Industry & regulation
Laggards drag down super’s death benefits progress: ASIC
ASIC has warned that a tail of underperforming superannuation trustees risks undermining industry-wide progress on claims handling more than a year after the regulator excoriated funds for dragging their feet on death benefits claims.
Investments
The twin forces rewriting the rules of investing
Portfolios built for the old world will be severely tested as emerging forces rewrite the rules of investing. The Top1000Funds.com Fiduciary Investors Symposium heard that geopolitical and macroeconomic upheaval, together with the disruption wrought by AI, should force asset owners to rethink the structure and composition of portfolios.
Leadership & profiles
Super fund executives, regulator honoured on King’s Birthday
The long-serving CEOs of HESTA and Hostplus have both been made Members of the Order of Australia in a move that signals the growing presence of super funds in the Australian political landscape. APRA deputy chair Margaret Cole, who is set to leave the regulator at the end of this month, has also been honoured for her service to the industry.
Policy and Regulation
Super funds hold the capital the world needs: NSW Treasurer
NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey says last year’s Citi A50 summit is converting investor interest into firm approvals, as the state pushes data centre, renewable energy and electrification projects through a fast-track process and positions Sydney as a global financial centre.
21 July, 2026
Insurance in Super Summit
19 August, 2026
Retirement Leaders Summit
13 – 15 October, 2026
Fiduciary Investors Symposium
Featured Homepage Posts
Prime Super investment boss heads to First Super
The $5.7 billion First Super has appointed Prime Super head of investments Michael McQueen to its top investment job, ending an interim arrangement that has been in place since the resignation of CEO Bill Watson in early January.
Leadership & profiles
GESB CEO calls time: ‘Past regime of default super’ no longer sustainable
GESB chief executive Ben Palmer is set to leave the Western Australian government super fund, ending a 13-year tenure after steering the fund through the most significant change in its history. In a rare interview, Palmer examines the past, present and future of super and explains why GESB is treating platforms, not profit-to-member funds, as its benchmark.
Profiles
Why HESTA’s ‘joined-up thinking’ is one of its CIO’s favourite things
Sonya Sawtell-Rickson joined HESTA as the health industry workers’ super fund was taking steps towards investment internalisation and a total portfolio approach. She says the moves have been vindicated not only by member returns but in the “joined-up” conversations the now-$96 billion fund has with the companies it invests in.
Retirement
Measuring what matters: Redefining retirement success in a maturing super system
As the retirement phase becomes the defining challenge of the superannuation system, the ability to measure what truly matters for members will increasingly shape how funds design, prioritise and deliver retirement outcomes. Funds must be able to measure, understand and improve retirement outcomes, not just investment performance.
Industry & regulation
Super complaints expected to reach 8000 in 2026: AFCA
Superannuation complaints to AFCA are on track to exceed 8000 this year, a second consecutive year of around 30 per cent increases. Heather Gray, who is retiring in May after six years as lead ombudsman for superannuation, told the authority’s Member Forum that the answer to reducing complaints lies in empowering funds’ IDR teams and communicating with complainants and AFCA early. The forum heard that handling unreasonable people is a critical skill.
Governance
Third HESTA exec heads for the door in less than 12 months
The departure of the $100 billion HESTA’s chief operating officer Stephen Reilly follows those of chief executive Debby Blakey and chief risk officer Andrew Major, and is part of a shake-up among the broader senior ranks of Australian super funds.
Industry & regulation
APRA performance test data caught Shield, First Guardian growth
Analysis of data collected by APRA for the annual superannuation performance test showed the prudential regulator could see the rapid growth of the Shield and First Guardian master funds. But the prudential regulator defended inaction, saying it doesn’t have the capability to investigate any red flags.
Investments
Why switching to a reference portfolio metric for YFYS is risky
Treasury’s proposal for a new single-metric performance test may seem refreshing, and sound like progress to a jaded industry, but potential dangers for funds, their members and the system at large lurk underneath.
Industry trends
Super leaders defend system against IMF warnings
The International Monetary Fund has warned that “liquidity mismatches” are brewing within Australian super funds, as the UN finance agency expressed worries that members might be able to switch out of investment options with too much flexibility considering funds’ substantial investments in illiquid assets. But super industry leaders say the nation’s unique system is well-equipped to handle itself.
