RETIREMENT INCOME – AUSTRALIA

Shorten in scramble to fix tax grab

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Original article by Simon Beavis
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 15-Mar-18

Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has signalled that he is open to a compromise regarding plans to unwind changes to the dividend imputation system, amid concern about the potential impact on retirees. Shorten has conceded that about 250,000 pensioners would be affected by the policy, and he has indicated that Labor will look at measures to ensure that they are not worse off. The Self-Managed Super Fund ­Association and seniors groups have urged Labor to reconsider the policy, while Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has accused Labor of targeting pensioners and self-funded retirees in a "cash grab".

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, SMSF ASSOCIATION, NATIONAL SENIORS AUSTRALIA LIMITED, ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT RETIREES (AIR) LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HUMAN SERVICES. CENTRELINK

Low income earners hit hardest by fees

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Original article by Michael Roddan
The Australian – Page: 22 : 20-Sep-17

KPMG has released a report which shows that the average superannuation fund balance on retirement is 6.2 per cent lower for members who have a default life insurance policy. However, life insurance fees means the average super balance on retirement is 14 per cent lower in the case of women whose annual income is less than $A37,000. Default insurance accounted for about 50 per cent of the $A14bn worth of insurance benefits that were paid out in the three years to June 2016. The Insurance in Superannuation Working Group will release its draft code of practice on 20 September.

CORPORATES
KPMG AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, INSURANCE IN SUPERANNUATION WORKING GROUP, RICE WARNER ACTUARIES PTY LTD, RAINMAKER INFORMATION SERVICES PTY LTD, INDUSTRY SUPER AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION

Superannuation balance of intending retirees increasing, but females still lag

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 31-Jul-17

A Roy Morgan Single Source survey shows that an estimated 430,000 Australians intend to retire in the next 12 months. An analysis of the superannuation of intending retirees shows that the average balance for women is $158,000, or 60.8% of the male average of $260,000. The gender gap has closed considerably since 2008, when the female balance was only $79,000 or 55.2% of the average male superannuation balance. A great deal of publicity has been given to this issue, and it has obviously increased awareness and effort to improve retirement funding for women.

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ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED

Women still lag behind men in retirement funding but closing the gap

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 13-Sep-16

Roy Morgan Research’s "State of the Nation – Spotlight on Finance Risk" report shows that women account for 1.4 million of the 2.9 million Australians in the pre-retiree group (aged 50 to 64 and working). The average retirement savings among these women have been well behind that of their male counterparts, but they are gradually closing the gap from being 57.7 per cent of the male average in 2008 to 63 per cent in 2016. Since 2008, the average net wealth of pre-retired women has gone from $A183,000 to $A232,000, an increase of 26.8 per cent. For men in the pre-retired group, the growth in average net wealth went from $A317,000 to $A368,000, an increase of 16.1 per cent. However, the average retirement fund balance of women is still less than two thirds (63 per cent) that of their male counterparts.

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ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED

Super cuts ‘will leave people poorer’

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Original article by Sarah Martin
The Australian – Page: 4 : 12-Sep-16

The Institute of Public Affairs warns that the Australian Government’s proposed superannuation tax reforms will adversely affect the retirement income of the people it targets. Simon Breheny of the IPA says the reforms will slash the retirement income of middle-income earners to about 58 per cent of their pre-retirement earnings. In contrast, he notes that people on low incomes can expect to receive almost 90 per cent of their pre-retirement income. Breheny argues that the Government should provide super tax relief for people on middle incomes.

CORPORATES
INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Over 400,000 Australians intend to retire in the next 12 months, increasing burden on government funding

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 8-Sep-16

Roy Morgan Research estimates that 415,000 Australians intend to retire in the next 12 months, compared with 327,000 in 2008. Some 228,000 men and 187,000 women intend to retire in the next 12 months. The magnitude of the intending retirements, combined with the fact that their average retirement funding is inadequate for being "self-funded", is likely to increase substantially the need for government support. Currently the average gross wealth (total assets excluding owner-occupied homes) of intending retirees is $A306,000, up from $A231,000 in 2008. Although the average debt level for this group is currently only $A25,000, it does reduce their average net wealth to $A281,000, which is generally inadequate for self-funded retirement.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, THE ASSOCIATION OF SUPERANNUATION FUNDS OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED

Michele Levine, CEO, Roy Morgan Research, comments on the findings in State of the Nation 25: Spotlight on Financial Risk

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 26-Aug-16

The end of the mining boom in Australia presents the Australian economy with many pressing challenges – and some of the biggest involve the potential for a slowing Australian economy to increase mortgage stress around the country, and also to lead to diminished superannuation balances for Australians heading towards retirement. The casualisation of the Australian work-force with an increasing proportion of Australians working part-time rather than full-time means many Australians are forced to save less for their retirement whilst the ability to pay current bills, including mortgage payments, is also crimped. In addition, the persistently low interest rates in Australia mean the amount required for retirement actually increases as annual returns on investments follow interest rates lower. Follow this link to view the full State of the Nation 25: Spotlight on Financial Risk Powerpoint presentation PDF.

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ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED

State of the Nation 25: Spotlight on Financial Risk

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 26-Aug-16

Roy Morgan Research CEO Michele Levine this week presented the latest State of the Nation Report in Melbourne and Sydney, with a special Spotlight on Financial Risk including Mortgage debt and stress, Income risks and the adequacy of retirement funding. Key findings of this in-depth industry spotlight include: Home ownership in Australia is likely to continue its downward trend whilst house price increases outpace the increase in household incomes; Mortgage stress levels are likely to remain elevated even with the likelihood of further interest rate reductions by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) over the coming 12-18 months. Official Australian interest rates are already at a record low of 1.5% and likely to converge with the 0% interest rates found in comparable Western economies including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and the EU; Household debt levels could become a risk for both households and banks should general economic conditions turn down; The reliance on dual incomes for home loans repayments by many Australian families is a risk in itself with the increasing trend towards part-time work throughout much of the economy and with the additional factor of low wages growth and many more. View the full release to see a comprehensive run-down of findings.

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ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED

Super reforms could hit half of all SMSFs

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Original article by Sally Patten
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 9 : 29-Jul-16

The SMSF Association is trying to persuade the Federal Government to amend its superannuation reforms. CEO Andrea Slattery has suggested a smaller reduction in the non-concessional super contributions limit, which the Government proposes to cut to $A25,000. According to the SMSF Association and Accurium, a 65-year old couple would need $A1 million in super savings to live comfortably in retirement, with $A59,000 to spend annually.

CORPORATES
SMSF ASSOCIATION, ACCURIUM PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY

Retirees urged to tap into home equity

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Original article by Sally Rose
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 : 13-Jul-16

AustralianSuper CEO Ian Silk says the superannuation fund may seek to offer a broader range of retirement income products in coming years. This could include home equity release products, which allow homeowners to capitalise on the value of their home without the risks associated with reverse mortgages. Silk concedes that there are significant problems with some retirement income products that are currently available, and says the industry must work hard to address the issue.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIANSUPER PTY LTD, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA