Centre of Excellence for Retirement Savings established


The SMSF Association has announced it establishing a Global Centre of Excellence for Retirement Savings.
The move was announced by the association’s chief executive, John Maroney at the organisation’s technical conference in Sydney who said the centre was expected to be open before the end of the year and would be a policy think tank aimed at providing thought leadership about key areas in the retirement savings market, with a broad focus on financial and non-financial issues.
“The range of topics will include the design of retirement incomes policies, behavioural economics and investment markets, aged care and mental capacity, indeed, all social, economic and community issues that have an influence on people having a dignified and secure retirement,” he said.
Maroney said the centre would be based in Adelaide and would also act as a clearing house for existing literature and research into retirement issues, as well as commission and conduct relevant research into these areas via teams of experienced researchers, PhD students, industry participants and other interested parties.
“The researchers will have access to data provided by network participants and other sources, with all research structured to provide genuine practical value to the industry,” he said.
Maroney said the benefits of the research would be increased awareness of key issues related to retirement design and operation in other countries, and the improved efficiency and effectiveness of the public policy and design features of the Australian superannuation system, with a particular focus on the SMSF sector.
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