feeling unsettled by market news?

With ongoing tensions in the Middle East continuing to affect global markets, you might be feeling a little anxious about your super balance, and that's completely understandable. 

Read on to understand what's happening, what it means for your retirement savings, and why staying the course on your investment strategy is usually the smartest move.

What's going on in markets right now?

Rising oil prices and global uncertainty linked to the conflict in Iran have caused some turbulence in financial markets. In early March, oil prices climbed above US$110 per barrel and the Australian share market had one of its toughest days since the US trade tariffs of April 2025.
 

Should I move my super to a safer option?

It's tempting to switch to a more conservative investment option — like Cash and Term Deposits — when markets get bumpy. But history shows you’re generally moving too late, and this can actually leave you worse off in the long run. 

To illustrate, here's an example: if you had a $100,000 balance and switched from our default Balanced Growth option to Cash & Term Deposits during COVID in 2020, you could have been more than $20,000 worse off just 5 years later (assuming it took a year to switch back). That's the cost of missing the market recovery.^{1 2}    

It’s important to remember that knee-jerk reactions to short-term market movements can crystallise losses and risk missing out on a market bounce back, potentially costing tens of thousands of dollars at retirement. Our investment team has been closely monitoring the situation, and our portfolio is built to be resilient through periods of market volatility. It is diversified and actively managed to handle volatility while looking for new opportunities. 
 

What should I do right now?

Stay informed, but don't panic. It's great to keep an eye on your super but try not to make big decisions based on short-term market movements. 

If you're feeling concerned, here are some things you can do: 

• Visit our investment page for the latest information on how markets are affecting your super. 
• Request a call back from one of our experts. This is included in your membership at no extra cost. Our team can help you check whether your investment strategy is right for your age, goals, and how close you are to retirement. 
• Seek personalised advice if you're unsure. What's right for someone in their 30s can look very different to someone approaching retirement, and tailored advice makes all the difference. 

If you'd like to talk through your options, get in touch with us today.

¹ Calculations are performed on a fixed value over the stated date range and do not take into consideration any member transactions (contributions/draw down benefits) or deductions (administration/insurance) or other entitlements (LISTO, Co-Contributions). Returns are based on historical crediting rates and unit prices. Previously named Core Pool. Rounding has been applied to the graph to the nearest dollar. Annualised returns are net of investment fees and costs, transaction costs and taxes. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

² Figure determined based on switching from Balanced Growth to Cash & Term Deposits on 30 June 2020, then switching back on 30 June 2021 and holding until 30 June 2025. Compared to staying invested in Balanced growth the entire five years. Figure would be even higher if switched at peak of COVID market falls in March 2020.