Superannuation in Australia

What do you think are the important factors that should be considered by tertiary sector employees when they are deciding whether to place their superannuation contributions in the Defined Benefit Plan or the Investment Choice Plan? What issues relating to the concept of the time value of money, taxes etc., might be important in this decision-making process? Explain.

In past two decades focus on superannuation and motivating individuals in order to save and invest for future especially during the years of retirement has been more and more emphasized in Australia. The government of Australia has been particularly pro-active in this view; as it is made compulsory for employers to contribute their minimum to fulfil superannuation or retirement funds on behalf of employees (Sheen, 2017). It was mandatory for employees that by this date employees have to give up a percentage of their superannuation investment. The main aim of launching superannuation policy program is to reduce the load from social security system towards the provision of pension payments and to encourage employees at the time of their retirement stage. Present report revolves around the discussion relating to the choice between defined benefit plan and the investment choice plan for superannuation contributions. Further, the other relating variants which comprise taxation provisions and the time value of money have been discussed in order to make appropriate discussion.

Superannuation in Australia can be referred as provisions which are set in place by the government of Australia to support people for gathering money for an income during retirement. In Australia superannuation is partially obligatory and it is encouraged by tax benefits. Butt and et al. (2018) asserted that for minimum involvement and for management of superannuation funds government of Australia has placed some minimum standards. Apart from wages and salaries of employees, it is compulsory for employers to build superannuation contributions for them. At 1July 2014 the rate of employers contribution was 9.5%, and from 2015 it was planned to raise it steadily from 2021 to 125 in 2025 (Lok and et al., 2018). People are persuaded to increase compulsory superannuation contributions along with voluntary contributions; it is also comprised of deflecting wages or salary income in superannuation contributions under supposed salary sacrifice arrangements. An individual is allowed to withdraw funds from superannuation fund only in case he or she meets up the any of the one condition such as retirement, terminal medical condition or permanent incapacity condition as provided in schedule one of Superannuation Regulations 1994.

Defined Benefit Plan

A defined benefit plan can be referred as a super fund which provides the benefit on the basis of final salary and the no. of years for which you have been working for your company or government department. Gerrans, Moulang and Strydom, (2018) specified that the annual income which is attained from defined benefit pension is assured for whole life and potentially till the life of the spouse. Another main variant which is to be considered is that in case an individual is single or the spouse dies before the individual in that case the super pension dies with the individual. Thus, the same cannot be left as an asset for the family. The benefit from defined benefit plan depends on whether they are made to a funded defined benefit fund, an unfunded defined benefit fund or a super hybrid fund.

A feature which is attached to some defined benefit scheme is to postpone the benefit, and the same is payable after ceasing of employment (Foster, Ng and Wee, 2015). It is to be assessed that it is not necessary that postponement of benefit leads to more benefit. Thus time value of money should be considered in order to reach the appropriate conclusion. The higher amount of tax liability is imposed on defined benefit pension with an untaxed element as one is paid from the unfunded scheme which remains to continue after age 60 with reduced or nil tax set off. Defined benefit plans can be funded through the contribution of employers which comprises employee contribution as well. It comprises reduced risk as the funds are being managed by professionals. Further, the fact cannot be denied that it takes the responsibility regarding the choice of investment and takes away the same right from the employee. These mandated superannuation obligation employees realize the importance of saving apart of their income for future (Robinson, 2017.). Every year there are billions of dollars of superannuation contributions flowing towards superannuation funds and financial institutes, to provide enough earnings to finance those who are non-working elements of individual lives is the main role of it. Superannuation and mutual funds are considered as one of the best investors in Australian financial markets especially in equity shares of companies which are registered on domestic and share markets of foreign countries.

The specified plan provides an advantage of selecting the option of investment regarding the amount which has been accumulated through a superannuation fund. Employees who are opting Investment Choice Plan has to maintain investment account containing employer-sponsored and personal superannuation contributions with an annual distribution of profits which they earn from their invested offerings, and the same is reduced by  administration and managing charges. In words of Muratore and Earl  (2015), Investment Choice Plan employees have the opportunity to choose the form of assets or portfolio in which they want their superannuation contributions to be invested in; there have four investments plans which are listed below:

Investment Choice Plan

Secure Fund: Under this plan, there are fixed-interest securities and cash.

Stable Fund: Mainly it has fixed-interest and bond securities among small revelation towards domestic and overseas shares along with the property.

Trustees’ Selection Fund: Unprejudiced fund of domestic and overseas shares, property assets and infrastructure and also private equity investments.

Share Fund: In this type of plan, investment can be made only in domestic and abroad shares (O’Leary, 2015).

All these four strategies differ from each other in terms of risk and return features, in case of Secure Fund the investment is less risky and supposed to give a lowest average return, Share Funds gives highest average return since the involvement of risk is high. Employees who are choosing Investment Choice Plan, calculation of their ultimate retirement funds depends on the form of investment plan which is selected  by them and returns produced by that plan, investment risk which is related to that plan. Unisuper Limited is one of the biggest individual industry based superannuation financial institute, it services and controls the activities of employees among superannuation under tertiary education sector of Australia and the same is comprised of all universities, TAFE colleges and other high education associations. Blackham, (2015) asserted that another revolution which is seen in recent years in superannuation funds management and services provision is a major increase in the range of superannuation fund products and investment and retirement plan alternatives. Since now there is better elasticity in choosing what type of funds and assets superannuation funds should be invested.  As investment options are increasing, Unisuper suggests their member’s two types of superannuation plans and they are defined benefit plan and investment choice plan.

Inflation factor and the time value of money

Time value of money is vital to take investment decision because it is concerned with transforming of capitals into long-term investment plans. Cash which is generated by long-term investment emerges at the different point of time in outlook. It cannot be compared to expenditure of project spent at present (Barkoczy, 2015.). Therefore, in order to make it comparable, discounting is being done on upcoming cash flows into investment proposal. In the planning of retirement theory of TVM is extremely useful. At the time of creating an investment in stock and bonds estimate models are utilized where time value is believed for analysis. For instance, let say territory sector is offering $200000 as a first retirement alternative to their employees and $200000 after 10years as a second alternative so at the time of selection some reasons have to be kept in view by them and they are:

Time Value of Money

Buying power of consumer: Because of inflation $200000 is the best option for investment in current times in the relation of $200000 after 10years. It can be explained by illustrating an example that the cost of 0 gm gold 10years ago was too less in comparison to present price of 10 gm gold.

 Opportunity cost and Risk Variants: To receive the interest on investment dollar which is obtained at present can be invested on a specific point of time. Hence, as a result, the value of an investment will increase in future. So, an investment which has high value at present should be opting for investment. Default risk is referred to the risk which is creating when an individual grants his money to another to make use of it. Though, returns and interests are supposed to stable the risk through taking into account time value of money.

After analyzing all four alternatives, the result is that none of the investment options is perfect as a decision into retirement planning mostly depends on the risk-bearing capacity and investment objectives of employees. Hence, it is necessary for employees to judge above-explained characteristics into planning for the investment.

Taxation

Tax offsets are available for senior citizens as well as retirees. Thus, the same is to be considered in order to evaluate the benefit attained during retirement. In case an individual is low-income earner then same is able to offset and also for net medical expenses in case thresh hold limit of medical expenses have been exhausted (Muratore and Earl, 2015). Even tax offset is available for income which is being received from superannuation income stream. In case a person has attained pension age than as per Australian government provisions, seniors and pensioners are allowed to avail tax offset before the same have to pay tax as well as a medical levy. The range of eligibility variant in accordance with Australian Government pensions or allowances. A senior Australian is eligible for seniors and pensioners tax offset (SAPTO). Through SAPTO quantum of tax which is to be paid can be decreased. Under few cases, it decreases the tax even to zero because of which one does not needs to file a return. There are some conditions; which have to be fulfilled to become entitled to this tax compensation; they are related to income and eligibility regarding an Australian Government allowance. In case of seniors, they are able to meet the condition of age requirement meant for the age pension. It contains if one is age qualified but still not getting it. Depending on refund income they will get full, partial or nil offsets amounts.

Taxation Provisions

Other Variants

The other variant which has a significant impact on the decision whether to go for defined benefit plan or investment options are financial condition of individual and financial objectives which are to be necessarily considered prior to making a decision. These two variants decide the quantum of the amount which can be invested or kept aside for retirement plan. The first variant existing financial condition will consider the current expenses of the assessee, debt along with saving required for other needs of the individual. Thus, in case an individual is not ready to bear high risk than the same usually goes with the defined benefit plan. The other variant is financial objectives, i.e. emotions relating to the money of specific individual. If a lavish life is expected in future than decision will be taken in the same accordance in order to attain the pre-determined financial objectives as well as future requirements (Henretta, 2018).

Conclusion

It can be concluded from above study that decision of option which is to be availed between defined benefit plan and investment plan depends on the quantum of risk an individual is ready to bear against the return. Time value of money can be referred as one of the most important variants which are necessary to be considered in both the options before making the final decision.

References

Barkoczy, S., 2015. Australia’s industry innovation and competitiveness agenda and the proposed new rules for taxing benefits under employee share schemes. Austl. Tax F., 30, P.37.

Blackham, A., 2015. Managing without default retirement in universities: a comparative picture from Australia. Legal Studies, 35(3), Pp.502-531.

Butt, A., Donald, M.S., Foster, F.D., Thorp, S. and Warren, G.J., 2018. One size fits all? Tailoring retirement plan defaults. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 145, Pp.546-566.

Foster, F.D., Ng, J. and Wee, M., 2015. Presentation format and financial literacy: accessibility and assessability of retirement savings statements. Journal of Consumer Affairs, 49(3), Pp.519-549.

Gerrans, P., Moulang, C., Feng, J. and Strydom, M., 2018. Individual and peer effects in retirement savings investment choices. Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, 47, Pp.150-165.

Henretta, J.C., 2018. The life-course perspective on work and retirement. In Lives in Time and Place and Invitation to the Life Course (Pp. 85-105). Routledge.

Lok, S.Y.P., Ying, C.W., Yee, C.M. and Wei, L.H., 2018. An Approach for Financial Planning. The Social Sciences, 13(4), Pp.883-890.

Merton, R.C., 2014. The crisis in retirement planning. Harvard Business Review, 92(7/8), Pp.43-50.

Muratore, A.M. and Earl, J.K., 2015. Improving retirement outcomes: the role of resources, pre-retirement planning and transition characteristics. Ageing & Society, 35(10), Pp.2100-2140.

Muratore, A.M. and Earl, J.K., 2015. Improving retirement outcomes: the role of resources, pre-retirement planning and transition characteristics. Ageing & Society, 35(10), Pp.2100-2140.

O’Leary, E., 2015. Optimisation of retirement benefits for Australians (Doctoral dissertation, Victoria University).

Robinson, P., 2017. Old Age Plans. In Gay Men’s Working Lives, Retirement and Old Age (Pp. 215-251). Palgrave Macmillan, London.

Sheen, V., 2017. The implications of Australian women’s precarious employment for the later pension age. The Economic and Labour Relations Review, 28(1), Pp.3-19.