Industry disruptors pose a major threat to to the superannuation industry, according to the chairman of Yellow Brick Road, Mark Bouris.
Addressing the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) conference in Melbourne, Bouris warned fund trustees and executives that the needed to be alert to the capacity for other parties to steal their relationship with their members.
In doing so, he said that he should not be interpreted as threatening superannuation funds but, rather, warning them of what could happen if they did not remain alert to the threat posed by companies capable of disruption.
Bouris said those companies could be distinguished by the reality that they were small and nimble, dynamic and entrepreneurial with no legacy issues and a capacity to succeed without actually gaining large market share.
"This risk is someone getting between and your members and having a relationship with them," he said.
While claiming not to be a threat, Bouris said that Yellow Brick Road had developed a presence in terms of providing advice with respect to superannuation and said the company would be looking to pursue its interests by seeking a super provider "who is going to look after us".
However he said that while superannuation funds might find themselves the target of industry disruptors, they had the capacity to also be disruptors via the adopting of new approaches and new technology.
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.