The Financial Services Council (FSC) has shown itself as one of the few industry bodies to endorse the Productivity Commission’s final report on superannuation since its public release this morning, as it welcomed its changes to default super selection processes.
As industry fund bodies express their disappointment with final report, FSC chief executive, Sally Loane, praised the Commission’s changes to default superannuation fund selection to see employers and unions removed from the process.
“Taking default superannuation out of the industrial relations system and putting choice into the hands of consumers should be the cornerstone of a modern superannuation system,” Loane said.
The FSC also welcomed the Commission’s call for a binding and enforceable code for insurance in super, noting that its own superannuation trustee members would be bound by its Life Insurance Code of Practice from 30 June, 2021.
Loane expressed concern however, that the Commission’s determination to stand by its recommendation to have just 10 default super options could “create a monolithic concentration of funds, stifle competition and create huge barriers for innovate new products”.
The Future Fund’s CIO Ben Samild has announced his resignation, with his deputy to assume the role of interim CIO.
The fund has unveiled reforms to streamline death benefit payments, cut processing times, and reduce complexity.
A ratings firm has placed more prominence on governance in its fund ratings, highlighting that it’s not just about how much money a fund makes today, but whether the people running it are trustworthy, disciplined, and able to deliver for members in the future.
AMP has reached an agreement in principle to settle a landmark class action over fees charged to members of its superannuation funds, with $120 million earmarked for affected members.