POWERED BY MOMENTUM MEDIA
Small balances to be key focus of CIPR proposals
Small balances remain “stubbornly persistent” within Australia’s superannuation system and how such balances will be handled under the proposed comprehensive income products in retirement (CIPR) regime is one of the key issues to be addressed as this policy initiative develops, according to Willis Towers Watson.
Willis Towers Watson head of retirement solutions Australia, Nick Callil, said that even 25 years after the commencement of the Superannuation Guarantee (SG), accounts at retirement age remain skewed towards small balances.
And given the high incidence of small balances within the system, Callill said it is not surprising that some funds have met an initiative to promote the conversion of retirement balances to income streams with some hesitation.
However, he said there are good reasons why this policy makes sense to pursue – even among funds with a large presence of small retirement accounts.
“First, many low balances arise due to individuals holding multiple accounts, which tend to be consolidated as they near retirement and engage more closely with their savings,” Callil said.
“Second, it is arguable that even low balance retirees can benefit from gradually drawing their retirement savings in income form, notwithstanding that their overall retirement income will be predominantly sourced from the government age pension.”
Lastly, Callil said any policy development should recognise that the system continues to grow, or that the lengthy lead time in implementing change in this area means that retirement account sizes will be higher than current statistics indicate by the time CIPRs come into effect.
Notwithstanding these arguments, he said the proposal to require funds to offer CIPRs needs to acknowledge that, at low account sizes, the age pension will provide a guaranteed, inflation-protected lifetime income stream which will form the majority of a retiree’s income in retirement.
AUTHOR
Nicholas Grove
Nicholas Grove is a senior journalist with Money Management.
Recommended for you
Speaking to Super Review, the $70 billion fund has unveiled its new solution to address the ‘cognitive load’ of retirement as members enter their golden years.
New research has suggested it’s time to reconsider the home as a fourth pillar of the retirement income system, alongside the age pension, superannuation, and voluntary private savings.
New research has revealed over 60 per cent of retirees believe their super fund offers retirement income products suitable to support their retirement lifestyle.
Some retirees are “needlessly” paying two sets of fees and often more tax than they need to, according to the industry body.
TOP PERFORMING FUNDS
ACS FIXED INT - AUSTRALIA/GLOBAL BOND
Fund name
3y(%)pa
1
Spire Oaktree Opportunities XI Second Close
61.07 3 y p.a(%)
2
Spire Oaktree Opportunities XI First Close USD
59.21 3 y p.a(%)
3
DomaCom Lot 21 Chellaston Road Munno Para West SA 5115 Australia
32.57 3 y p.a(%)
4
Fidante Credit Suisse Global Private Equity
32.09 3 y p.a(%)
5
DomaCom 4/27 Crombie Avenue Bundall QLD 4217 Australia
27.42 3 y p.a(%)
