Featured Homepage Posts
RIAA identifies Australia’s top super funds
Australian super funds that employ responsible investment strategies have outperformed their competitors over one, three and five-year time frames, fresh data from Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA) has confirmed.
Elizabeth FryDecember 6, 2019
Financial Advice
Most super fund advice not in clients’ best interest: ASIC
Less than half of 233 superannuation advice files reviewed by the corporate watchdog demonstrated full compliance with best interest duty and related obligations, according to a new report.
Tahn SharpeDecember 6, 2019
Investment Strategy
Bridgewater says US, UK close to deploying MP3
Bob Prince said the Federal Reserve and the Bank of England are “just one downturn away” from being forced to deploy what the world’s largest hedge fund refers to as monetary policy three.
Sarah JonesDecember 4, 2019
Lifeskills - Brought to you by AIA Australia
APRA: Claim acceptances at historic highs
APRA’s update on life insurance claims shows a rise in claims acceptance, falling claims time frames and high loss/claims ratios, particularly in group insurance.
John BerrillDecember 4, 2019
ESG
REST case to set climate risk precedent
Early next year, global investor attention will focus on the court proceedings against the trustee of the REST superannuation fund which is charged with breaching its fiduciary duties by failing to adequately consider climate change risks.
Jonathan SteffanoniDecember 4, 2019
Operations
Silk says mega funds are good for members
Ian Silk, the head of the country’s largest superannuation fund, AustralianSuper said the rise of the mega fund is good for the industry as long as it provide benefits to members.
Elizabeth FryNovember 14, 2019
Operations
QSuper tie-up heralds more deals in 2020
Next year is shaping up to be a busy one for mergers in the superannuation industry. QSuper’s potential tie-up with Sunsuper to create a $180 billion fund is said to be just one of a number of deals that will be announced in the next 12 months.
Sarah JonesNovember 6, 2019
Operations
KPMG warns ‘open super’ may put funds under pressure
Just as open banking is expected to be a game changer for Australian lenders, KPMG said the new “open super” platform could revolutionise the country’s pension industry.
Sarah JonesOctober 16, 2019
Governance
Should industry funds save the planet?
With Australian industry funds overseeing almost $1 trillion collectively, local assets owners like Cbus are questioning whether they should be required to invest more sustainably.
Sarah JonesDecember 3, 2019
Governance
Senate Inquiry: APRA, Westpac and heatmaps
APRA chair Wayne Byres told a parliamentary hearing on Monday that broader enforcement powers have allowed APRA to achieve better results.
Elizabeth FryDecember 2, 2019
Governance
Super CEOs back APRA’s heatmap in Canberra
Australian Super's Ian Silk and ISA's Bernie Dean have backed the prudential regulator's heatmaps and reiterated their call to remove "dud" funds from the system. They joined REST and QSuper in a parliamentary inquiry.
Staff WritersNovember 22, 2019
Investment Strategy
Sunsuper shrugs off private market froth as prices near top
Sunsuper investment chief Ian Patrick is buying unlisted assets despite record high prices that are set to climb higher as super funds scramble for yield.
Elizabeth FryDecember 3, 2019
Investment Strategy
Tasplan chair says $23 billion fund right size for now
Tasplan chair Naomi Edwards said the superannuation fund will be busy bedding down the $23 billion merger with MTAA Super but would welcome a new partner if the right fund came along.
Elizabeth FryDecember 2, 2019
Investment Strategy
Sovereign funds look to defend and diversify
Sovereign wealth funds have upped their investment in bonds and private market assets as the world’s biggest investors move to defend and diversify their portfolios against a weakening economy.
Elizabeth FryDecember 2, 2019
Sponsored Content
Lifeskills - Brought to you by AIA Australia
How to measure the value of default insurance
In advocating for the passing of the Protecting Your Super and Putting Members’ Interests First bills, numerous decision-makers and thought leaders external to the industry indicated they didn’t recognise the value provided by default insurance in super.
Investment Innovation - Brought to you by Franklin Templeton
Quantitative Science—Actively Adding to Fixed Income Decisions
Quantitative vs. active debate? This Fixed Income Markets explains how our “active quant” approach sets us apart.
Technology
Human trust under threat with rise of AI
AI will play a big role in shaping the way human trust evolves and therefore how financial institutions, whose core business involves garnering trust, will progress.
January 29, 2020 - January 31, 2020
Chair Forum
SUITABLE FOR: Superannuation fund and investment committee chairs.
The forum addresses how super fund and investment committee chairs balance their increasing range of responsibilities, including board governance, strategy and delegation, investment decision- making, the economic environment, risk management and strategic asset allocation.
February 11, 2020
Investment Operations Conference
SUITABLE FOR: Superannuation funds, investment managers, regulators, technology innovators, fund managers, custodians and other investment back-office specialists.
The conference is for all those involved in the middle office of an institutional investor. The event offers leading content from industry experts and unparalleled networking opportunities. It brings a practical focus to the challenges and innovations shaping investment operations in Australia.
February 25, 2020
Private Credit Forum
Suitable for: Heads of fixed income and credit, portfolio managers, CIOs and asset consultants
The private credit forum provides an examination of the opportunities and the factors affecting the increasingly broad spectrum of loans and credit both domestically and internationally. This forum will cover the market conditions and opportunity sets across all forms of asset backed securities, such as collateralised debt obligations and mortgaged back securities.
Leadership
AustralianSuper appoints new group executives
Australia’s largest pension fund has announced two new group executive roles with the appointment of Paul Schroder as the fund’s chief risk officer and Peter Curtis as head of finance and operations.
Elizabeth FryOctober 23, 2019
Leadership
Equip Super and Catholic Super join forces: Looking for more partners
Equip Super and Catholic Super have joined forces in a landmark $26 billion deal and signalled a willingness to link up with other superannuation funds.
Elizabeth FryOctober 21, 2019
Leadership
legalsuper appoints interim investment chief
The $4.1 billion industry fund has appointed Paul Kessell as interim chief investment officer following the departure of Edward Smith in September.
Elizabeth FryOctober 18, 2019
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Insurance
AIA and CommInsure join forces
AIA has partnered with Commonwealth Bank’s life insurance business to operate as one entity as it waits for its purchase of CommInsure Life to be completed.
Elizabeth FryNovember 1, 2019
Insurance
Insurers on the front foot in tackling mental health
With an increasing body of evidence that shows returning to work can play a positive role in recovering from illness and injury, insurers and employers are looking to early intervention strategies that begin before a claim is even lodged.
Ben HurleyOctober 23, 2019
Insurance
ASIC report slams poor TPD policies
The cooperate watchdog's report into TPD claims has finally landed with ASIC applying a blowtorch to bad practices and products.
John BerrillOctober 23, 2019
Retirement
Trafford-Walker sees ‘jump down’ in super fees
Australians have long been slugged with high superannuation fees but charges are starting to drop as asset owners bring investment teams in-house, says Frontier's Fiona Trafford-Walker.
Elizabeth FryNovember 27, 2019
Retirement
The truth about super fees
There has been considerable commentary that the Australian superannuation industry has excessive fees. But that is not quite true, says Mercer's David Knox.
Dr David KnoxNovember 27, 2019
Retirement
Fahy defends super against contagious false narrative
ASFA boss Martin Fahy has hit out against critics of Australia’s superannuation system warning that it is currently in the grip of a contagious false narrative which risks undermining retirement outcomes.
Elizabeth FryNovember 13, 2019