David Bell

Articles written by this Author 20

David Bell is the executive director of the Conexus Institute. Bell is the former chief investment officer of Mine Super and oversees the Sydney-based think-tank's work. The Conexus Institute works with government, publishes original thought pieces as well as showcases the work of others to maximise the impact that research can have on Australia's retirement system.

Regulation

UNSW Sandbox Program highlights challenges of providing quality, scalable guidance

UNSW students have highlighted the tension between tailoring information to be more relevant with the desire for such information to be accessible at a low cost as part of a 'sandbox challenge' that has yielded some illuminating results.

David BellJanuary 18, 2021

Opinion

Retirement Income Review: Simplifying the complex

The Retirement Income Review is clever for a number of reasons, not least because it managed to simplify complexity and create a structured case for improving retirement outcomes by not increasing the SG, all without without making any recommendations.

David BellNovember 23, 2020

Opinion

Good engagement creates better policy

The key to addressing complexity and subjectivity in my experience is through good engagement. For engagement to work there needs to be a level of trust. Trusting can be difficult when significant agency issues exist.

David BellOctober 21, 2020

Opinion

What should go into – and stay out of – a quality SG recommendation

While personal and professional agendas make it almost impossible to have a balanced debate about the SG, there are a few key criteria that any analysis - including that of the Retirement Income Review - should acknowledge according to the Conexus Institute's David Bell.

David BellSeptember 28, 2020

Opinion

Jeremy Cooper on reviews and the retirement system’s unfinished business

While the chair of the decade old Super System Review couldn't shed light on the current Retirement Income Review, he said If the superannuation system is being used for tax-advantaged inter-generational wealth transfers then those tax subsidies should be reviewed.

David BellSeptember 7, 2020

Opinion

Peer group risk: The industry’s worst kept secret

Some funds are open and acknowledge their peer group focus, espousing that industry awards and new members are won through a competitive process and performance relative to peers needs to be actively managed. For other super funds, peer group risk management is undertaken behind closed doors, David Bell writes.

David BellAugust 19, 2020

Opinion

Exploring big ideas with Senator Jane Hume

The message from Senator Jane Hume is clear: micro-reforms will be ever-constant. Funds need to be set-up to integrate micro-reform and maintain the ability to innovate. Funds which can’t keep pace will have to merge, which also fits with policy objectives - David Bell writes.

David BellJuly 16, 2020

Fund 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

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