Last week brought a considerable back-down – generating a suitable amount of hoo-ha – on controversial superannuation changes. And the new plan is good. A higher super tax offset at the bottom end of the income scale, as well as higher taxes at the top end of the balance scale.

The latter is a lot better than a higher unindexed tax on unrealised gains, and the measures both restore some structural sanity and introduce welcome equity. However, there is a big remaining flaw in our super system, one that has long flown under the radar and also needs reform.

Finding a happy balance in retirement comes down to these four factors.Credit: Getty

It’s this: super is excellently automated while we are accumulating money. But, as soon as we qualify to access it, Aussies are suddenly expected to be experts.

Along with Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ changes last week, an ASIC report condemned super trustees’ performance on informing members about their retirement options.

It found they are failing to provide the necessary information to make confident and informed decisions after you stop work. More than 1.5 million members are in the retirement phase now, and another more than 2.5 million workers will join them over the coming decade.

But ASIC says trustees are sometimes offering one-size-fits-all retirement communications aimed primarily at pre-retirees,........

© The Sydney Morning Herald