Executive Director's message

Executive director's message

Ross Bowden, ING's Executive Director of Employer Super, provides an update of ING Employer Super's achievements in the 2007/08 financial year.

The year in review

Welcome to ING’s online Annual Report and Member Update for 2008. Since our previous Member Update, we’ve seen a lot of changes in Australia and across the globe. The ‘bull run’ of the last five years, where many investors have achieved double digit returns, has turned. The lower returns that we see this year is a normal part of the investment cycle and while it may be frustrating, it is important to bear in mind the good returns over the last five years and that super is a long term investment. Diversification across asset classes and investment managers as well as time in the market and expert advice are all key to managing investments and minimising risk.

Enhanced features and member services

We are always looking for ways to improve your super. Last year we announced some exciting changes to ING's Integra Super and Corporate Super to ensure that it continues to provide you with highly rated features and benefits. These included:

• the launch of this website, the Member Super Centre
• enhanced member education and communication
• more competitive fees
• wider investment choice
• improved insurance offerings.
• Increases in member activity

These enhancements have been met with resounding approval, with significant increases in the number of members:

• going online and accessing the tools and information available to take control of their super
• joining – we’ve welcomed more than 80,000 new members to ING’s employer super over the last year
• making compulsory and voluntary contributions
• taking advantage of the government co-contribution scheme
• rolling over all their various super funds into their ING account, and
• watching video and webcasts of what is happening in global investment markets.

Final message