Exploring Super with ESSSuper

In this episode of ESSSuper's Exploring Super podcast, we sit down with Joan Fitzpatrick, ESSSuper’s former Board President. Joan tells us about her time with the fund, along with the changes and the challenges ESSSuper has seen over the last decade.

In this episode of ESSSuper's Exploring Super podcast, Martin Thompson, an Investment Manager at ESSSuper, provides economic and market commentary for the October to December Quarter 2025 period, plus some more up to date commentary.---This investment commentary does not constitute advice.Before acting on any advice contained in this article, podcast or video, please download and read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and target market determination, found on our PDS and handbooks web page. The Board recommends that you seek financial advice before acting upon this information.Investment returns cannot be guaranteed as investment markets can be volatile. As a consequence, returns can be positive or negative. Past investment performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.Benefits in ESSSuper’s Accumulation Plan, Income Streams and Beneficiary Account products are not guaranteed or underwritten by the Victorian Government or ESSSuper, and ESSSuper does not come under the jurisdiction of the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA). ESSSuper comes under the jurisdiction of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).SuperRatings is a third-party superannuation research company providing data analysis, information, and commentary to both the public and the superannuation industry. Established in 2002, it is the most widely used and accepted ratings firm in the superannuation industry. Refer to superratings.com.au and our Ratings and awards webpage for more information. Ratings are only one factor to be taken into account when choosing a super fund. 

How much super do you need for a comfortable lifestyle in retirement? In this episode of ESSSuper’s Exploring Super podcast, we discuss how much the average Australian needs in retirement, and how tools like the ASFA retirement standard can help.

In this episode of the Exploring Super podcast, Paul Griffiths, an Investment Manager at ESSSuper, provides commentary on economic and market movements for the July to September 2025 period.____This article and podcast are of a general nature only and do not consider your personal circumstances, financial needs or objectives. Before acting on any advice contained in this podcast or article, please download and read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and target market determination, found on our website: esssuper.com.au The Board recommends that you seek financial advice before acting upon this information. Investment returns cannot be guaranteed as investment markets can be volatile. As a consequence, returns can be positive or negative. Past investment performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Benefits in ESSSuper's Accumulation Plan, Income Streams and Beneficiary Account products are not guaranteed or underwritten by the Victorian Government or ESSSuper. Any institutions mentioned by name does not constitute endorsement.  SuperRatings is a third-party superannuation research company providing data analysis, information and commentary to both the public and the superannuation industry. Refer to superratings.com.au for more information. 

In this episode of ESSSuper's Exploring Super podcast, Chief Executive Officer Robbie Campo shares what’s been happening as we wrap up a historic year for ESSSuper.

ESSSuper’s investments cover a wide range of asset groups and global markets. In this episode of our Exploring Super podcast, ESSSuper Investment Manager Leroy D’Souza joins us to discuss the investment options available to our members, how they work and the objectives behind them. 

In this episode of ESSSuper’s Exploring Super podcast, we dive into economic updates and market commentary focused on the April to June 2025 quarter with ESSSuper Investment Manager Marie Cardaci.

In this episode of ESSSuper’s Exploring Super podcast, we discuss personal deductible contributions and how they could be a tax-effective way to boost your super. 

In this month's Exploring Super podcast, we chat about the most recent federal budget and the impacts on super.__________________________The Board recommends that you seek financial advice before acting upon this information.Content was up to date at time of recording and thresholds do change due to federal legislation. For more information on eligibility for todays, content please refer the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) website at ato.gov.auInvestment returns cannot be guaranteed as investment markets can be volatile. As a consequence, returns can be positive or negative. Past investment performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.Benefits in ESSSuper’s Accumulation Plan, Income Streams and Beneficiary Account products are not guaranteed or underwritten by the Victorian Government or ESSSuper, and ESSSuper does not come under the jurisdiction of the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA). ESSSuper comes under the jurisdiction of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).This website contains links to other websites which are not under the control of and are not maintained by ESSSuper. ESSSuper is not responsible for the content of those sites. ESSSuper provides these links for your convenience only but does not necessarily endorse the material on these sites. The information contained on this website is of a general nature only. It should not be considered as a substitute for reading the relevant ESSSuper handbook or Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) (and associated target market determination) that contains detailed information about ESSSuper products, services and features. Before making a decision about an ESSSuper product, you should consider the appropriateness of the product to your personal objectives, financial situation and needs. It may also be beneficial to seek professional advice from a licensed financial planner or adviser. An ESSSuper PDS is available on our PDS and handbooks webpage or by contacting us.For more details on superannuation thresholds please refer Australian Taxation Office website. https://www.ato.gov.au/   

Leroy D’Souza (Investment Manager, Investments) provides commentary on the economic conditions on the third quarter of the 2024-25 fiscal year, plus some more up to date commentary.

You’ve likely heard about a recent surge in suspected cyber attacks on super funds. The good news is that ESSSuper has had multiple layers of protection in place through Members Online since 2022, and we remain vigilant in protecting your money and personal information. In this podcast, our Senior Cyber Security Manager Yunus Algun shares an expert look into what cyber security is, what the risks are and tips to keep yourself safe.__This podcast is of a general nature only and does not consider your personal circumstances, financial needs or objectives before acting on any advice contained in this podcast. Please download and read the relevant product disclosure statement and target market determination found on our website, esssuper.com.au.

Short-term market moves can tempt emotional decisions, but your super is designed to ride out volatility. Sudden investment switches now could lock in losses when the market swings back up. Find out more from ESSSuper's Chief Investment Officer.___This investment commentary does not constitute advice.Before acting on any advice contained in this article, podcast or video, please download and read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and target market determination, found on our PDS and handbooks web page. The Board recommends that you seek financial advice before acting upon this information.Investment returns cannot be guaranteed as investment markets can be volatile. As a consequence, returns can be positive or negative. Past investment performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.Benefits in ESSSuper’s Accumulation Plan, Income Streams and Beneficiary Account products are not guaranteed or underwritten by the Victorian Government or ESSSuper, and ESSSuper does not come under the jurisdiction of the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA). ESSSuper comes under the jurisdiction of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).This website contains links to other websites which are not under the control of and are not maintained by ESSSuper. ESSSuper is not responsible for the content of those sites. ESSSuper provides these links for your convenience only but does not necessarily endorse the material on these sites. The information contained on this website is of a general nature only. It should not be considered as a substitute for reading the relevant ESSSuper handbook or Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) (and associated target market determination) that contains detailed information about ESSSuper products, services and features. Before making a decision about an ESSSuper product, you should consider the appropriateness of the product to your personal objectives, financial situation and needs. It may also be beneficial to seek professional advice from a licensed financial planner or adviser. An ESSSuper PDS is available on our PDS and handbooks webpage or by contacting us.

Daniel Selioutine (Group Executive, Investments) provides economic and market commentary for the October to December 2024 period, plus some commentary on recent developments in our latest edition of Exploring Super. 

Looking to downsize your home? Wanting to learn about how this may boost your super? Join us as we discuss downsizer contributions into superannuation in the latest edition of Exploring Super.___This podcast is of a general nature only and does not consider your personal circumstances, financial needs or objectives. Before acting on any advice contained in this podcast, please download and read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and target market determination, found on our website: esssuper.com.au The Board recommends that you seek financial advice before acting upon this information. Benefits in ESSSuper's Accumulation Plan, Income Streams and Beneficiary Account products are not guaranteed or underwritten by the Victorian Government or ESSSuper. Content was up to date at time of recording and thresholds do change due to federal legislation. For more information on eligibility please refer the ATO website, ato.gov.au Emergency Services Superannuation Board (ABN 28 161 296 741) (ESSB), is responsible for the administration of the Emergency Services Superannuation Scheme (ABN 85 894 637 037) (ESSSuper).

In our first edition of Exploring Super for 2025, Daniel Selioutine (Group Executive, Investments) provides economic and market commentary for the July to September 2024 period.______________________This podcast is of a general nature only and does not consider your personal circumstances, financial needs or objectives. Before acting on any advice contained in this podcast, please download and read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and target market determination, found on our website: esssuper.com.au, The Board recommends that you seek financial advice before acting upon this information. Investment returns cannot be guaranteed as investment markets can be volatile. As a consequence, returns can be positive or negative. Past investment performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Benefits in ESSSuper's Accumulation Plan, Income Streams and Beneficiary Account products are not guaranteed or underwritten by the Victorian Government or ESSSuper. Any institutions mentioned by name does not constitute endorsement.  SuperRatings is a third-party  superannuation research company providing data analysis, information and commentary to both the public and the superannuation industry. Refer to superratings.com.au for more information.

In our final edition of Exploring Super for 2024, we take some time to chat to ESSSuper CEO Robbie Campo about what’s happened this year, what makes ESSSuper so special, and some of the big activities on the agenda for 2025 and beyond. ____This podcast is of a general nature only and does not consider your personal circumstances, financial needs or objectives before acting on any advice contained in this podcast. Please download and read the relevant product disclosure statement and target market determination found on our website, esssuper.com.au.The board recommends that you seek financial advice before acting upon this information. Benefits in ESSSuper accumulation plan, income streams, and beneficiary account products are not guaranteed or underwritten by the Victorian government or ESSSuper. The Association of Superannuation funds Australia otherwise known as ASFA is the peak policy, research and advocacy body for Australia's superannuation industry. It publishes the retirement standards on their website at superannuation.asn.au.

In the latest edition of Exploring Super, we talk to ESSSuper Member Education specialist Tom Crandle about some of the ways you may be able to boost your retirement savings. We discuss making additional contributions, reviewing investment strategies, consolidating super, and more. __This podcast is of a general nature only and does not consider your personal circumstances, financial needs or objectives. Before acting on any advice contained in this podcast, please download and read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and target market determination, found on our website: esssuper.com.au. Investment returns cannot be guaranteed as investment markets can be volatile. As a consequence, returns can be positive or negative. Past investment performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.Benefits in ESSSuper’s Accumulation Plan, Income Streams and Beneficiary Account products are not guaranteed or underwritten by the Victorian Government or ESSSuper, and ESSSuper does not come under the jurisdiction of the Australian Financial Complaints Authority. Your contributions have been grandfathered (i.e. previous conditions still apply despite new rules) and won’t exceed the concessional contribution cap if you joined the New Scheme, Transport Scheme or the ESSS DB Fund before 12 May 2009, and you haven’t increased your contribution rate since then. Increasing your contribution rate now or in the future will void grandfathering of the contribution caps. This means your contributions and those of your employer will be subject to the contribution caps. This may also mean you may incur additional tax. You can learn more about contribution caps on our Tax on contributions webpage, and refer to the relevant PDS or handbook for more information about grandfathering.The Board recommends that you seek financial advice before acting upon this information. Content was up to date at time of recording and thresholds do change due to federal legislation. For more information on eligibility for todays content please refer the ATO website ato.gov.au 

Thinking about winding down your working hours as you approach retirement? On this episode of the Exploring Super podcast, we discuss Transition to Retirement (TTR) strategies and how Working Income Streams could help.____Emergency Services Superannuation Board (ABN 28 161 296 741) (ESSB), the Trustee of the Emergency Services Superannuation Scheme (ABN 85 894 637 037) (ESSSuper).Investment returns are not guaranteed. All investments carry risks and past investment performance gives no indication of future performance. Benefits in ESSSuper's Accumulation Plan, Income Streams and Beneficiary Account products are not guaranteed or underwritten by the Victorian Government or ESSSuper, and ESSSuper does not come under the jurisdiction of the Australian Financial Complaints Authority. ESSSuper comes under the jurisdiction of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. ESSSuper is an exempt public sector superannuation scheme, and is not regulated by APRA or ASIC, but is governed by Victorian legislation.The information contained in this article is of a general nature only. It should not be considered as a substitute for reading ESSSuper's Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) that contains detailed information about ESSSuper products, services and features. Before making a decision about an ESSSuper product, you should consider the appropriateness of the product to your personal objectives, financial situation and needs. It may also be beneficial to seek professional advice from a licensed financial planner or adviser. An ESSSuper PDS is available at esssuper.com.au/pds or by calling 1300 650 161.

Daniel Selioutine (Group Executive, Investments) provides economic and market commentary for the May to June period and the 23-24 financial year in our latest edition of Exploring Super. ____ This article and podcast are of a general nature only and do not consider your personal circumstances, financial needs or objectives. Before acting on any advice contained in this podcast or article, please download and read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and target market determination, found on our website: esssuper.com.au The Board recommends that you seek financial advice before acting upon this information. Investment returns cannot be guaranteed as investment markets can be volatile. As a consequence, returns can be positive or negative. Past investment performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Benefits in ESSSuper's Accumulation Plan, Income Streams and Beneficiary Account products are not guaranteed or underwritten by the Victorian Government or ESSSuper. Any institutions mentioned by name does not constitute endorsement.  SuperRatings is a third-party superannuation research company providing data analysis, information and commentary to both the public and the superannuation industry. Refer to superratings.com.au for more information.  

In this episode of “Exploring Super”, we focus on the First Home Super Saver (FHSS) scheme and how it works.We discuss how tax works through the scheme, along with eligibility criteria and other resources that could help you decide whether it’s right for you.____Emergency Services Superannuation Board (ABN 28 161 296 741) (ESSB), the Trustee of the Emergency Services Superannuation Scheme (ABN 85 894 637 037) (ESSSuper).Investment returns are not guaranteed. All investments carry risks and past investment performance gives no indication of future performance. Benefits in ESSSuper's Accumulation Plan, Income Streams and Beneficiary Account products are not guaranteed or underwritten by the Victorian Government or ESSSuper, and ESSSuper does not come under the jurisdiction of the Australian Financial Complaints Authority. ESSSuper comes under the jurisdiction of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. ESSSuper is an exempt public sector superannuation scheme, and is not regulated by APRA or ASIC, but is governed by Victorian legislation.The information contained in this article is of a general nature only. It should not be considered as a substitute for reading ESSSuper's Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) that contains detailed information about ESSSuper products, services and features. Before making a decision about an ESSSuper product, you should consider the appropriateness of the product to your personal objectives, financial situation and needs. It may also be beneficial to seek professional advice from a licensed financial planner or adviser. An ESSSuper PDS is available at esssuper.com.au/pds or by calling 1300 650 161.

In this episode of "Exploring Super," we dive into the intricacies of parental leave for members in the Emergency Services Defined Benefit fund. We take an in-depth look at how paid and unpaid parental leave can affect your super and benefit accrual. The episode covers essential tips for managing leave, understanding service fractions, and maintaining death and disability benefits during periods of unpaid leave.--This podcast is of a general nature only and does not consider your personal circumstances, financial needs or objectives before acting on any advice containing this podcast, please download and read the relevant product disclosure statement and target market determination found on our website esssuper.com.au. The board recommends that you seek financial advice before acting upon this information, benefits and ESSSupers accumulation plan, income streams, and beneficiary account products are not guaranteed or underwritten by the Victorian government or ESSSuper. If you joined the Emergency Services Defined Benefit before 12 May 2009 Grandfathering provisions might apply, so the limits of contributions you can make may differ.The board recommends that you check your parental leave entitlements with your employer as employers have differing arrangements. 

Daniel Selioutine (General Executive, Investments) provides economic and market commentary for the January - March 2024 period for ESSSuper members.__________________________SuperRatings Pty Limited (ABN 95 100 192 283, AFSL No. 311880) (SuperRatings) is a third party superannuation research company providing data analysis, information and commentary to both the public and the superannuation industry. Established in 2002, it is the most widely used and accepted ratings firm in the superannuation industry. Refer to superratings.com.au for more information. Ratings are only one factor to be taken into account when choosing a super fund.Emergency Services Superannuation Board (ABN 28 161 296 741) (ESSB), the Trustee of the Emergency Services Superannuation Scheme (ABN 85 894 637 037) (ESSSuper).This investment commentary does not constitute advice. All investment figures quoted relate to before-tax performance of the relevant industry benchmark. Investment returns cannot be guaranteed as investment markets can be volatile. As a consequence, returns can be positive or negative. Past investment performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.Benefits in ESSSuper's Accumulation Plan, Income Streams and Beneficiary Account products are not guaranteed or underwritten by the Victorian Government or ESSSuper, and ESSSuper does not come under the jurisdiction of the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA).The information contained in this update is of a general nature only. It should not be considered as a substitute for reading the relevant ESSSuper Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) that contains detailed information about ESSSuper products, services and features. Before making a decision about an ESSSuper product, you should consider the appropriateness of the product to your personal objectives, financial situation and needs. It may also be beneficial to seek professional advice from a licensed financial planner or adviser. An ESSSuper PDS is available on our PDS and handbooks web page or by contacting us.

What might the latest federal Budget mean for your super?This week, we chat to ESSSuper's Defined Benefit Technical Training Manager, Michael Blackman, about Budget 2024-25 and some of the impacts it could have. 

In this month’s episode we are joined by Matt Cervetto from our Member Education team to discuss beneficiary nominations.  Having a valid beneficiary nomination in place is an important step in taking control of your super.  Hear from one of our experts and get an understanding of what beneficiary choices are available, how they work and what steps you need to take in order to register a nomination. ___Emergency Services Superannuation Board ABN 28 161 296 741 the Trustee of the Emergency Services Superannuation Scheme ABN 85 894 637 037 (ESSSuper). The information contained in this article is of a general nature only. It should not be considered as a substitute for reading ESSSuper's Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) that contains detailed information about ESSSuper products, services and features. Before making a decision about an ESSSuper product, you should consider the appropriateness of the product to your personal objectives, financial situation and needs. It may also be beneficial to seek professional advice from a licensed financial planner or adviser. An ESSSuper PDS is available at esssuper.com.au/pds or by calling 1300 650 161.

We chat to Philip Elmslie, our manager of Member Advice, who shares his insights on the types of advice available to ESSSuper members, the advice process and timeframes. Learn about some benefits of meeting with ESSSuper’s advice team and  more.ESSSuper has an arrangement with Guideway Financial Services Pty Ltd (ABN 46 156 498 538, AFSL 420367), under which financial product advice is provided to members by ESSSuper employed Financial Advisers who are Authorised Representatives of Guideway. As the advice is provided under Guideway’s Australian Financial Services Licence, Guideway is responsible for the advice you receive. ESSSuper pays Guideway a fee for this service. However, neither the Board, ESSSuper nor the Victorian Government guarantee or endorse any advice given by Guideway or its authorised representatives.

Daniel Selioutine (General Executive, Investments) provides economic and market commentary for the October – December 2023 period for ESSSuper members.__________________________SuperRatings Pty Limited (ABN 95 100 192 283, AFSL No. 311880) (SuperRatings) is a third party superannuation research company providing data analysis, information and commentary to both the public and the superannuation industry. Established in 2002, it is the most widely used and accepted ratings firm in the superannuation industry. Refer to superratings.com.au for more information. Ratings are only one factor to be taken into account when choosing a super fund.Emergency Services Superannuation Board (ABN 28 161 296 741) (ESSB), the Trustee of the Emergency Services Superannuation Scheme (ABN 85 894 637 037) (ESSSuper).This investment commentary does not constitute advice. All investment figures quoted relate to before-tax performance of the relevant industry benchmark. Investment returns cannot be guaranteed as investment markets can be volatile. As a consequence, returns can be positive or negative. Past investment performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.Benefits in ESSSuper's Accumulation Plan, Income Streams and Beneficiary Account products are not guaranteed or underwritten by the Victorian Government or ESSSuper, and ESSSuper does not come under the jurisdiction of the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA).The information contained in this update is of a general nature only. It should not be considered as a substitute for reading the relevant ESSSuper Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) that contains detailed information about ESSSuper products, services and features. Before making a decision about an ESSSuper product, you should consider the appropriateness of the product to your personal objectives, financial situation and needs. It may also be beneficial to seek professional advice from a licensed financial planner or adviser. An ESSSuper PDS is available on our PDS and handbooks web page or by contacting us.