Member questions

Q.

Can I stay with Plum even if I leave my employer?

A.

In most circumstances, you will be automatically transferred to the Plum Personal Plan when you leave your employer if your account balance is $2,000 or more. Your death and total and permanent disablement cover will also be continued once notification from your employer has been provided.

Your chosen investment strategy will continue uninterrupted. We do not charge an administration fee for transferring you to the Plum Personal Plan, however higher ongoing fees may apply.

Please check your Product disclosure statement to find out if this facility (automatic transfer of your account balance to the Plum Personal Plan) is available to you.

Q.

Does Plum offer BPAY^®?

A.

Yes. If you are a member of the Plum Superannuation Fund, BPAY^® lets you transfer money from your bank account, building society or credit union directly into your Plum superannuation account.

You can use BPAY^® to make additional personal (after-tax) contributions to your super easily and conveniently. You can also use BPAY^® to make spouse contributions.

Note: We do not require a remittance advice as the biller code and reference number identify you and the payment you are making.

Q.

How does BPAY^® work?

A.

To use the BPAY^® facility you need:

• The biller code and
• Your unique BPAY^® reference number.

Please note: to find your BPAY^® reference number you can either:

1. Call a Member Services Consultant on 1300 55 7586; or
2. Log on to the Member site using your Member number and personal identification number (PIN).

You can then use your financial institution's internet or phone banking service. You can make BPAY^® payments from debit accounts (savings or cheque) only. You cannot use a credit card.

Once made, generally transactions cannot be reversed.

Biller codes:

Please note: in order to receive a spouse contribution you must provide your spouse with your BPAY^® reference number and the spouse biller code to make the BPAY^® payment.

Please note: To receive a salary sacrifice or an employer contribution you must provide your employer with your BPAY^® reference number and the relevant biller code to make the BPAY^® payment.

Q.

When will my BPAY^® payment be received by Plum?

A.

Your BPAY^® transaction is processed from your bank account immediately. However, your funds and payment instructions generally take time to be transferred to Plum from your financial institution.

Provided your BPAY^® request is made before your financial institution's cut-off time, Plum would typically receive the funds the following business day. Units will only be issued when we receive your funds and will generally be issued at the unit price applicable the day the payment was made.

Q.

How does my super with Plum compare to other funds?

A.

To find out how your superannuation arrangement compares with other superannuation funds, download a copy of your employer's superannuation plan Fund comparison checklist:

• Log on to the Member site;
• Click on Forms and publications; then
• Select Fund comparison checklist.

Or download the Plum Fund comparison checklist (PDF 620kB)

Q.

Who do I speak to if I need help completing my superannuation forms?

A.

Our Member Services Consultants are happy to take you through the process of completing your application, step-by-step. Call 1300 55 7586.

Q.

Can Plum help me with my investment decision?

A.

Yes. Through our advice service you can speak with a qualified financial adviser about your investment choice decision. You can:

• Call a Member Services Consultant on 1300 55 7586 to be put in touch with a financial adviser;
• Email us at service@plum.com.au; or
• Log on to the Member site and select I want to seek financial advice.

Q.

Do I have to make an investment choice?

A.

No. If you do not make an investment choice your superannuation contributions will be made to the Trustee default investment strategy for your company superannuation arrangement. To learn more about the investment options available to you, along with the Trustee default investment strategy:

• Log on to the Member site using your Member number and personal identification number (PIN);
• Select Forms and publications; and
• Download the Product disclosure statement (PDS) for your superannuation arrangement.

Q.

What investment options are available to me?

A.

Through your corporate superannuation arrangement with Plum, you have a broad range of investment options. To find out what options are available to you:

• Log on to the Member site using your Member number and PIN;
• Select Forms and publications; and
• Download the PDS for your superannuation arrangement.

The PDS outlines each of the investment options available to you.

Q.

Who do I speak to about my investment choice?

A.

Our Member Services Consultants can help you with general investment information. If you need more specific advice, we can put you in touch with a financial adviser. To learn more about this service, call 1300 55 7586 to speak with a Member Services Consultant.

Q.

Do I have to pay for this advice?

A.

No. Your first telephone-based discussion is at no cost to you. Your first face-to-face meeting with a financial adviser, arranged through Plum Financial Services, is also at no cost to you.

If you need a financial plan developed for your individual needs, the financial adviser will outline the costs of this service before you agree to continue. That way you know the cost of this advice before you go ahead.

Q.

Are there any other services available to me?

A.

Yes. There are a range of services available to you, including education through your employer or research online using the Plum website - www.plum.com.au. Other services include:

• Staying with Plum by transferring to the Plum Personal Plan when you leave your employer;
• Establishing an Eligible Spouse Plan (ESP) and making spouse contributions;
• Joining the Plum sponsored, MLC MasterKey Pension Fundamentals (Plum Pension) – for a regular income stream in retirement and transition to retirement strategies;
• Financial advice;
• The opportunity to use BPAY^® to make additional (after-tax) personal contributions; and
• 24 hour automated telephone service to access your account balance, order information brochures or find out the latest unit prices.

Log on to the Member site to see what other features and services are available to you or call a Member Services Consultant on 1300 55 7586.

Q.

Can Plum help me with my finances?

A.

Yes. While a Member Services Consultant (call 1300 55 7586 ) can talk to you about your general investment and retirement needs, you can speak with a financial adviser about any of your specific personal financial needs, such as insurance, estate planning or Centrelink to name a few.

Whether your question is about super or your holistic financial needs, Plum can put you in touch with a qualified financial adviser.

Momentum Financial Advice (PDF 238KB)

Q.

Do you have any information to help me with budgeting?

A.

Yes. In the Calculators & online resources section of this site you can use a Budget tool to gain an understanding of your current savings and spending habits.

The Budget tool provides you with a breakdown of your income and expenses. This may help you find ways to cut down on any over-spending and save more.

The Member site provides you with more budgeting tools and information to help you take control of your finances.

Q.

Do you have any other information to help me learn more about superannuation strategies?

A.

Yes. We have:

• A Product disclosure statement (PDS) for the Plum sponsored, MLC MasterKey Pension Fundamentals (Plum Pension);
• Online information on the Plum Pension; and
• Educational material in the Member site.

Also, we have developed an educational program, Live your dream – make it last, to cater for the specific needs of transitioning to retirement. This program can be run onsite by a Plum representative and financial adviser. It includes:

• A checklist;
• An information brochure; and
• A seminar presentation.

You can get copies of the checklist, the information brochure or a PDS by:

• Going to the Forms and publications section of the Member site;
• Emailing us at service@plum.com.au; or
• Calling a Member Services Consultant on 1300 55 7586.

Q.

Do you have any other resources to help me with my finances?

A.

Yes. We have a Budget tool in the Calculators & online resources section of this site. You can find more tools, calculators and information in the Member site.

You can also speak to a Member Services Consultant on 1300 55 7586 about your general investment and retirement needs. They can put you in touch with a financial adviser who can help you with your specific personal financial needs. The choice is yours.

Q.

Do you have any resources to help me?

A.

Yes. Through your company's superannuation arrangement with Plum, you have a range of tools and resources available to you, including:

• Public and secure Member websites;
• Member Services Consultants;
• Printed checklists and information brochures;
• Product disclosure statements (PDSs);
• Personalised Member benefit statements;
• Seminars;
• Online video presentations;
• Calculators;
• A Mail2Me (monthly) email subscription facility;
• RSS feeds;
• Onsite seminar presentations;
• CD-ROMs; and
• An automatic telephone service for you to check your account balance, unit prices and order brochures.

To find out what other resources are available to you, speak with a Member Services Consultant on 1300 55 7586.

Q.

Who do I contact to speak with a financial adviser?

A.

Call a Member Services Consultant on 1300 55 7586 to talk about your general investment and retirement needs.

For personalised financial advice, a Member Services Consultant can put you in touch with a qualified financial adviser.

Q.

What should I do if I have a complaint about my super?

A.

If you have a complaint about your superannuation, contact a Member Services Consultant on 1300 55 7586 between 8.00am and 6.00pm AEST.

A reply to your enquiry will usually be made over the phone or by return phone call within a short period. If not, you may need to confirm the enquiry in writing and provide a contact address for reply. Your enquiry will then be answered by a Member Services Consultant as soon as possible. Use this link to find out more about the complaints process.