Active Choice Member

SuperEasy is the brand name of the superannuation schemes that are managed by Civic Financial Services.

60+ years ago, local government councils got together to pool resources for things like insurance and finance. This company turned into Civic Financial Services.

Later, Council management wanted to do more to support their staff in retirement and created the SuperEasy Local Government Superannuation Scheme to help ensure their teams’ financial wellbeing.

In 2007, central government launched KiwiSaver – and all employers had to start contributing into their employees’ KiwiSaver Scheme. So, we added SuperEasy KiwiSaver to our services and never looked back.

Our KiwiSaver is fully compliant with the Financial Markets Authority and adheres to the KiwiSaver Act 2006. We are just like the ‘big players’ but have a big difference. We are here for you!

SuperEasy is a restricted scheme, meaning only council staff and their whānau can enroll with us. It also means that we are for purpose – everything we do is focused on supporting our members.

While some KiwiSaver providers spend heavily on advertising, sales teams, and celebrity endorsements, we prefer to focus on:

• Strong investment returns
• Low fees for you
• Personal service

Because we are ‘by councils, for council staff’ our scheme is stronger when we are together.

If picking your own fund feels daunting or you just don’t have the time to keep reviewing your investment choices – our automatic fund does the thinking for you. It automatically adjusts your level of risk as you get older, so you don’t have to worry about rebalancing or switching funds yourself.

Find out more about the automatic fund in the FAQs on the main SuperEasy page here.

You may have heard the phrase previous performance is not an indicator of future returns.

While that is true, many people still check reports and comparison tools (like sorted.org.nz) to find consistently strong performers.

At SuperEasy, we take a different approach. Instead of managing investments in-house, we partner with highly regarded New Zealand and International fund managers. This means your money is handled by experts with proven strategies, while giving us the ability to hold them accountable for performance. Ensuring your money is working as hard as you do.

Many of the larger KiwiSaver providers charge higher fees to cover advertising, sales teams, and shareholder profits.

SuperEasy is different. We focus on keeping fees as low as possible – and we have reduced them every year since 2019. Lower fees mean more of your money stays in your account, helping your savings grow faster over time.

There are only two charges: 

• An administration fee of $4.50 per month.
• Annual fund charge – a small % pa of your account balance. This fee covers the management of the Scheme, underlying fund manager fees and in-fund costs.

We pride ourselves in ensuring our fees are among the lowest in the market. You can check our current annual fund charge here

Many KiwiSaver funds are managed by larger Australian owned banks or private investment firms.

At SuperEasy, your money is invested through:

• Mercer – A global investment firm overseeing $600 billion dollars in funds and
• Harbour Asset Management – A respected Kiwi firm managing $7 billion dollars, with a focus on local opportunities.

Both of our fund managers are certified with the Ethical, Sustainable, Governance (ESG) ‘tick’ and report directly to our SuperEasy board and members.

KiwiSaver funds are generally locked until you turn 65 (New Zealand retirement age). However, early withdrawals may be possible if you:

• Are buying your first home
• Experience serious financial hardship
• Face a significant health event

We understand that life doesn’t always go to plan. Our small, friendly support team in Wellington are here to help you navigate these moments.

Local Governments best kept secret

Did you know you can boost your superannuation – and even access funds earlier by contributing to another scheme alongside KiwiSaver?

If you can put a little extra aside, or if your employer contributes more than the minimum KiwiSaver amount, you might be eligible to open a SuperEasy LGSS account.

Here’s why it’s worth considering:

• Flexible contributions – You can contribute a percentage of your salary, set a fixed amount, or make casual payments.
• Optional employer contributions – If your employer wants to give you an extra boost.
• Early access – Withdrawal your funds when you leave council employment.
• Stay connected – You can stay a member, even if you move on from council.

Note: Your employer must be a Participating Employer for you to enroll in this scheme. Feel free to check with us if you’re unsure.