Lifeskills - Brought to you by AIA Australia
Putting Members First Bill passes with dangerous amendments
The government has negotiated the Putting Members First Bill with crossbenchers, who were concerned about the loss of valuable insurance for workers in high-risk occupations who may not be able to get cover elsewhere.
John BerrillSeptember 20, 2019
Leadership
Sunsuper names Bernard Reilly CEO
Sunsuper appoints TCorp’s Bernard Reilly to the top job, replacing Scott Hartley who resigned after more than five years at the helm.
Sarah JonesSeptember 20, 2019
Absolute Returns Conference
Does size matter? VicSuper, First State, Media Super say ‘yes’
A wave of consolidation will see Australia’s superannuation industry emerge with a handful of jumbo funds and a clutch of niche players, says First State Super's Deanne Stewart.
Elizabeth FrySeptember 18, 2019
Absolute Returns Conference
Embrace the blackbox says AMP Capital, FORT
Australia’s $2.9 trillion superannuation industry should not be afraid of using artificial intelligence or machine learning, delegates were told at the Absolute Returns Conference in Sydney.
Sarah JonesSeptember 18, 2019
Fund Governance
Double standards in corporate governance create unseen risk
As Australian investors ramp up exposure to private markets they should check who in the fund structure is there to look after their interests, says Castle Hall's Alex Wise.
Alex WiseSeptember 18, 2019
Operations
The industry’s drive for scale: Who benefits?
The argument that bigger fund leads to better returns is largely dependent on liquidity and opportunity size. Further, the evidence on the benefits of scale is not encouraging so far, says Michael Kollo.
Michael KolloSeptember 9, 2019
Operations
The battle of data scientists vs the quants
There are powerful forces changing the quantitative communities around the world. These include heavy competition in asset management, a desperate need to stand-out in an overcrowded field and readily available datasets and coding libraries.
Michael KolloAugust 19, 2019
Operations
The rising tide: From AI to investments
The business of developing unique algorithms opens opportunities for them to be seen as stand alone products that can be traded or shared, forming the basis of a value proposition.
Michael KolloAugust 7, 2019
Governance
First State, HESTA named world leaders in ESG
Six Australian super funds were named world leaders in responsible investing at a PRI conference in Paris this week.
Sarah JonesSeptember 11, 2019
Governance
Where has all the competition gone?
As the industry has consolidated and insurers retain more risk to offset falling revenue, funds accessing reinsurers’ pricing and capacity is the simplest solution to re-balance competition for members
Ilan LeasSeptember 2, 2019
Governance
What is the purpose of our retirement income system?
In view of the forthcoming review of the retirement income system, it is necessary to think about the level of financial resources needed by Australians in retirement. So, what is the purpose of the system? Currently we do not have a clear objective, says Mercer's David Knox.
Dr David KnoxAugust 28, 2019
Investment Strategy
Multiple currency drivers baffle investors
There are multiple drivers of currency and investors have failed to understand that these are far more complex than just momentum and carry and change over time.
Elizabeth FrySeptember 17, 2019
Investment Strategy
UniSuper, Sunsuper see higher equity markets
Two of Australia's largest superannuation funds expect markets to climb a wall of worry, extending a 'record-breaking' bull market.
Sarah JonesSeptember 16, 2019
Investment Strategy
Direct lending Intensifies
Australian asset owners have intensified their search for yield in direct lending as cash rates head toward zero or below.
Elizabeth FrySeptember 16, 2019
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Global Macro Shifts - Brought to you by Franklin Templeton
Adrift—Has US monetary policy become unanchored?
Looser monetary policy by the Federal Reserve may have unintended consequences for the US economy and markets, according to Dr. Sonal Desai, Fixed Income CIO at Franklin Templeton.
Technology
Superannuation accounts a rich target for cyber-crime
Superannuation funds present unique opportunities for cyber-criminals to attack
October 28, 2019 - October 29, 2019
Equities Summit
SUITABLE FOR: Heads of equities, Portfolio managers, CIOs, Asset consultants
The Equities Summit is designed to examine how the exposure and implementation of equity strategies have changed over the years with the evolution of portfolio construction techniques and quantitative and risk analysis.
November 18, 2019 - November 20, 2019
Fiduciary Investors Symposium
SUITABLE FOR: CIOs, Heads of asset classes, Chairs of investment, Asset consultants
The Fiduciary Investors Symposiums are designed to examine the management of fiduciary assets in both investment strategy and implementation, including the latest thinking relating to asset allocation, risk management, beta management and alpha generation.
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.
Leadership
Peter Warne: TCorp’s big NSW ambitions
Peter Warne, interim chair of TCorp and chair of Macquarie Group, talks to Investment Magazine, about governance, the evolution of his leadership style and the transformation of the investment and financial management partner of the New South Wales public sector.
Elizabeth FryAugust 26, 2019
Leadership
Equip Super and Catholic Super name new investment chief
The merger of Equip Super and Catholic Super is unlikely to alter the joint venture's investment strategy since the funds' asset allocation mix is similar and there is a huge overlap in investment beliefs, says Anna Shelley, CIO of the merged entity.
Elizabeth FryAugust 26, 2019
Leadership
Tasplan’s Naomi Edwards on mergers and ‘unique value’ propositions
Naomi Edwards, chair of $9.5 billion Hobart-based superannuation fund, Tasplan, says many super funds kid themselves over how unique their value proposition is.
Elizabeth FryAugust 12, 2019
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Insurance
ASIC paper raises thorny issues for super funds
The corporate watchdog proposes to cut the time for decision-making on an IDR complaint to 45 days for superannuation disputes.
John BerrillSeptember 2, 2019
Insurance
Construction workers’ mental health is improving but female and younger workers still struggle
Construction workers are less likely to identify as having a mental health condition than the average Aussie worker and are less stressed overall, according to new research from SuperFriend.
Elizabeth FryAugust 14, 2019
Insurance
Protecting Your Super: Mythbuster
The Senate Economics Committee has recommended that the Putting Members Interests First bill be passed, further restricting default insurance in super.
John BerrillJuly 24, 2019
Post-Retirement
Knox, Rice and Asher urge retirement reform
Three of Australia’s leading superannuation and retirement experts have urged the federal government to give broad scope to its review of Australia’s retirement system, as the current system has too many flaws.
Elizabeth FryAugust 21, 2019
Post-Retirement
Mercer: Grattan research flawed and misleading
A campaign by the Grattan Institute against lifting the superannuation guarantee rate to 12 per cent is based on a “misleading” model, according to a new Mercer report released on Thursday. Mercer senior actuary David Knox said the Grattan findings used a series of assumptions that were not realistic for the average Australian.
Elizabeth FryAugust 1, 2019
Post-Retirement
Risk aversion trumps fund balance in life-cycle fund design
A key issue in life-cycle fund design is setting the right ‘glide path’ for switching from growth to defensive assets over time. As it turns out, risk aversion is far more important than pension fund balance.
Geoff WarrenJuly 29, 2019