Change of trustee and super fund

NULIS Nominees (Australia) Limited, in its capacity as trustee for MLC Super Fund, has decided to transfer all its insured members’ insurance policies to Smart Future Trust, with a new trustee, Equity Trustees Superannuation Limited (Equity Trustees). This is planned to occur on 1 July 2025.

What is not changing

Rest assured that your insurance cover, policy benefits, and terms and conditions (unless stated below) will remain the same after the transfer. MLC Life Insurance (soon to be Acenda) will continue to be your insurer.

Your premium rates won’t change due to the transfer. Your annual premiums can change at each policy review date, as shown in your Annual Review Notice.

What is changing

All members within the MLC Super Fund will receive a Significant Event Notice (SEN) from 1 May 2025 with information about this change. Your insurance policies will move to the new super fund, Smart Future Trust, with Equity Trustees as the new trustee effective 1 July 2025. The product(s) you currently have will remain unchanged unless specified within the SEN.

Actions you need to take

There are no changes or actions required from you unless you have an MLC Insurance Super, MLC Life Cover Super or Protectionfirst Super policy and are in one of the situations below. The table below outlines actions you may need to take in preparation for the transfer.

Situation Action required Next steps
If you pay premiums from an eligible MLC account, and your premiums are defaulting to an annual payment frequency from a quarterly or half-yearly frequency for your insurance policy within MLC Insurance Superannuation, Life Cover Super, or Protectionfirst Super

You need to ensure you have sufficient funds available in your nominated account before 30 June 2025, as a one-time pro-rata payment will be deducted from your nominated account in July 2025. This will allow your policy to be paid to the next anniversary.

Note: if you do not have sufficient funds available, your policy premiums may not be paid.

You can check your nominated account balance by:

  • checking with your current super fund provider; or
  • contacting your financial adviser.
If you have chosen an account-based pension as your beneficiary type, within Life Cover Super with Super Estate Optimiser

You need to update your beneficiary nomination type before 30 June 2025.

Note: an account-based pension nomination type will no longer be available after the transfer. If you have not updated your current nomination before the transfer, it will no longer be accepted and will become invalid.

You can complete the beneficiary nomination form to provide a new nomination for your policy.

Products that don't require action

If you have one or more of the following products, you will receive a SEN, however no action is required on your part:

  • MLC Whole of Life Superannuation
  • Whole of Life (policies held in super only)
  • MLC Endowment Superannuation
  • MLC Pure Endowment Superannuation
  • Maturity Growth Superannuation Plan
  • MLC Capital Guaranteed Personal Super Bond
  • MLC Capital Guaranteed Personal Super Savings Plan
  • MLC Super Pension Plan
  • MLC Super Pension

Important dates

The dates below may be subject to change. However, we will keep this information updated.

Date Event to occur
From 1 May 2025
SENs to be issued to all members with individual insurance in super. Please read your SEN carefully.
Between 1 May – 30 June 2025

Members who need to take action must do so before 30 June 2025.

Please read your SEN to see if you need to take action or review the section Actions you need to take.

From 1 July 2025
Transfer of policies to Smart Future Trust with Equity Trustees as the new trustee.
July 2025

Members to receive:

  • Exit Statements from NULIS Nominees (Australia) Limited.
  • Welcome Letters from Equity Trustees Superannuation Limited.

Frequently Asked Questions

We understand you may have questions about this change, so we've compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions to help you navigate this transition smoothly.

  • Accessing the MLC Life Insurance Customer and Adviser Portal
    1. How can I log in to the Customer or Adviser Portal?

      If you’re logging in for the first time or need a refresher on using the Customer or Adviser Portal, you can find helpful information at:

  • Understanding policy changes that affect me
    1. Does the change in trustee affect all MLC Life Insurance customers?

      No, this change only affects policies held within the MLC Super Fund. Those held outside of super aren’t impacted.

    2. What isn’t changing?

      Rest assured that your insurance cover and policy terms and conditions will remain the same after the transfer. MLC Life Insurance will continue to be the insurer.

    3. What is changing?

      All members within the MLC Super Fund will receive a Significant Event Notice (SEN) from 1 May 2025 about this change. Your insurance policies will move to the new super fund, Smart Future Trust, with the new trustee, Equity Trustees Superannuation Limited (Equity Trustees), on 1 July 2025. Unless specified within the SEN, your policy will remain unchanged.

    4. What products are impacted?

      Effective 1 July 2025, the following products will be transferred to Smart Future Trust, with Equity Trustees as the new trustee:

      • MLC Insurance Super
      • MLC Life Cover Super
      • Protectionfirst Super
      • MLC Whole of Life Superannuation
      • Whole of Life (policies held in super only)
      • MLC Endowment Superannuation
      • MLC Pure Endowment Superannuation
      • Maturity Growth Superannuation Plan
      • MLC Capital Guaranteed Personal Super Bond
      • MLC Capital Guaranteed Personal Super Savings Plan
      • MLC Super Pension Plan
      • MLC Super Pension
    5. What do I need to do if I have an action?

      If you have an MLC Insurance Super, MLC Life Cover Super or Protectionfirst Super policy, please read your SEN carefully as there are limited situations where action is required. See here for actions you may need to take in preparation for the transfer.

    6. What are the important dates that I need to know?

      See Important dates for more information.

    7. Could my policy lapse as a result of this transfer?

      The action of transfer to a new fund – Smart Future Trust – and new trustee, Equity Trustees, will not lapse your policy(ies), provided your premiums are paid.

      If your premiums are defaulting to an annual payment frequency from a quarterly or half-yearly frequency for your insurance policy within MLC Insurance Superannuation or Life Cover Superannuation, you need to ensure you have sufficient funds available in your nominated account before 30 June 2025, as a one-time pro-rata payment will be deducted from your nominated account in July 2025. This will allow your policy to be paid to the next anniversary.

      If you don’t have sufficient funds available, your policy premiums may not be paid and may result in missed payment of premium.

    8. Why have I received a Significant Event Notice (SEN) when my policy has recently lapsed?

      Although your policy is no longer active, you have received a SEN as it is within the policy’s grace period for reinstatement. Sending you a SEN ensures you have the most up-to-date information if you elect to reinstate your policy after 1 July 2025.

    9. Can MLC Life Insurance cancel my policy as a result of the transfer?

      No, your policy will remain unchanged unless you contact MLC Life Insurance to cancel your policy ahead of the transfer.

    10. What if I don’t wish to transfer my policy ownership to Equity Trustees?

      If you don’t wish for your policy to be transferred to Smart Future Trust with Equity Trustees as the trustee, you’ll need to let us know that you wish to cancel your policy.

      Before deciding to cancel your policy, it’s important to remember that:

      • you may not be eligible for insurance cover elsewhere, or it may not be available on the same terms, and
      • you may be required to provide health evidence or other disclosure information before any other insurance cover is provided.
    11. Do I need to consult my financial adviser if I want to make a change to my policy?

      We would encourage you to consult your financial adviser at any time, especially when making material changes or adjustments to your policy. This includes, but is not limited to, adjusting your levels of cover, adding or removing benefits, changing beneficiaries, or making other changes that could alter the advice given to you or impact your retirement strategies.

    12. What if I don’t have a financial adviser and I wish to discuss my policy?

      If you need help locating a financial adviser, please contact us and we can help you find one. We also have a general advice team who can assist you with information about your policy. Please call us on 1800 623 683, 8.30am to 6pm (AEDT/AEST), Monday to Friday, excluding national public holidays.

  • The role funds and trustees play
    1. What is a trustee of a superannuation fund?

      A trustee is an entity responsible for managing a superannuation fund on behalf of its members. Their primary role is to ensure the fund is operated in the best interests of the members, adhering to legal and regulatory requirements. This includes making investment decisions, ensuring compliance with superannuation laws, and managing the fund’s assets and liabilities.

    2. Why is there a change of trustees?

      NULIS Nominees (Australia) Limited, in its capacity as trustee for MLC Super Fund, has decided to transfer all its insured members’ insurance policies to Smart Future Trust, with a new trustee, Equity Trustees Superannuation Limited (Equity Trustees).

    3. Why has my policy moved to Smart Future Trust?

      Smart Future Trust has been identified as the proposed successor super fund and Equity Trustees is the trustee of the fund.

      NULIS and Equity Trustees are satisfied that the Smart Future Trust will provide equivalent rights in respect of benefits, and importantly that the Transfer is in the best interests of the transferring members.

    4. Who is Equity Trustees Superannuation Limited (Equity Trustees)?

      Equity Trustees was established as an independent trustee and executor company in 1888 and has become one of Australia’s largest specialists trustee companies. You can learn more about them at www.eqt.com.au/superannuation.

      MLC Life Insurance remains the insurer of the policies.

    5. What is a Significant Event Notice (SEN)?

      A Significant Event Notice (SEN) informs customers of fundamental changes to their product, including details of the change, its timing, and any required actions.

    6. Does this change alter my premium rate?

      No, your premium rates won’t change due to the transfer.

      Your total annual premiums can change at each policy review date, as shown in your Annual Review Notice.

    7. Why is the premium payment frequency on my eligible MLC account change to annual?

      Annual premium payments for e-rollover are standard practice in the super industry. With this transfer we are aligning our e-rollover to this annual payment frequency. If you’re currently paying your premium on a quarterly or half-yearly basis, your repayment will be automatically adjusted to annual.

    8. I would like to adjust or add new benefits and change my sum insured before the transfer. Can I do this?

      Yes, you can make alterations to your policy prior to the transfer. These changes will occur in the MLC Super Fund and will transfer on 1 July 2025 to Smart Future Trust.

      However, we would encourage you to consult your adviser at any time, especially when making material changes or adjustments to your policy.

    9. I would like to claim a tax deduction for my policy for the 2024/25 financial year. Does the change in Trustee impact this?

      No. If you want to claim a tax deduction for the premium payments (considered as super contributions) made during the 2024/25 financial year, or if you want to vary a previous notice to claim a tax deduction, you can do this by submitting a notice of intention to claim a tax deduction in line with the prescribed period.

    10. Will I receive my 2024/25 annual statement?

      You will receive an exit statement from NULIS Nominees (Australia) Limited in July 2025. This will cover all the information that would have been provided in your annual statement for the 2024/25 reporting period.

      If you have a policy with a reporting period that isn’t aligned to the financial year, your exit statement will cover the information from your last statement date to 30 June 2025.

      Please keep any exit statement you receive.

      Going forward, you will receive annual statements from Smart Future Trust.

  • Steps to take when making a claim
    1. I am currently on (or have lodged) a claim. Does this change impact me?

      If you have lodged a claim, and the claim has been approved prior to the transfer date, the claim will still be processed. You may however receive communications from Acenda (issued on behalf of the new Trustee), instead of the old trustee.

      If you have lodged a claim, and it hasn’t been approved for payment prior to the transfer date, the claim will be transferred to the new trustee.

    2. I’ve previously had a claim and am exercising the buy-back option on my policy. What will happen with my policy during the transfer of trustee?

      If you exercise any buy-back option on or after the transfer date, these will be issued with the new trustee, with you as the life insured.

    3. I’ve previously had a claim and have the option to reinstate my insurance cover. What will happen with my reinstatement during the transfer of trustee?

      If you have an option to reinstate your insurance cover, and the policy reinstatement occurs on or after 1 July 2025, that reinstated policy will be issued with the new trustee.

    4. I need to make a claim.

      You or your beneficiaries can make a claim if the claimable event occurs while you’re insured, before or after the transfer.

      If you or your beneficiaries need to make a claim, please contact us on 1300 125 246 as soon as possible.

      If you or your beneficiaries are hearing-impaired, please visit accesshub.gov.au/about-the-nrs to contact us via your preferred NRS call channel.

      If you or your beneficiaries require interpreting or translations services, please call 13 14 50.

  • Complaints and issues
    1. I have a complaint in progress. Does this change impact my complaint?

      If you have a complaint in progress at the time of transfer, MLC Life Insurance will continue to support the review of your complaint on behalf of the trustee.

      Otherwise, the change of trustee has no other impact to your complaint.

We’re here to help

Our dedicated and experienced team is here to help. Speak with our team on 13 65 25, 8.30am to 6pm (AEST/AEDT), Monday to Friday, excluding national public holidays.

Alternatively, you can find more information online: