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As Treasury releases its discussion paper on regulation of the retirement phase, David Bell and Geoff Warren of The Conexus Institute argue that an affordable trustee-directed mechanism should be facilitated so that all super fund members can receive some retirement guidance.
David Bell and Geoff WarrenDecember 5, 2023
The latest
2023 Fiduciary Investors Symposium
‘Cold war’ with China the best of all possible outcomes
The Australian Government’s re-setting of the country’s relationship with China has been applauded by one of the world’s leading authorities on geopolitics and authoritarian regimes. Stanford University’s Professor Stephen Kotkin says of all the possible outcomes, a “cold war” is the best the West could have been hoped for.
31 Jan - 1 February, 2024
Chair Forum
27 February, 2024
Real Estate Forum
30 April, 2024
Private Credit Forum
Leadership
2023 Fiduciary Investors Symposium
Future Fund CIO rejects ‘macho, Darwinian’ investing culture
In his first public comments since being named chief investment officer of Australia’s sovereign wealth fund in August, Ben Samild has criticised the institutional investment industry’s penchant for “militaristic language and culture”. Samild told the Fiduciary Investors Symposium he was expanding the fund’s investment committee and prioritising portfolio resilience and his team’s wellbeing.
Aleks VickovichNovember 13, 2023
Real estate
The real estate CEO on a quest to make social housing investible for super funds
HESTA and AustralianSuper have heeded the government's call to allocate capital to local housing affordability projects, but Super Housing Partnerships CEO Carolyn Viney is aware she needs to address concerns over lack of scale and pipeline of projects in the nascent asset class before she can convince some of their peers.
Glenda KorporaalNovember 30, 2023
Profiles
Unlisted assets part of a brighter future for mid-sized fund
Queensland-based Brighter Super will capitalise on the liquidity created by its recent mergers to lift exposure to infrastructure, renewable energy, private equity, and credit. Chief investment officer Mark Rider says take advantage of its size to chase deals bigger funds can’t.
Glenda KorporaalAugust 8, 2023
Member engagement
Member engagement
Super complaints continue to rise, fuelling customer service crackdown
Industry super funds are under immense pressure to rethink their traditional low-cost operating model as their loyal members now demand significantly more service - and the government and regulators are prepared to wield a big stick.
Glenda KorporaalNovember 21, 2023
Industry trends
‘Our patience has run out’: APRA warns funds on cybersecurity
APRA chair John Lonsdale has given superannuation funds, banks and insurers another prod to improve “foundational issues” in cybersecurity, explaining the regulator will no longer entertain underpreparedness from the financial sector.
Darcy SongNovember 3, 2023
Equities
Inside AustralianSuper’s active ownership strategy
The nation's largest super fund has emerged as a kingmaker ahead of ASX AGM season. But while its role in a string of M&A deals, including Brookfield's bid for Origin Energy, has grabbed headlines, the active ownership focus was a deliberate strategy by the fund.
Glenda KorporaalOctober 18, 2023
Industry and regulation
Opinion
Fresh political probe a chance for super sector’s new leaders
Industry insiders may well bristle at the thought of yet another parliamentary inquiry into superannuation and related issues. But it is also a chance for the sector to make its own case on member experience and customer service standards, and for the newly unveiled CEOs of the SMCA and ASFA to prove their advocacy credentials.
Aleks VickovichNovember 28, 2023
Portfolio & risk management
‘Immaculate disinflation’ is starting to look achievable
Interest rates are reaching levels where they are hampering economies and the domestic inflationary forces still swirling could prove tougher to quell than the price increases caused by global shocks. Investors might have become too optimistic.
Michael CollinsNovember 27, 2023
2023 Fiduciary Investors Symposium
Investors in China urged to proceed with caution
Opportunities to invest in China remain plentiful, but investors must proceed with greater caution than in the recent past in light of renewed geopolitical tensions and a confluence of factors combining to put a brake on the economy.
Simon HoyleNovember 24, 2023