ISA warns on defaults and ‘inappropriate advice’
Industry Super Australia (ISA) has again differed with the Productivity Commission (PC) and has warned against people being defaulted into only one superannuation fund citing, amongst other things, the danger of “inappropriate advice”.
In a late submission filed with the PC, ISA said it did not support members being defaulted into one fund for life.
“The risk that disengaged and low-information members will be sold, nudged or defaulted into poor quality funds by their bank, their employer or through inappropriate advice is too great,” the submission said.
“To fulfil the collective social policy purpose of compulsory superannuation, it is appropriate for government to intervene strongly to ensure members are protected from such risks. We have previously explained how this can be achieved in the context of a strengthened industrial safety net,” it said.
The ISA noted in its submission that the PC had indicated that it was trying to get rid of unintended multiple accounts by having members, new job entrants default once and then auto-consolidating accounts thereafter.
It noted that the PC had also referred suggestions that members had one account that followed them through their life, with the member taking their balance with them and rolling it over with every next job.
Recommended for you
A financial advice firm has been penalised $11 million in the Federal Court for providing ‘cookie cutter advice’ to its clients and breaching conflicted remuneration rules.
Insignia Financial has experienced total quarterly net outflows of $1.8 billion as a result of client rebalancing, while its multi-asset flows halved from the prior quarter.
Prime Financial is looking to shed its “sleeping giant” reputation with larger M&A transactions going forward, having agreed to acquire research firm Lincoln Indicators.
An affiliate of Pinnacle Investment Management has expanded its reach with a London office as the fund manager seeks to grow its overseas distribution into the UK and Europe.
