SUPERANNUATION – AUSTRALIA

Three in a row for AustralianSuper

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Original article by Sally Rose
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 21 : 15-Jul-15

Chant West expects balanced superannuation funds to achieve a median return of 9.5 per cent for 2014-15. Meanwhile, AustralianSuper has reported a return of 10.9 for its balanced option in 2014-15, while its combined return for the last three financial years was 46 per cent. Deputy CEO Mark Delaney says the sharp fall in the value of the Australian dollar contributed to the performance of the group’s balanced fund in 2014-15.

CORPORATES
CHANT WEST FINANCIAL SERVICES PTY LTD, AUSTRALIANSUPER PTY LTD, TOWERS WATSON, RICE WARNER ACTUARIES PTY LTD, FRONTIER ADVISORS PTY LTD

Aldi in great shape for Coles, Woolies battle

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Original article by Sue Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 11 & 14 : 14-Jul-15

Woolworths continues to have the highest pre-tax profit margin among Australian grocery retailers, at 7.1 per cent. However, Aldi boasted a profit margin of 5.2 per cent in 2013, according to its submission to a Senate tax inquiry. This compares with a profit margin of just 4.3 per cent for Coles. Craig Woolford of Citigroup believes that Aldi will gain more market share at the expense of its two main rivals, while Craig Young of Nikko Asset Management doubts that Aldi will pursue a grocery price war.

CORPORATES
ALDI STORES SUPERMARKETS PTY LTD, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, COLES SUPERMARKETS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, CITIGROUP PTY LTD, NIKKO ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP, DEUTSCHE BANK AG, WESFARMERS LIMITED – ASX WES, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS COMMISSION

Most seek advice when switching superannuation provider but gaps remain

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 9-Jul-15

A new Roy Morgan Research report, "Superannuation and Wealth Management in Australia", examines all aspects of consumer financial behaviour, including extensive coverage of super. It shows that 72 per cent of Australians aged 14+ who switched super provider in the year to December 2014 sought some sort of advice when doing so, compared with 68.8 per cent in 2010. The number of people who received such advice from financial planners/advisers has risen from 20.5 per cent to 29.9 per cent during the period. Likewise, the number of people who went directly to a financial institution for advice has risen from six per cent to 9.3 per cent.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED

No evidence retirees are wasting super

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Original article by Jacob Greber
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 7-Jul-15

A Productivity Commission report estimates that retirees’ superannuation balance would be bolstered by at least 10 per cent if they were not able to access their super until the age of 65. The report also refutes the widely-held view that members of the Baby Boom generation are reorganising their finances or spending their super payout on expensive holidays in order to qualify for the age pension.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

RBA tool blunted: ANZ

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Original article by Jonathan Shapiro
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 21 : 22-Jun-15

The Reserve Bank of Australia’s policy of reducing interest rates was intended to encourage consumers to spend. However, ANZ Bank economists have concluded that people nearing retirement are in fact saving rather than spending. They also note that older Australians are also saving more as a result of uncertainty concerning superannuation policy.

CORPORATES
RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ

Mercer revives independent director debate

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Original article by Sally Patten
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 19 : 1-Jun-15

A new report from Mercer has called for Australian superannuation funds to have more independent directors. The firm says this trend is gathering pace in many developed countries, which has also been noted by the OECD. The Australian Government is tipped to outline its policy on the issue later in 2015, and Assistant Treasurer Josh Frydenberg is believed to favour a requirement for at least 33 per cent of a super fund’s directors to be independent.

CORPORATES
MERCER INVESTMENTS PTY LTD, ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL OF SUPERANNUATION INVESTORS INCORPORATED, GREAT BRITAIN. FINANCIAL CONDUCT AUTHORITY

Superannuation has become a political football but a new report shows what the members think

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 27-May-15

Roy Morgan Research has launched a report titled "Superannuation and Wealth Management in Australia". It provides in-depth insights into consumer behaviour covering superannuation, household debt, wealth, perceptions and usage of financial planners, superannuation brand ratings and satisfaction with financial performance. Based on Roy Morgan Single Source data, the report shows that superannuation now accounts for 28.6% of household net wealth, while owner-occupied homes account for 50 per cent. However, just 29.4 per cent of Australians feel that they have planned enough to be financially secure in the future.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED

Don’t hoard super, says Morrison

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Original article by Laura Tingle
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 25-May-15

Some 90 per cent of people on lower incomes will be adversely affected by measures in the Australian Government’s 2014 and 2015 Budgets, according to research by the National Centre for Social & Economic Modelling. Changes to the pension assets test will hit retirees with significant assets in particular, but Social Services Minister Scott Morrison argues that they should rely on their superannuation savings rather than the age pension.

CORPORATES
UNIVERSITY OF CANBERRA. NATIONAL CENTRE FOR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC MODELLING, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

ASIC warns on property bubble

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Original article by Patrick Durkin
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 6 : 18-May-15

Australian Securities & Investments Commission chairman Greg Medcraft has raised concern about the growth in residential property prices in Melbourne and Sydney. He notes that the long-term average income to average household income is now at a record high, and he warns that interest rates will eventually rise. Medcraft is particularly concerned about self-managed superannuation funds investing in residential property, as a house is often their only asset.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS COMMISSION, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIAN PRUDENTIAL REGULATION AUTHORITY, FIRSTMAC LIMITED, RESERVE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, THE CASH STORE PTY LTD, NIMBLE PTY LTD, COUNCIL OF FINANCIAL REGULATORS

Budget may move on super, Grattan warns

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Original article by Sally Patten
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 14 : 1-Apr-15

The Grattan Institute has suggested that the Australian Government’s May 2015 Budget could feature changes to tax breaks for superannuation contributions. CEO John Daley says such measures could potentially include reducing the annual contributions limit or the salary threshold at which a higher tax on contributions applies

CORPORATES
GRATTAN INSTITUTE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, TAXPAYERS AUSTRALIA INCORPORATED