MySuper should include simple advice: Mercer

19 May 2011
| By Caroline Munro |
image
image
expand image

Scaled advice should be part of MySuper and the costs bundled along with overall superannuation costs, according to Mercer.

The latest Mercer Superannuation Sentiment Index revealed that when looking for advice, most of the 1,078 working Australians surveyed considered approaching their superannuation fund (40 per cent), their financial adviser (42 per cent) or their fund website (24 per cent).

It also found that 43 per cent of those who had sought financial advice felt confident they had enough retirement savings, compared to 30 per cent of those without an adviser saying the same.

Those who sought financial advice were also generally more positive towards their main superannuation fund, and 82 per cent of those were also confident in their knowledge about superannuation.

“The more people are engaged with their superannuation fund, the more secure they are with its performance, regardless of external factors,” said Mercer financial advice leader Jo-Anne Bloch. “They will take a longer-term view of superannuation which is the right way to look at it. Advice is the crucial link.”

However, Bloch noted that in the context of MySuper, a high-cost, fully-fledged advice service was not needed to get members engaged. She added that members also do not want to pay more for simple advice in relation to their current superannuation account or pay for advice separately.

“Where the costs of simple superannuation advice are built-in to the cost of superannuation, more members access this advice,” said Bloch.

AUTHOR

Recommended for you

sub-bgsidebar subscription

Never miss the latest developments in Super Review! Anytime, Anywhere!

Grant Banner

From my perspective, 40- 50% of people are likely going to be deeply unhappy about how long they actually live. ...

1 year 4 months ago
Kevin Gorman

Super director remuneration ...

1 year 4 months ago
Anthony Asher

No doubt true, but most of it is still because over 45’s have been upgrading their houses with 30 year mortgages. Money ...

1 year 4 months ago

Future Group is set to take on nearly $1 billion in funds under management (FUM) and welcome more than 100,000 new members following two significant successor fund transf...

15 hours ago

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has issued a sobering assessment of the global economic landscape in its latest World Economic Outlook, dramatically revised after D...

18 hours ago

Growth from the listed company’s key businesses has propelled Generational Development Group to new milestones in the three months to 31 March....

18 hours 26 minutes ago

TOP PERFORMING FUNDS

ACS FIXED INT - AUSTRALIA/GLOBAL BOND