Equities
Holistic equities approach needed for climate change action
Australia’s $2.9 trillion of superannuation assets are becoming an increasingly powerful force for action on climate change, but experts are calling for a more holistic approach to equities that covers the entire value chain.
Ben HurleyApril 16, 2021
Fund Governance
Funds are holding 100s of millions in excess reserves: Analysis
Some of the country’s largest funds have in some cases accrued more than nine-times the operational risk financial reserve requirement set by APRA with a handful of large funds bulking up their general reserves.
Matthew SmithApril 14, 2021
Infrastructure
Reinventing infrastructure: Data improvement is reframing the asset class
Better valuation, performance monitoring and risk assessment methods are needed for infrastructure assets if institutional capital is to play a key role in the economic recovery following Covid-19, experts say.
Ben HurleyApril 12, 2021
Regulation
APRA inaction likely contributed to performance test policy creation
A reluctance or lack of appetite by the Australian Prudential Regulatory Authority for enforcement against underperforming superannuation funds has likely played a role in the creation of the Your Future, Your Super performance test, a Senate Committee has heard.
Matthew SmithApril 7, 2021
Regulation
‘Retrograde’ performance test picked apart at senate hearing
Limited scope, benchmarking issues and a failure to identify diversification risks were some of the key issues plaguing the proposed performance test according to speakers called up by the Senate hearing in Sydney Wednesday morning.
Tahn SharpeApril 7, 2021
Investment Strategy
Cryptocurrencies offer ‘significant’ positives as a defensive asset: Pendal’s Gor
Institutions look to cryptos as bonds lose their effectiveness as part of a defensive strategy, Pendal Group's Vimal Gor explains.
Meredith BoothApril 6, 2021
Investment Strategy
Fixed income investors adapt to ‘new rules’ set by Central Banks
Moves by central banks have changed the risk and reward outlook for credit investors, fixed income experts.
Meredith BoothApril 6, 2021
Investment Strategy
Fine line between performing and stressed as volatility returns to credit markets
Higher interest rates have brought back volatility this year in credit markets, posing challenges for certain issuers trying to access liquidity financing and additional capital to avoid restructuring, experts have observed.
Jessica SierApril 6, 2021
Policy and Regulation
YFYS performance test: Implications for ESG
Strategies that have a lower alignment to the performance test benchmarks could become high risk for trustees as they could lead to failure of the test, over certain periods, despite longer-term outperformance, Mercer's Barlow points out.
Emily BarlowMarch 31, 2021
Policy and Regulation
How funds foot penalties and remediation still not clear
Even in cases where remediation programs have begun or actions have been taken and where remediation is possible, regulators and government remain unclear about how trustees can direct funds to pay without impacting member balances, a House or Reps committee has heard.
Matthew SmithMarch 29, 2021
Policy and Regulation
Performance ‘argie-bargie’ not helping industry’s cause: Rowell
APRA will have “significant input” into the government’s proposed YFYS performance test which is not yet set in stone, APRA's Helen Rowell noted, before expressing frustration with industry interactions relating to performance measurement.
Matthew SmithFebruary 1, 2021
Governance
Regulations on data, disclosure and performance a “triple threat” to operations in 2021
APRA reporting requirements will only heighten the challenge for funds of understanding, mapping and tagging increasing amounts of data, and directing it towards various insights and reporting standards, experts have highlighted.
Ben HurleyMarch 25, 2021
Governance
Technology brings new weapons against impenetrable jargon
The data science that has been introduced into the due diligence process in the last year enables a large number of managers quickly and efficiently identify their investment skills in a way that that really wasn't possible say several years ago, according to Inalytics's Rick Di Mascio.
Ben HurleyMarch 25, 2021
Governance
No stock standard approach when establishing data management platforms, say experts
Organisations might begin by seeking an operational and portfolio data solution that's fit-for-purpose but end up establishing their own data management platforms to gain data independence from their custodian, a panel has discussed.
Ben HurleyMarch 25, 2021
Leadership
It’s time to do things differently in retirement policy
After six-years in retirement income helping super funds and policymakers with their positioning, strategy and product in all things decumulation, Amara Haqqani is shifting her focus elsewhere, but not before delivering some home truths to the segment.
Amara HaqqaniMarch 24, 2021
Leadership
Rejecting Covid vaccine ‘unfair’: Dr John Fraser
While he doesn't advocate forced vaccinations, the world-renowned medical professor and heart and lung intensive care specialist expressed frustration with poor leadership and the media "beat up" on blood clots, which has undermined confidence in the global vaccine rollout.
Tahn SharpeMarch 24, 2021
Leadership
UniSuper’s O’Sullivan on his legacy and life after stapling
UniSuper's biggest challenges might well land on the shoulders of O'Sullivan's successor in light of the hit the fund will take to cashflows if so called 'stapling' proposals are passed.
Matthew SmithMarch 22, 2021
Insurance
‘Some merit’ in group insurance review: Hume
The minister expressed support for the productivity commission’s 2018 call for an independent inquiry into the “increasingly unviable” group insurance industry, while her counterpart Stephen Jones put the onus on the industry itself to demonstrate its value.
Tahn SharpeFebruary 3, 2021
Insurance
Screws tighten on trustees to justify rising insurance premiums
The recently announced duty to act in members’ best financial interests increases the likelihood that trustees will come under pressure to justify rising insurance premiums, particularly in respect of MySuper members who hold default coverage.
Richard WebbDecember 9, 2020
Insurance
AIA Australia’s Mu voices support for stapling reforms
It’s time to take the opportunity to think differently about insurance in superannuation, AIA Australia chief executive Damien Mu has said.
Matthew SmithNovember 20, 2020
Retirement
Simplicity and confidence key to retirement puzzle: Challenger
Finding better retirement solutions will require more than just ‘age and balance’ metrics, but the industry will need to keep things simple to retain members’ faith and their confidence to spend, according to Challenger’s Aaron Minney.
Tahn SharpeNovember 2, 2020
ArticleRetirement
Moral outrage at super system ‘justified’: Daley
The former Grattan Institute CEO isn’t pulling any punches in his assessment of the “sharp knife” that is our super system. The “20 to 30” billion dollars it costs to run our retirement savings each year may be terrific for people working in the industry, he says, but not for the rest of the country.
Tahn SharpeJuly 22, 2020
Retirement
Pension Loan Scheme provides a comfortable retirement
Most Australians believe they are ineligible but changes to a Government loan scheme may augment retirement income for many, says Rice Warner chief Andrew Boal.
Meredith BoothJune 24, 2020
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April 28, 2021 - April 29, 2021
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.
May 6, 2021
Redefining Leadership – Alan Joyce
Our final guest for the Redefining Leadership series is an icon of modern leadership and the executive with the hardest job in corporate Australia, Qantas CEO, Alan Joyce.
We hope you can join us live to be a part of the conversation.
June 23, 2021
Retirement Conference
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