indomie
13-12-13, 13:37
Another reason why Australians are lucky
CNBC.com**12/12/13 9:21 PM ET
By: Katie Holliday
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Peter Dazeley | Photographer's Choice RF | Getty Images
On average, Australians enjoy the highest inheritance payouts worldwide at roughly half a million dollars per person, HSBC has found, but on the flip side they are also getting complacent over saving for retirement.
According to HSBC's global Future of Retirement report, Australians pass on an average inheritance of 561,636 Australian dollars ($501,919) to their heirs, which is four times higher than the global average of $148,205. Some 69 percent of Australians, the second highest ranking of the 15 countries analyzed, were planning to leave an inheritance.
But Graham Heunis, head of retail banking and wealth management at HSBC in Australia, said the country's hefty inheritance levels were discouraging the younger generation from worrying over their retirement. Half of working Australians told HSBC their future inheritance would partially finance their own retirement, while 14 percent would rely solely on it.
(Read More: Australia to be 'odd one out' in 2014: Goldman Sachs)
"This latest report shows that this complacency [over savings] may partly stem from Australians banking on their inheritance to fund their retirement," said Heunis. "But this perception overlooks the fact that inheritance is often split between family members or may be eroded by children needing to pay their parents' debts such as mortgages, medical or aged care needs."
Inheritance levels have soared in recent decades due to the strength of the Australian economy and the absence of inheritance tax, according to HSBC.
"Over the past decade Australian household wealth has grown 7.6 percent per year making us one of the richest nations per capita globally, allowing retirees to provide their children a significant financial legacy," said Heunis.
(Read More: A Wealthy Nation That Can't Afford to Retire)
"However, with no inheritance tax in Australia, it's no surprise the value and proportion of inheritance among Australian retirees is exponentially higher than the rest of the world," he added.
The report contrasted Australia with other affluent western nations like the U.K. and the U.S., where inheritance and estate tax may cost heirs upwards of 40 percent of an inheritance.
In these countries, retirees are inclined to give financial gifts throughout their lives to pay for their children's major life events like education, mortgage or marriage rather than a lump sum endowment, said the report.
(Read More: Australia's cheese war–the battle for Warrnambool)
PLAY VIDEO As Asia's elderly population rises, there is a risk that many will outlive their retirement savings if they fail to plan properly. CNBC's Chloe Cho investigates the economics of old age.
"We know from previous research that Australians are complacent when it comes to retirement planning with Australians anticipating a 10-year shortfall in their retirement savings and nearly 60 percent acknowledging they are inadequately preparing or not prepared at all for retirement," said Heunis.
"Working-age Australians need to continue preparing and saving to ensure their own financial security in retirement, and to treat any inheritance as a bonus," he added.
(Read More: Is Australia at a tipping point, literally?)
Other countries with high levels of inheritance included Singapore, where 70 percent of those surveyed said they were planning on leaving a hefty stash of cash behind for their offspring, and the average amount was 466,099 Singapore dollars ($370,966). Singapore citizens are also not taxed on their inheritance.
India and Malaysia had higher percentages of people planning on giving inheritance, at 86 percent and 78 percent, respectively, but the average amount was distinctly lower, at $47,775 and $38,814, respectively.
The report interviewed 16,000 people in 15 countries, including 1,000 Australians, and examined all aspects of retirement including the transition period, income and spending, on top of legacy planning.
(Read More: Among Rich Nations,U.S. Retirement System Needs Work)
— By CNBC's Katie Holliday: Follow her on Twitter @hollidaykatie
CNBC.com**12/12/13 9:21 PM ET
By: Katie Holliday
*** * *
Peter Dazeley | Photographer's Choice RF | Getty Images
On average, Australians enjoy the highest inheritance payouts worldwide at roughly half a million dollars per person, HSBC has found, but on the flip side they are also getting complacent over saving for retirement.
According to HSBC's global Future of Retirement report, Australians pass on an average inheritance of 561,636 Australian dollars ($501,919) to their heirs, which is four times higher than the global average of $148,205. Some 69 percent of Australians, the second highest ranking of the 15 countries analyzed, were planning to leave an inheritance.
But Graham Heunis, head of retail banking and wealth management at HSBC in Australia, said the country's hefty inheritance levels were discouraging the younger generation from worrying over their retirement. Half of working Australians told HSBC their future inheritance would partially finance their own retirement, while 14 percent would rely solely on it.
(Read More: Australia to be 'odd one out' in 2014: Goldman Sachs)
"This latest report shows that this complacency [over savings] may partly stem from Australians banking on their inheritance to fund their retirement," said Heunis. "But this perception overlooks the fact that inheritance is often split between family members or may be eroded by children needing to pay their parents' debts such as mortgages, medical or aged care needs."
Inheritance levels have soared in recent decades due to the strength of the Australian economy and the absence of inheritance tax, according to HSBC.
"Over the past decade Australian household wealth has grown 7.6 percent per year making us one of the richest nations per capita globally, allowing retirees to provide their children a significant financial legacy," said Heunis.
(Read More: A Wealthy Nation That Can't Afford to Retire)
"However, with no inheritance tax in Australia, it's no surprise the value and proportion of inheritance among Australian retirees is exponentially higher than the rest of the world," he added.
The report contrasted Australia with other affluent western nations like the U.K. and the U.S., where inheritance and estate tax may cost heirs upwards of 40 percent of an inheritance.
In these countries, retirees are inclined to give financial gifts throughout their lives to pay for their children's major life events like education, mortgage or marriage rather than a lump sum endowment, said the report.
(Read More: Australia's cheese war–the battle for Warrnambool)
PLAY VIDEO As Asia's elderly population rises, there is a risk that many will outlive their retirement savings if they fail to plan properly. CNBC's Chloe Cho investigates the economics of old age.
"We know from previous research that Australians are complacent when it comes to retirement planning with Australians anticipating a 10-year shortfall in their retirement savings and nearly 60 percent acknowledging they are inadequately preparing or not prepared at all for retirement," said Heunis.
"Working-age Australians need to continue preparing and saving to ensure their own financial security in retirement, and to treat any inheritance as a bonus," he added.
(Read More: Is Australia at a tipping point, literally?)
Other countries with high levels of inheritance included Singapore, where 70 percent of those surveyed said they were planning on leaving a hefty stash of cash behind for their offspring, and the average amount was 466,099 Singapore dollars ($370,966). Singapore citizens are also not taxed on their inheritance.
India and Malaysia had higher percentages of people planning on giving inheritance, at 86 percent and 78 percent, respectively, but the average amount was distinctly lower, at $47,775 and $38,814, respectively.
The report interviewed 16,000 people in 15 countries, including 1,000 Australians, and examined all aspects of retirement including the transition period, income and spending, on top of legacy planning.
(Read More: Among Rich Nations,U.S. Retirement System Needs Work)
— By CNBC's Katie Holliday: Follow her on Twitter @hollidaykatie