The NMG Umbrella SmartFund combines the contributions of many employers and members to deliver your members the benefits of scale: better investment returns, improved services, and lower costs.
The fund provides both standardised and custom solutions for employers and members. Benefits can be structured to meet the needs of your members. The fund aims to offer a best of breed solution for employers and members.
Not all employers and company cultures are alike, and different groups of members may need different approaches to investment. Employers can choose the most appropriate investment strategy from the range offered by the fund, both NMG’s SmartAssets range and third-party fund managers.
A board of trustees runs the NMG Umbrella SmartFund. The board is guided by the law and the rules of the fund. The board has set up a vigorous governance framework to ensure that the fund is managed appropriately.
Each participating employer can choose to have a management committee. If there is a committee, members must be represented on the committee. If there is no management committee, the employer should appoint representatives to help manage the fund for its members.
Not all employers and company cultures are alike. We understand that different groups of members may need different investment options. For this reason, participating employers can choose their preferred level of investment flexibility in the NMG Umbrella SmartFund. The participating employer must choose one of the two investment options that the fund offers:
SmartFocus is suitable for employers who want to leave investments in the hands of the professionals.
The participating employer can choose the SmartActive or SmartPassive Life Stage model as the default investment strategy.
Members can choose to invest in any of the investment portfolios offered by the fund for member investment choice.
SmartExpert is suitable for employers who want to construct their own (on or off platform) bespoke investment strategy as it allows the participating employer to customise the investment offering.
The trustees have set criteria for this offering, which includes using the services of an investment consultant.
The NMG Umbrella SmartFund aims to educate members on the long-term implications of their financial choices. The communication material available for members includes:
The fund has identified solutions to meet the requirements of the default regulations. The arrangements are monitored and may change over time, and currently includes preservation funds and living annuities.