Nominate your beneficiaries
Did you know that you can decide what happens to your super in the event of your death? In fact, deciding who gets your super by nominating beneficiaries is important to make sure your super ends up with the ones you intend.
Why make a nomination?
Providing for the ones you love and the ones who love you
Why is it so important?
You’ve worked hard and built your super savings. Nominating beneficiaries is the best way to make sure the ones you intend benefit from it and have financial security in the event of your death. It also helps to avoid any family conflicts and give you peace of mind that this money is going to the people who you think should have it.
What happens if you don’t nominate anyone?
Generally, the trustee will either pay your death benefit to your estate or decide the beneficiaries using its powers of discretion. The trustee will follow the relevant laws in making its decision, regardless of the instructions in your will.
Isn’t a will enough?
Leaving instructions in your will is not enough by itself. This is because your will can only cover your assets, such as your home and your car, whereas super is held in trust on your behalf by the trustee of your super fund (Total Risk Management Pty Ltd is the trustee of the Russell Investments Master Trust). This means if you want someone in particular to get your super, you need to nominate them as a beneficiary.
Dependents or estate?
When deciding who you want your super to go to, it’s also worth considering the difference between a payment going directly to a dependant or via your estate. Payments made to your estate can be subject to challenges to your will and claims from creditors. However, payments made directly to a dependant cannot be subjected to such claims.
Types of nominations
There are two types of nominations. Choose the one that works best for you.
Preferred nominations
A preferred nomination is not binding on the trustee of the fund.
This means, if you die, the trustee will collect all the relevant information about your personal situation before deciding to whom the benefit should be paid.
While the trustee will consider the wishes you expressed in your nomination as part of this process, it’s possible that your benefit will not be paid as you had nominated.
Binding nominations
A binding nomination is binding on the trustee of the fund.
This means as long as valid beneficiaries are nominated, your benefit will be paid as you instruct.
Remember, binding nominations expire every three years, so it’s important to keep them updated. With expiration, the binding nomination becomes a preferred one.
How to make a nomination
Ready to make a nomination?
Nominate via your online account
Nominate via the Super Tracker App
Nominate via the Beneficiaries Form
Useful resources
Learn more