What’s new on FirstChoice

Retirement Income Optimiser is a new feature of FirstChoice Super designed to support improved Age Pension outcomes at retirement.

When switched on, it operates in the background during the accumulation phase. At retirement, if a member chooses to use some or all of their super to commence a CFS lifetime pension (currently in development), the feature may improve how those funds are assessed for the Government Age Pension.

For advisers, this creates an opportunity to introduce retirement income planning earlier - supporting more holistic, forward‑looking conversations without adding complexity to the client experience.

Available in Q1 FY27

The new Pension Bonus is a one‑off payment designed to enhance retirement outcomes for eligible members who transition from FirstChoice Wholesale Super, Employer Super or FirstChoice Pre-Retirement Pension into FirstChoice Wholesale Pension.

This enhancement can help strengthen best‑interest conversations at retirement by providing an additional benefit when clients transition from super into pension phase, subject to eligibility criteria and fund rules.

Available in Q1 FY27

The CFS ETF Exposure Series is expanding with three new funds, providing exposure to:

• Precious metals
• Japanese shares
• European shares

These additions support greater diversification and allow advisers to target specific regions or asset exposures within client portfolios. 

New Drummond Capital Constructor Funds are being introduced to FirstChoice Wholesale Investments, giving advisers additional flexibility when building diversified, multi‑asset investment solutions to support a broader range of client needs and risk profiles. 

In direct response to adviser feedback, enhancements to Adviser Service Fee (ASF) functionality provide greater control and consistency.

From 23 May 2026:

• Optional ASF start dates allow advisers to nominate a start date up to 31 days from client consent when establishing, renewing or varying ongoing fee arrangements.
• More consistent pro‑rata calculations mean ASF charges will generally reflect the number of days a fee is active in months where it starts, ends or changes - across both percentage‑based and dollar‑based fees.

Together, these changes help advisers better align fees with service delivery and reduce administrative friction.

These May PDS enhancements reflect our ongoing investment in FirstChoice - not just adding features, but improving how the platform supports advice delivery.

From strengthening retirement conversations, to expanding investment choice and responding to feedback on fee flexibility, each change is designed to help you spend less time navigating complexity and more time delivering value to clients.

To explore the full May PDS updates or understand how these enhancements can support your advice approach, speak with your local Business Development team.