In a move that places it on a par with many retail master trusts, Health Industry Plan (HIP) has negotiated arrangements allowing members access to housing loan products and financial advice.
HIP chief executive Ross Bernays announced this week that the fund had negotiated access to a range of housing loan products through Premier One Mortgage Advice, and that it had also teamed with Switzer Financial Services to provide financial planning advice.
The arrangements come at the same time as the superannuation fund renegotiated its member group insurance with ING, resulting in a 15 per cent increase in death cover and a 30 per cent increase in income protection.
Bernays said the key issue of referrals to financial planners was having absolute confidence in the quality of the advice being provided.
He said in partnering with Switzer Financial Service he believed HIP was introducing its members to a group with a real capacity to address the broader financial planning needs of its members, not just superannuation issues.
Bernays also flagged that the superannuation fund was close to announcing its own allocated pension product.
Australian retirees could increase their projected annual incomes between 3 and 51 per cent by incorporating personal and household data into their retirement income strategies, according to new research.
The best interests duty and new class of adviser didn't make the cut for the pre-election DBFO draft bill; however, ASFA has used its submission to outline what it wants to see from the final package.
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 of advice.
Economists from the big four banks have all predicted the RBA to deliver another rate cut during its July meeting; however, some admit the decision will be a close call.