December 7 2023
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Media Release

Delivering Better Financial Outcomes will allow more members to benefit from advice: Rest


Rest, one of Australia’s largest profit-to-member superannuation funds, says the Australian Government’s Delivering Better Financial Outcomes Package provides a pathway for funds to expand their financial advice service and help more members achieve their best-possible retirement.

Rest CEO Vicki Doyle said the reforms proposed by government today provide an opportunity for superannuation funds to cost-effectively increase the scope and reach of their financial advice, while also maintaining strong consumer protection for members.

"Everyone should be able to access simple, convenient financial advice, especially lower and middle-income Australians,” said Ms Doyle.

"Expanding financial advice within super will help more of our members make informed decisions to improve their retirement outcomes.

"We represent nearly two million members, including around one million women and one million aged 30 or younger – people who have historically been less likely to access financial advice.

"Many of our members would simply not be able to access advice if it wasn’t available through their fund. This proposal will help make the super system fairer and more equitable.

"We support these reforms and will continue to work closely with Government, the industry and other stakeholders to enact these changes.”

Rest strongly supports:

  • the proposed modifications to the best interests duty to clarify how it applies to limited scope or scaled advice, and the removal of the safe harbour steps, which were providing very limited consumer benefit to advice delivery

  • the introduction of a new class of financial adviser with appropriate qualification and competency standards according to the complexity of the advice they are providing, and clear AFSL obligations for authorisation and supervision

  • the expansion and legislative clarity on the topics that can be collectively charged by a superannuation fund, and the ability to consider a broader range of members’ personal and household circumstances

  • a principles-based advice record to replace Statements of Advice, and

  • a review of the Financial Planners and Advisers Code of Ethics 2019.

Rest’s digital advice tools have allowed the fund to expand the reach of its financial advice service to its membership base. Around 90 per cent of Rest’s advice interactions with members in the 2022/23 financial year came through digital tools. Digital interactions rose 28 per cent year on year compared to the previous financial year.

"Our digital tools have allowed us to reach young more members and women. More than half of our total advice interactions in 2022/23 were with members under the age of 40, and nearly all of them used our digital tools," said Ms Doyle.


About Rest

Established in 1988, Rest is one of Australia’s largest profit-to-member superannuation funds, with more than 1.96 million members and around $75 billion in funds under management as at 30 June 2023.

For further information please visit out media centre or contact:

Michael Mills
Senior Manager, Communications – Media Relations
michael.mills@rest.com.au 
m: 0428 499 722

This information has been prepared without taking account of your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on the information or deciding whether to acquire or hold a product, consider its appropriateness and the relevant PDS and TMD which is available at rest.com.au/pds. Issued by Retail Employees Superannuation Pty Limited ABN 39 001 987 739, AFSL 24 0003 (Rest), trustee of Retail Employees Superannuation Trust ABN 62 653 671 394.

Rest Advice is provided by Rest staff (Rest Advisers) as authorised representatives of Link Advice Pty Limited ABN 36 105 811 836 AFSL 258145. Rest Digital Advice is provided by Link Advice. For more information on Rest Advice, see the Financial Services Guide. You can obtain a full copy of the Financial Services Guide at rest.com.au/pds or by calling us on 1300 300 778.

Rest news articles and media releases are point-in-time statements. Please note the date of issue and check the website for other information on the same or related matters.