The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) expects that it will be superannuation funds which deliver most advice to low-balance clients.
Asked about whether advice was becoming less affordable in the wake of the Royal Commission and other regulatory changes, ASIC pointed to advice inside superannuation.
Giving evidence before the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services, ASIC commissioner, Danielle Press pointed to superannuation funds as being the likely conduit for advice delivery.
Under questioning from former financial adviser and Queensland Liberal back-bencher, Bert Van Mannen, Press said the regulator was aware of unfilled advice needs and the changes to the system.
“Advice in superannuation as well, and I believe that much of advice that lower income Australians will receive is through their superannuation fund,” she said.
“Super funds both industry and retail have been providing advice for a long time,” Press said.
Where the RBA goes next is anyone’s guess, with economists and market pundits offering wildly different takes on the governor’s tone during the press conference and whether politics played a role in the decision.
As global pension assets hit record highs, Australia’s growth in the sector positions it to potentially overtake other nations in coming years.
CBA forecasts an 80 per cent chance of a 25 basis point rate cut next week, citing softer inflation data, while acknowledging that future policy decisions depend on incoming economic indicators.
APRA has announced further action to address concerns identified with the trustee of Cbus, while also revealing an investigation is underway into the possibility the fund breached the SIS Act.