Why you should nominate a beneficiary

Published 12 February 2020

You are growing your superannuation to fund your dream retirement. But what happens to your savings in the event of your death?

Superannuation can be one of your biggest assets, but it doesn’t automatically form part of your estate, even if your wishes are included in your will. By nominating a beneficiary, you decide who should receive your death benefit payment.

You can do this with a binding death benefit nomination. This is a legal document which binds LGIAsuper to pay your benefit to whoever you have nominated, as long as they are valid nominations in accordance with superannuation legislation.

LGIAsuper CEO Kate Farrar explains further. “If you haven’t made a binding nomination, in the event of your death we are required by law to determine how best to distribute your money. We do this by following the rules set out in superannuation legislation. For anyone with complex family arrangements, the outcome could be very different from what you had in mind,” Ms Farrar said.

“Making a binding nomination puts you in control. If you have more than one beneficiary, you can decide what percentage of the benefit each would receive. For example, your partner could receive 50%, and your two children could receive 25% each.” 

A binding death benefit nomination gives you certainty over where your money will go. It may be particularly useful if you have a more complex family situation, such as an ex-partner or children of current and former relationships.

Before you make a nomination, we recommend you read the information on our website, where you can also download our guide on this important topic.

When you feel that you are ready to nominate your beneficiary, log in to your account at lgiasuper.com.au or call us on 1800 444 396.