The Government needs to remove superannuation policy from the regular budgetary cycle to provide stability and help restore confidence in the system, an association believes.
The SMSF Association used its 2017 Budget submission to urge the Government to resist further changes to the system.
The association’s head of policy, Jordan George said stability for super should extend beyond tax settings and include broader issues such as ensuring that it was not used to fund first home deposits.
“Such proposals should be easily evaluated and assessed against strong and fit-for-purpose objectives for superannuation. On the other hand, sensible changes that improve the system and make it more efficient by reducing red-tape should meet the system’s objectives and be proceeded with,” he said.
“…The association believes it is essential that the Government commits to a period of stability for superannuation free of significant changes, especially concerning tax settings.
“This would allow superannuation funds and their members a period to ensure that they have the correct strategies in place to comply with the new rules and maximise their opportunities to build retirement savings.”
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.