We can all vividly remember how we felt following the impact of the GFC and severe downturn in investment markets. Many Superannuation funds that had performed well in 2006/07 dropped dramatically in 2008/09 – some aggressive funds dropped by 50% in value. However, markets move in cycles and now people who have money invested in…
Income protection is important but where is the policy best held – inside or outside superannuation? The answer depends on several factors such as the needs of each individual. Note that in an income protection… Cover structures inside or outside super are with tax deductibility benefits. Inside or outside super, taxes are applied on…
The last quarter of 2012 financial year saw a great number of life insurance complaints filed at the Superannuation Complaints Tribunal. Telephone complaints coming from fund members totaled 2809 while the number of written complaints reached 627. Summary of complaints with decisions by both fund trustees and insurers upheld by the SCT: In…
At the Association of Super Funds of Australia event, Deputy Chair Ross Jones acknowledged that APRA’s initial position that restricts benefits offered to coverage acquired through life insurance was stiff. When selecting an insurer, licensees were asked to check not only insurance level premiums but all insurance arrangements aspects prior to selecting an insurer. The…
During Sydney’s AIA Australian Group Insurance Summit, result of polled 32 executives from 26 retail and industry funds and related consultancies was disclosed. It showed that over 50% of Australian superannuation funds will offer default income protection for MySuper. Representatives from BT Financial Group, REST Industry Super, Rice Warner Actuaries and Chant West responded differently…
AIA Australia said a poll result showed slow adoption of life insurance within self-managed super fund. The survey of over 400 financial advisers that included accountants, brokers and advisers said SMSF trustees’ “knowledge gap on life insurance” was the reason. About 45% of respondents said less number of clients had life insurance within SMSF and…
As the sole earner or as a contributing earner in a family, life insurance is important. Family members may suffer financially in the event the earner meets an untimely death. The financial burdens to take care of can be tough. Ensuring that there is financial security in place will help keep the family from economic…
Changes are about to happen to many fund members whose cost benefits have been overlooked by SMSFs. Over 20,000 clients under the self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF) who have been under-insured will be offered automatic life coverage of up to $750,000. According to AIA Australia, this is the aim of insurance groups and financial advisers to…
Elevate insurance enhancements offer flexible and accessible insurance solutions. Flexibility and accessibility are two important factors that make life insurance solutions work and this is what is made available to our clients through enhanced insurance solutions. Mining Industry – Income protection – Extended benefit period for certain mining jobs – Increased maximum monthly benefit amount…
The following are the changes in the Federal Budget as announced last week. We see these changes in the concessional super contributions caps and contribution taxes likely to affect some of our clients. Higher contributions tax for very high income earners The tax concession on contributions of earners of over $300,000 will go down from…