A nationwide survey has found that 75% of surveyed Australians support increasing the superannuation guarantee (SG) to 12% with only 12% of respondents in favour of leaving the SG rate unchanged at 9.5%, according to the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA).
At the same time, 75% of respondents said they would struggle to live on the Age Pension alone while 30% indicated that they could have a comfortable lifestyle in retirement while spending less than $50,000 a year.
By lifting the SG to 12% half of all Australian retirees would be self-funded by 2050, countering the pressure of an ageing population on generations of future taxpayers, according to ASFA’s predictions.
Currently the Age Pension was $24,551 a year for a single and $37,000 a year for a couple, it said.
ASFA’s chief executive, Martin Fahy, said: “Without question, Australians value their superannuation and they clearly support measures aimed at helping them to build the nest egg necessary to fund a dignified retirement in this country.
“Australia’s superannuation system enables Australians to retire with dignity. With the legislated increase of the superannuation guarantee to 12%, and as the superannuation system matures, we expect to see a greater proportion of retirees relying less on the Age Pension and more on their superannuation.”
Super funds have built on early financial year momentum, as growth funds deliver strong results driven by equities and resilient bonds.
The super fund has announced that Mark Rider will step down from his position of chief investment officer (CIO) after deciding to “semi-retire” from full-time work.
Rest has joined forces with alternative asset manager Blue Owl Capital, co-investing in a real estate trust, with the aim of capitalising on systemic changes in debt financing.
The Future Fund’s CIO Ben Samild has announced his resignation, with his deputy to assume the role of interim CIO.