The Investment and Financial Services Association’s (IFSA) incoming chief executive John Brogden has highlighted some of the key issues he plans to tackle once he assumes the position later next month.
The former NSW opposition leader will assume the position on 28 August following Richard Gilbert’s retirement.
Brogden told InvestorDaily he was looking forward to the task of ensuring the industry achieved better public policy outcomes in areas such as retirement incomes policy, regulation of managed investments and life insurance.
“From the superannuation side of our membership I’m very keen to work hard on the agenda of increasing the superannuation guarantee levy,” he said.
“And the other agenda item is ensuring we have as much stability in policy in the sector as possible, and that’s for the tens of millions of Australians who have superannuation policies. The more stable the policy is, the better it is for them.
“On the life insurance side I think the two big agenda items are standardisation of stamp duty across all states and a greater take up of life insurance and income protection products.”
Brogden said the new role offered a great opportunity to combine both an interest in public policy and an interest in business matters.
“The real motivator for me was that superannuation is a very exciting area of the economy of the financial services sector and in terms of government policy,” he said.
“The super guarantee levy as a public policy initiative is yet to even reach maturity, so the size of the industry now is enormous in Australian terms and it will only continue to get much larger as it matures.
“It’s such a significant area of public policy and the economy and that’s what excites me about it – it’s a great opportunity to be involved in.”
