ING chief concerned at leverage in super
The outgoing chief executive of ING Australia, Paul Bedbrook, has expressed concern at the Government’s decision to allow gearing within superannuation funds.
Bedbrook, who finishes up in his chief executive officer role at the end of the month, told Money Management he believes allowing gearing within superannuation to be the thin end of the wedge and that superannuation should be purely for retirement.
He said that superannuation had, up until now, represented a huge pool of ungeared money that acted as a buffer to the system.
Bedbrook said this buffering effect was important in the context of incidents such as Opes Prime.
“And I am in the old school in thinking that there should not be any gearing in super,” he said. “I think that is the thin edge of the wedge … superannuation should be purely for retirement or the event of hardship.”
Bedbrook said that the defined contribution system was excellent with respect to superannuation, but it had not been tested with respect to whether it delivered a viable retirement.
Recommended for you
Insignia Financial has issued a statement to the ASX regarding a potential bid from a third global private equity business to acquire the firm.
More than 30 advisers fell off the FAR during the Christmas and New Year period, according to Wealth Data, with half of these coming from licensee giant Entireti.
With next-generation heirs unlikely to retain their family’s financial advisers after receiving an inheritance, Capgemini has explored how firms can work with younger generations to maintain a relationship.
The use of technology and data analytics will be a way for advice firms to grow in 2025, according to Adviser Ratings, with those who are using it successfully reporting 10 per cent higher profit margins.