SMSFs not immune from longevity risk, warns IPA
The Institute of Public Accountants (IPA) has warned that SMSF trustees are not exempt from dealing with the longevity risks faced by the broader superannuation industry.
Speaking to SMSF Adviser, the IPA’s senior tax adviser, Tony Greco, said while trustees of SMSFs may be better equipped to deal with longevity risks, trustees still need to “better manage” their assets for the long term.
“Policy settings need to change to encourage the development of products for the retirement phase, such as deferred lifetime annuities and reforming the drawdown rules for people trying to access their super,” Mr Greco said.
More broadly, IPA chief executive officer Andrew Conway said many retirees do not have adequate knowledge or the guidance to appropriately decide when and how to draw down their retirement savings “to cater for the remaining years of their lives”.
“We agree with the FSI report that many retirees do not know how to manage investments, inflation and longevity risks involved with retirement,” he said.
“People need to treat superannuation upon retirement as a long-term financial stream, not a sudden windfall gain.”
