Customers still find comfort in cash, says UBank survey

11 March 2010
| By Caroline Munro |
image
image
expand image

A UBank survey of customers with self-managed super funds (SMSFs) has revealed that a third have more than 50 per cent of their SMSF in cash.

UBank, National Australia Bank’s direct bank, found that more than half the respondents stated they have no plans to alter their current cash allocation despite improving economic conditions in Australia.

The survey revealed that a significant proportion of respondents blamed the poor performance and high fees of managed funds for their move to a SMSF, and 75 per cent said having control of their own financial destiny was the reason for their move.

“The results of this survey show that more and more people want to take tight control of their own financial destiny at a time of ongoing caution about the economic climate,” said UBank general manager Gerd Schenkel. “That caution is also reflected in the fact that people are reluctant to reduce the cash component in their SMSF — despite economic data suggesting Australia has weathered the storm relatively well.”

The survey also found that 31 per cent were optimistic about the performance of their SMSF in 2010, although 26 per cent stated they still felt cautious about the year ahead.

Some 95 per cent are not considering closing their SMSF to return to managed funds; 59 per cent like the flexibility that an SMSF provides; and nearly half claim the media influences their decisions about the allocation of their investments between cash and equities.

AUTHOR

Recommended for you

sub-bgsidebar subscription

Never miss the latest developments in Super Review! Anytime, Anywhere!

Grant Banner

From my perspective, 40- 50% of people are likely going to be deeply unhappy about how long they actually live. ...

1 year 3 months ago
Kevin Gorman

Super director remuneration ...

1 year 3 months ago
Anthony Asher

No doubt true, but most of it is still because over 45’s have been upgrading their houses with 30 year mortgages. Money ...

1 year 3 months ago

In what is being called a coordinated cyber attack, a number of Australia’s largest superannuation funds have suffered a breach with thousands of user accounts compromise...

16 hours ago

Donald Trump’s tariff blitz has shaken global markets, fuelling uncertainty over trade retaliation, recession, and economic fallout, while Australia, though bruised, esca...

17 hours ago

Shadow treasurer Angus Taylor has vowed to slash red tape and introduce a suite of financial services reforms aimed at transforming Australia into a leading financial hub...

1 day 16 hours ago

TOP PERFORMING FUNDS