NEW DELHI: Pension fund regulator PFRDA is framing rules for ‘retirement advisers’ who are expected to play a major role in propagating the New Pension System (NPS). “Retirement Adviser can play a significant role in helping the prospects/subscribers in deciding retirement plans. Accordingly, it is proposed to issue Regulations for Retirement Advisers,” the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) said while issuing the draft regulations.
The objective of the Regulations is to provide a framework for their eligibility, registration process, fees and to define the scope of work and responsibility, the Authority, which has sought public comments on the draft by February 7, said. NPS has more than 1.13 crore subscribers with total Asset Under Management of more than Rs 1.08 lakh crore. As per the draft, individual, firm or a corporate body acting as a retirement adviser on NPS will have to obtain a certificate of registration from the Authority.
The individual, proprietors, partners and representatives of a retirement adviser should at least be a graduate. The Advisers which are body corporate or partnership firm would have to provide security deposit or performance guarantee of Rs 1 lakh to the Authority and the amount has been proposed at Rs 10,000 in case of individuals.
Educating and making people aware of the benefits of the retirement planning and creating awareness about the pension schemes is critical for increasing participation in the voluntary segment of National Pension System (NPS). “Retirement Advisers, with adequate knowledge of a prospects’ needs and means, and knowledge of the pension products, will be in a better position to advise individuals, who have different levels of education, financial literacy, wealth, income potential, capacity to save and financial goals,” the regulator said.
An individual Retirement Adviser offering advice to an individual prospect and facilitating on-boarding to NPS may charge fees from the prospect, the draft said. In case of individual advisor, the upper ceiling for advisory and onboarding for a prospect would Rs 120 and for subsequent services, the charge has been proposed at Rs 20 per transaction or Rs 100 annually.
