Retirees who own their family home should not fear longevity risk, according to equity release provider Homesafe.
Longevity risk concerns plagued older Australians, with Investment Trends’ latest Retirement Income Report finding that only one in four Australians believed they would be able to live comfortably in retirement.
They were also failing to prepare for the likelihood that their spending needs may increase with old age, according to a study by National Seniors Australia.
Homesafe Wealth Release general manager, Dianne Shepherd, said that retirees who could access the equity in their homes would not need to fear longevity risk though, should they factor it into their financial planning.
By utilising debt-free equity release approaches, retirees could both access the equity in their homes and continue to live in them.
Shepherd said that Homesafe offered a solution where the homeowner agreed with the company to sell a share of the future sale proceeds of their home, when they chose to sell or passed away, in return for a lump sum payment in the present. The unsold share of the sale proceeds would belong to either the homeowner or their estate.
She said that the solution responded to a growing need for debt-free alternatives to downsizing or reverse mortgages that were better designed to provide senior homeowners with more certainty in managing their longevity.
“It’s essential senior homeowners can retain some control over the future equity in their home, in the event their lifestyle needs or circumstances change,” Shepherd said.
The $300 billion fund has announced the development of a new flexible lifetime income option in partnership with TAL.
As regulators spur funds to focus on Australia’s ageing population and overseas players voice their interests, professionals expect a boost in innovative activity in super.
Over half of Australians hope to live to 100 years, according to MetLife, and 90 per cent believe retirement should be redefined to account for a longer lifespan.
Two actuaries have urged for an overhaul of the current retirement framework to better prepare Australians for the future and improve the accessibility of general financial advice.
Equity Release provides additional funding when other options are considered to be unsuitable. But I would have thought an income stream would be preferred than taking a lump sum
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