Actuaries back super objective

24 March 2015
| By Mike |
image
image image
expand image

The Actuaries Institute has added its voice to calls for the Government to embrace an "objective" for the superannuation industry. 

In a final submission responding to the Financial Systems Inquiry (FSI), the institute's president, Estelle Pearson said a coherent overarching framework was necessary to allow for the development of an efficient long-term retirement incomes strategy and to reduce the incidence of short-term policy changes. 

"Constant short-term change and tinkering involves a significant and perhaps unnecessary cost for the industry and consumers to bear," she said. 

Pearson said that with growing community and political debate about superannuation, it was essential that the Government and politicians supported the FSI recommendation to enshrine in legislation, the objectives of the superannuation system. 

"This will ensure that policy proposals that are put forward must be consistent with achieving those objectives over the long term," she said. 

As part of its submission, the Institute noted that 60 per cent of current superannuation assets were held by the over 50s, many of whom would move into pension phase over the next 20 years. 

Further it foreshadowed the release of research next month which it said would show that while the superannuation system was maturing, it would not deliver more than a moderate standard of living for many retirees, particularly given increased life expectancy. 

"Simply put, there is a financial risk for many Australians that they will live longer than their life expectancy and exhaust their assets," Pearson said. "As personal assets are exhausted retirees will fall into the safety net provided by the Age Pension with the resultant budgetary impacts."

Read more about:

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 6 months ago
Kevin Gorman

Super director remuneration ...

1 year 7 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 7 months ago

Introducing reforms for strengthening simpler and faster claims handling and better servicing for First Nations members are critical priorities, according to the Super Me...

19 hours ago

The peak body stressed that the proposed financial advice reforms should “pass as soon as possible” and has thrown its weight behind super funds providing a greater level...

19 hours ago

The Commonwealth Bank has warned that uncapped superannuation concessions may be “unsustainable” and has called for the introduction of a superannuation cap....

19 hours ago

TOP PERFORMING FUNDS

ACS FIXED INT - AUSTRALIA/GLOBAL BOND
Fund name
3y(%)pa
2
DomaCom DFS Mortgage
95.46 3 y p.a(%)
5