KiwiSavers set for ' huge wake up' over fees

Simplicity boss Sam Stubbs says KiwiSaver investors have been kept in the dark. Picture / Doug Sherring.

Kiwis are heading for a wake-up call on how much their KiwiSaver providers are charging in fees, according to one provider.

But another has warned investors need to be wary about a sole focus on fees which could see them facing a "do-it-yourself" retirement.

From April this year KiwiSaver investors will receive an annual statement which includes how much they are being charged in fees in a dollar figure.

Up until now only some providers have provided the full dollar figure for fees charged with many giving a dollar figure for the annual fee and a percentage figure for other charges.

Sam Stubbs, chief executive at low-cost KiwiSaver provider Simplicity, believes 2018 is going to be "a huge wake up for KiwiSaver members, who've been kept in the dark".

"When members finally understand what they're actually paying in fees this year, they could be shocked.

"Many still assume they only pay an annual administration fee of $20-$30 because management fees (which are often higher) are not disclosed in a manner that people can understand."

Stubbs has calculated that Kiwis have already paid more than $40 million in fees in January alone and will likely pay more than $525m this year.

More than 2.7 million people belong to KiwiSaver with more than $45 billion invested in the scheme.

"KiwiSaver fees are the largest household expense people have never heard of.

"Over their lifetime, an average KiwiSaver member will pay $54,700 in fees, way more than they will spend on power or their mobile phones," he said.

But Blair Vernon, managing director of KiwiSaver provider AMP Financial Services, said fees were only one of a number of things people should consider when choosing a KiwiSaver provider or fund to invest in.

"Some low-fee offers for example offer only basic member services so it's a more 'do-it-yourself' approach to retirement saving, and we know that doesn't work for many people based on our experience of advising them for decades."

Vernon said people needed to focus on whether they had a coherent and realistic plan for their retirement and what they wanted to achieve.

"KiwiSaver is just one part of that - and a singular focus on fees absent of the much needed advice and support that many need is missing the bigger challenge for New Zealanders."