable returns during retirement:

• CPIplus sets a pre-determined return above inflation each year. For example, for the 12-month period from 1 July 2023, CPIplus has a pre-determined return of 2% set, above CPI.
• CPIplus provides a minimum daily return floor of zero.
• The predetermined return of CPIplus is generally higher than defensive assets such as cash or fixed interest.
• CPIplus is designed to protect from the erosive effects of inflation on your accumulated wealth.
• You can invest as much of your pension funds⁴ as you like into the CPIplus investment option, and you’re able to withdraw your money or switch investment options at any time.

If you’re a Hostplus member and retired, CPIplus could be an effective pension investment option. And if you’re new to Hostplus, it’s easy to join.

Learn more about the exciting CPIplus pension investment option

The aim to provide retirees with more certainty over returns is one of the key features of the CPIplus investment option. With low risk and flexible access, CPIplus sets a pre-determined return ahead of inflation while you enjoy the comfort of a reliable income for managing your living expenses. 

If you’d like to know more about Hostplus’ CPIplus investment option, you can learn more here.

¹ _{Other fees and costs apply. Refer to the PDS for more information.}

² _{SuperRatings Accumulation Fund Crediting Rate Survey – SR50 Balanced (60-76) Index, January 2024.}

³ _{Though returns above inflation are predetermined annually, Hostplus may adjust the rate of return with at least 30 days’ notice. Refer to the Hostplus Pension PDS at hostplus.com.au.}

⁴_{A minimum of $10,000 is required to establish a Hostplus Pension account. See the Hostplus Pension PDS for more information.}

_{General advice only. Consider the Hostplus Pension PDS and TMD available at www.hostplus.com.au and your objectives, financial situation and needs which have not been accounted for, before deciding. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Issued by Host-Plus Pty Limited ABN 79 008 634 704, AFSL 244392 as trustee for the Hostplus Superannuation Fund ABN 68 657 495 890.}

IMPORTANT LEGAL INFO This article is of a general nature and FYI only, because it doesn’t take into account your financial or legal situation, objectives or needs. That means it’s not financial product or legal advice and shouldn’t be relied upon as if it is. Before making a financial or legal decision, you should work out if the info is appropriate for your situation and get independent, licensed financial services or legal advice.