Powered by MOMENTUM MEDIA
SMSF adviser logo
subscribe to our newsletter

SMSF firms cautioned on unpredictability of super

Caution
By Miranda Brownlee
28 July 2017 — 1 minute read

The impact of technology on the nature of work and the rise of contract and freelance work may impact the amount of superannuation accumulated by Australians, warns a former politician.

Speaking at the Class Connect 2017 Conference, former Labor MP Bernie Ripoll said while industry research companies such as Rice Warner have projected that national superannuation savings will reach $9.5 trillion by 2035 this is “only a linear extrapolation”.

“Can we really expect things to just stay the same? That’s just a quantum number,” said Mr Ripoll.

“For example, this number doesn’t explain what share of the pie each sector of the superannuation industry will have. Will the industry still be divided roughly into thirds? A third in retail funds, a third in industry funds and a third in SMSFs?

One of the other unpredictable elements of this projection he said is the impact of the changing nature of work and the impact of technology on employment with people engaging more in dispersed work patterns such as contract work or freelancing, said Mr Ripoll. 

“The chief executive of ASFA, Martin Fahy recently highlighted the need for superannuation funds to become more personalised and better educate and engage with members, in order to remain relevant,” he said.

“It’s not just a given that the superannuation guarantee and the way people work is going to stay the same, the future might be different. So we’re predicting it’s going to be $9.5 trillion in the future and that be the case, but it may not come from the same sources.”

SUBSCRIBE TO THE
SMSF ADVISER BULLETIN

Get the latest news and opinions delivered to your inbox each morning