NetActuary

Secure Web Calculators

An encrypted internet connection was once only used for payment systems. One knows the connection is secure when a padlock and https:// appears in the address bar. Google Chrome has started to mark all HTTP sites as “not secure”. Google is also down-ranking unencrypted sites in the search engine. Apple Safari browser is going to follow. Consequently, NetActuary has migrated all web calculators and reference pages to a secure host.

Secure sites have an SSL certificate. This has a public and private key that work together to establish an encrypted connection. The increased processing power needed to run encryption has no noticeable response time difference for the web calculators. With the commercialization of the internet, I think we need to accept that the days of http/unsecured connections are numbered. Hopefully, some of the internet scams are driven out at the same time.

 

If you are a user of our branded calculators, what do you need to do? Nothing immediately. They have put redirects on all existing links. However, when you do a website update/maintenance you may like to point directly to the https://netactuary.support/ links. An installation note is available.

 

Brian Bendzulla

TTR Strategies Can Be Valuable

I have heard people express the view that transition to retirement strategies are finished. For certain situations, that is not the case.

Consider the person on $90,000 salary in the example below. The gain is $3,334. That is good as a percentage of the $150,000 account balance.

The NetActuary TTR calculator can be found under the new “Technical” tab on our website. It incorporates all the LMITO and LITO aspects of the new tax system.

 

 

Whilst it is true that there is no gain from investment income (no longer tax exempt), a tax free TTR pension income is better than paying marginal tax rates for many people. Another big difference to older TTR strategies is that it works better for people with lower account balances. This is because the minimum 4% drawings uses less of the currently low non-concessional contribution cap available.

If you would like to be proactive with creating a better outcome for your clients, we offer a computation bureau service. The member statement is all that is needed. A multi-year projection is also available. A fee schedule of $0 for those with less than a $2,000 p.a. gain and $33 inclusive of GST for gains above $2,000 would be acceptable.

Please contact brian@netactuary.com.au for more details.

The NetActuary Team

Family Law Super Info

With matrimonial property settlements, superannuation entitlements can be a significant proportion of total assets. It would be very useful if Family Law practitioners had a single place to check items such as information on fees payable; addresses to send requests; whether special methods and factors apply; types of splitting available; whether the trustee/administrator provides defined benefit entitlements; etc.

NetActuary has created a web database infrastructure to solve this need. A link on the Lawyer tab reference panel will take you to a page shown here.

Much work still exists to build all the content. At the moment, the fund details loaded are mainly defined benefit special methods and factors funds. We will work on expanding this. However, it can also be a collaborative effort. On the web page is a quick “submit comments” for information which you have come across.

We are also developing a useful resource for legal practitioners working in the tort law area. More about that in a separate blog item.

Brian Bendzulla

Pre-Christmas Sale!

We have really enjoyed helping administrators and trustees with defined pension actuarial reports this year.  We have our systems and procedures fine tuned and have decided to pass that efficiency on in the form of a permanent reduction of the fee to $275 (inclusive of GST) per report.  However, there is one final period up to the Centrelink end of year cut off to finish any remaining outstanding adequacy and tax-exempt percentage reports for these legacy pensions.  Until the end of December 2018 we offer what we believe is the lowest fee for this service in Australia - $220 inclusive of GST!

There are a number of additional advantages in our service.  In the actuarial report return email we have been commenting upon issues that the client could consider which could enhance the structure and appropriateness of their retirement arrangements.  We need no data forms filled in – simply email us the previous actuarial report and the accounts trial balance.  If you would like to take up this offer, email them through and we will get the reports back to you quickly.

If you would like to discuss any aspect of this, please ‘phone Brian on (03) 6224 1145.

Updated Age Pension and Calculator

The Age Pension rate p.f. that applies from 20^th September, 2018 is as follows: 

Type of Pension	Previously	From 20/06/2018
Single	$907.60	$916.30
Couple (Both Eligible)	$1,368.20	$1,381.40
Couple (One Eligible)	$684.10	$690.70
Couple (Illness Separated)	$907.60 each	$916.30 each

The above includes a clean energy supplement of $14.10 p.f. (single) and $21.20 p.f. (couple combined) which needs to be excluded for New Age Pensioners since 20^th September, 2016.

I will update all the calculators shortly for those new pension rates.  The free sustainable retirement income calculator is already updated.


This calculator can be used to either calculate how long assets will last – including anticipated Age Pension entitlements – or (alternatively) what level of income is sustainable.  The level of confidence can be set from “best estimate” to higher level of adequacy.

The free calculator can be downloaded here.

 

Brian Bendzulla

 

Legacy Pension Spring Clean Sale!!

One of the most worthwhile aspects of issuing the actuarial tax certificates again is not the primary task – but rather being able to highlight areas that are in the client’s best interest to consider.  This is particularly true of legacy pensions.  A significant proportion of these pensions could: achieve a better tax outcome; redirect resources towards producing retirement income not adequacy reserves; plan ahead for neglected reserves; consider updating reserves for new life expectancies etc.  The covering notes to our actuarial reports comment on these broader issue items.

NetActuary would like to be the SMSF legacy pension specialist.  To that aim, we would like to facilitate a “Spring Clean” of legacy pensions with a Springtime sale.  All legacy pension
report requests received before 9^th September, 2018 will enjoy a 50% fee reduction!  Instead of our usual $396 (inclusive of GST), the fee will only be $198 (inclusive of GST).

Instead of filling in the request form, simply forward the most recent actuarial report together with this year’s draft accounts to brian@netactuary.com.au.  If there are any major non-uniform transactions, that would also be useful information.

If you would like to discuss any aspect, please feel most welcome to ‘phone Brian on (03) 6224 1145 for a chat.

The NetActuary Team

UK Financial Conduct Authority Updated

Since 2015, a person with UK defined benefit safeguarded pension benefits has to obtain financial advice from a UK regulated independent financial adviser before transferring amounts to a defined contribution scheme.  This includes QROPS transfers and applies to all amounts valued over GBP 30,000.  This adviser must be a registered pension transfer specialist with the UK Financial Conduct Authority.

For cross border transfers, a person often had to have two advisers – one in the UK and one in Australia.  The UK report often recommended keeping the lifetime pension but was predicated on local UK issues without taking Australian tax and migration issues into account.  The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) reviewed whether these requirements should be changed for QROPS transfers.  In a recent statement, the DWP confirmed that, in their opinion, the current advice requirement “is working as intended for overseas transfers by offering an effective level of protection for members.”

In the last 25 years some 20m individuals have migrated from – or to – the UK.  International mobility will not slow down.  Moving retirement monies is cumbersome and complex.  It would be great if governments could address making the retirement monies transfers less painful and expensive.

Brian Bendzulla

Better ECPI Outcomes for Legacy Pensions

Mark Ellem’s presentation at the 2018 SMSF Professional Day is an excellent overview of how the tax-exempt percentage can be increased with payment timing.  NetActuary has an interest in assisting legacy pension funds.  So, here are some comments about how the ECPI percentage can vary.

With a legacy pension such as a section 1.06(2) lifetime pension, the lower the best estimate earnings rate assumed by the actuary, the higher will be the exempt proportion.  In addition, the calculations should have a deduction for investment expenses and an allowance for admin costs.  These two factors also increase the tax-exempt percentage.

It is important that these returns are not left static from past investment times.  At NetActuary, we have had a thorough review of the returns from different investment options and the margin to be set for the adequacy certification.  We have concluded that the new June 2018 Government MoneySmart assumptions are appropriate.  These are the standard rates that NetActuary will be using in 2018/19:

Investment Option	Investment Portfolio	Assumed Investment Return	Allowance for Investment Fees	Investment Adequacy Margin
Cash	100% in Deposits	2.70%	0.05%	0.05%
Conservative	Around 30% in shares & property. Rest in cash and fixed interest	3.80%	0.30%	0.125%
Moderate	Around 50% in shares & property. Rest in cash or fixed interest	4.40%	0.40%	0.25%
Balanced	Around 70% in shares & property. Rest in cash or fixed interest	4.80%	0.50%	0.375%
Growth	Around 85% in shares & property. Rest in cash or fixed interest	5.00%	0.60%	0.50%
High Growth	100% in shares & property	5.30%	0.70%	0.75%

 

A lower earnings rate could cause a problem with sufficient assets for the adequacy certification.  Fortunately, with lower current investment returns, the margin of average to lower quartile returns has narrowed.  The margin in the table is from an analysis of some 340 funds for the past decade.

Of course, while the formal report will need to be reviewed for appropriateness and signed by NetActuary, we have developed a calculator that show what the above assumptions would produce as a result.  This is a sample screen:

If you would like a copy of this Microsoft Exel pension liability calculator, please email Brian Bendzulla at brian@netactuary.com.au or call on (03) 6224 1145.

 

The NetActuary Team

Planned Retirement Income Reforms

From 01/07/2019 new Age Pension means testing rules will be introduced for pooled lifetime income streams.  The rules will assess a fixed 60% of all pooled lifetime product payments as income and 60% of the purchase price of the product as assets until age 84 – or a minimum of 5 years – and then 30% for the rest of the person’s life.  Since Treasury has made provision for a cost over the forward estimates for this change, it raises the question about how this can be used to your client’s advantage.

We need to get the tools and analysis prepared before then to handle enhanced retirement income streams, deferred annuities and the “retirement income covenant” requiring superannuation trustees to offer “Comprehensive Income Products for Retirement” (CIPRs).  NetActuary has commenced work with a financial planning firm to start work on this issue.  The challenge is that there are many different options – purchase dates, commencement dates for (say) a deferred lifetime pension, guaranteed or fluctuating payments etc.  It is a classic actuarial issue because at the heart of the objective is the desire to increase the certainty of the retirement income – but at what cost?

As usual, the grandfathering under current rules for lifetime income streams purchased prior to 01/07/2019 will lead to a rush later this financial year where the old rules are better for some clients.  The programming is messy.  The asset test actually is also subject to three tests:  the 60/30% of purchase; the value of any current or future surrender value; and the value of any current or future death benefit.  The grandfathering is also messy with (for example) a pension reverting to a spouse.  The grandfathering depends on Age Pension receipt at time of death.

Similar to the actuarial ECPI calculations, the days of straight forward financial planning analysis is over.  One needs both more sophisticated modelling tools and a depth of understanding about how to use/modify them.  If you would like to join this area being developed, please drop me an email to brian@netactuary.com.au

 

Brian Bendzulla

ECPI and Death of a Member

You will notice that the NetActuary ECPI data-form identifies situations that need careful consideration.  One of these is when a member has died.  This blog provides some background information about how ECPI will be calculated in that eventuality.

If the account-based pension is reversionary, the ECPI entitlement continues on the assessable income from the assets backing that pension in the same way that the pension continues.  In other cases where the amount for the death benefit (lump sum or new pension commenced) is only the account balance, the ECPI continues until it is “as soon as practical to pay the benefit”.  This provision was introduced in an amended definition introduced by the Income Tax Amendment (Superannuation Measures) No 1 Regulation 2013 to apply to the 2012/13 (and subsequent) income years.

We don’t need to consider anti-detriment amounts, but insurance proceeds don’t have this concession.  Income from these proceeds are not tax free in the period to payment.  No minimum pension payment is required for the period up to death.  If the pension is auto-reversionary, then the minimum payment is required by the end of financial year. 

The phrase “as soon as was practical” is not defined by law, however the ATO appears to accept a period not exceeding 6 months from the date of death as acceptable.

With legacy pensions, careful consideration is needed.  One of the instances envisaged in TR2013/5 was a superannuation income stream will cease if a provision in the governing rules provides for it to cease.  Consequently, with a section 1.06(2) lifetime pension it is likely that the pension and the ECPI will cease when the pensioner passes away if there is no reversion.  The assets backing the lifetime pension are released to reserves.  Use of those reserves would be under contribution/reserve allocation provisions, not death benefits.  On the other hand, a section 1.06(7) Life Expectancy pension has the residual benefit of remaining payments outstanding and has an arguable case for continuing ECPI.

The above shows why it would not be prudent to process actuarial certificates merely from a filled in date of death.

I am impressed with the number of trustees/advisers who took up the NetActuary $11 special.  Yes, it did cover earlier financial years.  Please give me a day or two to catch up and also launch the NetActuary property analysis toolkit and we will run another special on actuarial certificates.

Brian Bendzulla