Governance
Deconstructing the highly embarrassing Wirecard affair
The collapse of one of Germany’s darling tech companies highlights the failure of self-regulation by auditors and the need for investors to heed the signs of accounting fraud by a whistleblower says Alex Wise.
Alex WiseJuly 15, 2020
Policy and Regulation
Default funds model reforms next in line
Treasury is in the process of assessing a new model for default superannuation funds, the assistant minister for superannuation has revealed. Change to the default funds model on the back of Treasury’s work could be one of the next “micro reforms”, which in the last 12 months have included crisis relief early access to super […]
Matthew SmithJuly 14, 2020
Equities
Rethinking China’s role in emerging market equity portfolios
There is no discernible performance differential between the average ‘local’ manager versus the average ‘global’ asset manager when in investing in China, says Robert Doyle of bfinance.
Laurence Parker-BrownJuly 14, 2020
Events
Redefining leadership: How to create confidence in our future
There are reasons to develop confidence as we draw on the best examples of human curiosity, ingenuity and leadership. We are delighted to announce the most personal project of my career, a new series of intimate conversations with leaders of the decade to come.
Colin TateJuly 13, 2020
Policy and Regulation
Covid-19 a reminder of the danger of ignoring systematic risks
The economic crisis caused by the pandemic and the recovery journey ahead provides an opportunity to build greater preparedness for systemic risks like climate change, argues Travers McLeod, chief executive of the Centre for Policy Development.
Ben HurleyJuly 13, 2020
Leadership
Jack Gray: Australia better off with ‘one or two’ super funds
The Australian superannuation industry would be a lot less wasteful if it were amalgamated into one or two giant funds, argues one industry veteran.
Ben HurleyJuly 8, 2020
Hedge Funds
AMP Capital co-investing alongside hedge funds to add idiosyncratic returns
Seeking reduced correlation to other strategies such as equities, AMP Capitals’ Anastassia Juventin says co-investment aims to enhance the idiosyncrasy of hedge fund return streams.
Ben HurleyJuly 8, 2020
Alternatives
Alternatives a ‘loser’s game’: Ennis Knupp founder
Richard Ennis, an early pioneer of quant investing and co-founder of US investment consultancy giant EnnisKnupp, has a simple message for fund trustees: Liquidate your alternative investments and put the proceeds into index funds.
Ben HurleyJuly 6, 2020
Real Assets
Look to alternatives as COVID-19 threatens core real assets
COVID-19 is severely disrupting core, traditional real assets so investors need to increasingly turn to non-GDP exposed assets and alternatives, says Willis Towers Watson’s Dania Zinurova
Ben PowerJuly 6, 2020
Leadership
First State’s Deanne Stewart on conflicts and the role of transparency in ESG
Having just completed a merger with Vic Super to create one of Australia’s largest industry funds, First State Super CEO Deanne Stewart discusses conflicts of interest, the difficult job of balancing ESG practices with member interests and the challenges of scale.
Ben HurleyJuly 1, 2020
Investment Strategy
US recession to be more protracted than expected: DiMartino Booth
Fed policy is exacerbating the “barbell” shape of the US economy and setting it up for a domino chain of hardship when the credit cycle is allowed to return to normality, argues market commentator and chief strategist Danielle DiMartino Booth.
Ben HurleyJuly 1, 2020
Operations
Deloitte’s Roodt says early super access an ‘unmanageable’ risk
Deloitte Consulting’s Craig Roodt says funds should focus on building general resilience to prepare for specific shocks like early access to super.
Ben PowerJune 30, 2020
Editorial
Leadership and tough decisions at Juukan Gorge
There are many possible responses that a super fund could take to a situation like Juukan Gorge, but investment returns appear to have outweighed ESG issues yet again.
Colin TateJune 27, 2020
Investment Strategy
Sicilia: No cash-flow crisis, critics ‘simply wrong’
Hostplus CIO Sam Sicilia says critics are “simply wrong” about the fund facing a cash flow short-age, and argues the labels growth and defensive have become obsolete to the point of being “nonsensical”.
Ben HurleyJune 24, 2020
Investment Strategy
Australia’s super industry should chase inflation-based returns
Superannuation funds are aiming at the wrong goal posts by focusing on short-term performance league tables, says Callidum Investment Research principal consultant Rob Prugue.
Meredith BoothJune 24, 2020
Investment Strategy
Why equities haven’t disconnected from reality
Drummond Capital's Alex Cathcart says there are three reasons that justify the recent equities rally. And he also argues that investors must prepare their portfolios for a 'trinary' world in the wake of Covid-19.
Ben PowerJune 22, 2020
Operations
The power of the eyes in finding fraudulent actors
With no immediate end in sight to travel restrictions the due diligence activities of investors are being severely impeded. Castle Hall’s Alex Wise discusses what this means for due diligence programs in 2020.
Alex WiseJune 22, 2020
Operations
QIC warns against herd behaviour in currency hedging
The Australian dollar plunged 1,450 basis points between January and March before rallying 900 basis points. Asset owners were caught off guard, says Stuart Simmons.
Elizabeth FryMay 25, 2020
Operations
Qantas Super juggles stand-down dilemma
Qantas Super CEO Michael Clancy says the term stand-down is not in the fund’s trust deed and he is working closely with the airline to figure out what it means for super.
Elizabeth FryMay 13, 2020
Governance
Are property sector options playing with fire?
Over the years a liquidity mismatch between assets and liabilities has proven fatal for many. Yet super funds appear to have gone down this very path with around 15 offering single sector options.
David BellMay 27, 2020
Governance
Super needs stable policies to invest more
Super’s contribution to the pandemic is much broader than just processing early release payments. But the industry needs to see fewer policy changes.
Eva ScheerlinckMay 27, 2020
Governance
Rice: Is reforming tax on super the way forward?
Michael Rice says before the government makes a tax-grab it should look at the inequities in the superannuation system.
Elizabeth FryMay 25, 2020
Sponsored Content
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A new ‘normal’ in a post-COVID-19 world
Every Australian has by now been affected by COVID-19 in some way, some dramatically.
Market Narratives
Stabilising the ship: how the buyside is navigating Covid-19
BNP Paribas Securities Services shares its unique insights into some of the challenges asset managers and their asset owners faced during this unprecedented COVID-19 period.
Market Narratives
Surviving the dividend drought
Australia is in another drought, but it’s not from a lack of rain. The overall market dividend expectations for the S&P/ASX 200 Index have declined 30%.
Leadership
How superannuation can pull Australia out of recession
As an industry, super should remain a key player in the economic recovery now and into the future, says CIO of First State Super Damian Graham.
Damian GrahamJune 18, 2020
Leadership
Outgoing Media Super CEO criticises Coalition ‘hypocrisy’
The outgoing chief executive of Media Super, Graeme Russell, has criticised the Coalition for waging a war on industry funds, but he is optimistic about the future of industry-specific and mid-size superannuation funds.
Ben PowerJune 15, 2020
Leadership
Future Fund promotes Raphael Arndt to CEO
Arndt will take over the helm of the $205 billion sovereign wealth fund in July after a three-month global search for a candidate.
Sarah JonesMay 7, 2020
Insurance
The program that helps people thrive after cancer
With health coaching a proven way to help recovery from a range of illnesses, insurers are adopt-ing CancerAid Coach Program in their push towards earlier intervention for cancer patients.
Ben HurleyJune 8, 2020
Insurance
Insurance switch-off & Covid-19
On 1 April hundreds of thousands of Australian workers will lose valuable life and disability insurance in their superannuation. In the current Covid-19 world, this is madness.
John BerrillMarch 27, 2020
Insurance
The future of group insurance
The future of group insurance depends on super funds investing in member engagement, rethinking protection products and working with insurers to tailor products that change with members’ needs.
Elizabeth FryMarch 2, 2020
Retirement
Early release and its impact on super preservation
There are many consequences of early access to super that go beyond the individual, says David Knox.
David KnoxJune 18, 2020
Retirement
Amundi dusts off crisis playbook
Raphael Sobotka, global head of retirement solutions at the $2.8 trillion global asset manager, said his team had not experienced any net redemptions since the outbreak of the coronavirus roiled financial markets.
Sarah JonesApril 21, 2020
Retirement
Coronavirus crisis deals body blow to income-starved investors
Investors’ search for income is getting tougher and more urgent as the coronavirus pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the global markets, says Jason Brady, Thornburg's chief executive.
Elizabeth FryApril 7, 2020
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August 18, 2020
Group Insurance Summit
SUITABLE FOR: Those who work within superannuation funds in executive roles and management or as a trustee or consultant.
The largest annual forum exploring the insurance trends affecting industry super funds. With a program developed for group insurance professionals by group insurance professionals, the event covers innovation in product design and the claims experience.
September 23, 2020 - September 24, 2020
Absolute Returns Conference
SUITABLE FOR: Heads of alternatives, Portfolio managers, CIOs, Asset consultants.
The Absolute Returns Conference is designed to examine strategies that deliver absolute return outcomes. This includes the case for liquid alternatives and how to gain returns from alternative beta, volatility strategies, and appropriate fee structures.
November 12, 2020
Group Insurance Summit
SUITABLE FOR: Those who work within superannuation funds in executive roles and management or as a trustee or consultant.
The largest annual forum exploring the insurance trends affecting industry super funds. With a program developed for group insurance professionals by group insurance professionals, the event covers innovation in product design and the claims experience.