Powered by MOMENTUM MEDIA
moneymanagement logo
 
 

SMSF Association urges toughness on early super release

smsf-association/superannuation/John-Maroney/

12 March 2018
| By Hannah Wootton |
image
image image
expand image

The SMSF Association has called for tougher controls around the early release of superannuation benefits, saying that only those with “genuine hardship claims” and a genuine lack of financial capacity should have access under the reforms.

In its submission to the Treasury’s review on releasing super benefits early, the Association argued that current rules allowing access to superannuation “for most medical treatments” on compassionate grounds were being taken advantage of.

It said that a tightening of the assessment of financial capacity “should solve the problem.”

SMSF Association chief executive, John Maroney, said that early release policies needed to ensure that a balance was struck between superannuation’s primary objective of meeting retirement income needs and having early access to super as individuals have no means to otherwise meet an expense incurred through genuine hardship.

Maroney expressed concern that a recent increase in access to super on medical grounds “strongly suggested” that genuine hardship requirements were not being met.

He also suggested that individuals’ motivations for accessing super early for surgeries may not be driven by financial need.

“We are … concerned that this increase in access of superannuation for medical treatment has been driven by greater public awareness of the ability to access superannuation for medical reasons, a situation that has been potentially exacerbated by some medical professionals promoting this option,” Maroney said.

The Association also supported early access to superannuation for victims of domestic violence and crime, provided there were “reasonable restrictions” in place.

Read more about:

AUTHOR

Recommended for you

sub-bgsidebar subscription

Never miss the latest news and developments in wealth management industry

MARKET INSIGHTS

The succession dilemma is more than just a matter of commitments.This isn’t simply about younger vs. older advisers. It’...

6 days 3 hours ago

Significant ethical issues there. If a relationship is in the process of breaking down then both parties are likely to b...

1 month ago

It's not licensees not putting them on, it's small businesses (that are licensed) that cannot afford to put them on. The...

1 month 1 week ago

ASIC has released the results of the latest adviser exam, with August’s pass mark improving on the sitting from a year ago. ...

1 week 1 day ago

The inquiry into the collapse of Dixon Advisory and broader wealth management companies by the Senate economics references committee will not be re-adopted. ...

2 weeks 1 day ago

While the profession continues to see consolidation at the top, Adviser Ratings has compared the business models of Insignia and Entireti and how they are shaping the pro...

2 weeks 3 days ago

TOP PERFORMING FUNDS

ACS FIXED INT - AUSTRALIA/GLOBAL BOND