The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) has called on the Federal Government to use its budget next week to progress structural policy reforms to improve the economic security of women in retirement.
Eighty per cent of women would currently retire with insufficient super savings to fund a comfortable retirement, with women approaching retirement (age 55-59) averaging $123,642 in savings.
This was well below the $545,000 needed for a comfortable retirement.
ASFA chief executive, Martin Fahy, said that the Government should use the opportunity offered by the Budget to “ensure women are not condemned to experience poverty, and even homelessness, in retirement”.
Homelessness Australia found that single older women are one of the groups who are particularly vulnerable to experiencing homelessness.
Potential reforms put forward by ASFA to protect women in retirement included:
If female school or university students volunteer for work experience in finance, organisations have a “duty” to offer it to them, according to a senior funds management executive.
New research from Aware Super on the occasion of Equal Pay Day reveals Australia’s 13 per cent gender pay gap will equate to a $93,000 deficit in women’s super balances compared to men at retirement.
With only 25% of women currently using a financial adviser and many lacking financial confidence, they are losing thousands in superannuation.
The significant difference in women’s average superannuation account balances, compared to their male counterparts, continues to concern industry professionals.
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