Investment Strategy

Funds can make impact in cutting chronic diseases

Funds and their insurers should play a bigger role in helping to prevent chronic diseases that stem from poor lifestyle and dietary choices, according to leading health experts at the Group Insurance Summit. Kerry Doyle, chief executive of the Heart Foundation NSW, said Australia had reached a “tipping point” in obesity, which compelled change across […]
Kate HageAugust 21, 2014
Investment Strategy

TPD lump sums failing members’ mental health

People suffering mental health issues are being let down by a lump sum system that provides little to no incentives or support to return to work, industry delegates heard at the Group Insurance Summit. Michael Rooney, deputy chief executive Media Super, said there is a “clear problem” in having a product design that discourages people […]
Kate HageAugust 21, 2014
Policy and Regulation

Retirement as we know it to end: CSIRO

Retirement as we know it will disappear, according to one of Australia’s leading strategic thinkers. Dr Stefan Hajkowicz, a strategist and principal scientist at CSIRO, is to present his thoughts on this and other mega-trends at the FEAL annual conference on August 7. “There’ll be a completely new, tapered retirement model emerge, of less work, […]
Kate HageJuly 21, 2014
Governance

QSuper tops member satisfaction scores

QSuper members have the highest satisfaction levels in the industry, with 89.3 per cent satisfied compared to an average of 65.6 per cent, according to Core Data. In a survey of 1,468 fund members, Core Data also found engagement overall has reached a three year high among, with baby boomers overtaking the pre-boomers as the […]
Kate HageJuly 21, 2014
Governance

Heads of merged NSW funds named

Mark O’Brien has been picked to head portfolio management for the amalgamated $60 billion New South Wales government funds. O’Brien, who is currently general manager of investments at State Super, will be joined in the management team by Steve McKenna, current chief investment officer for Work Cover, who will look after client interaction and solutions. […]
Kate HageJuly 14, 2014
Hedge Funds

Risk analysis tool better informs LUCRF investment committee

There is a gulf between perception and reality of risk exposures by investment teams and committees, according to Roger McIntosh, head of investments at the Labour Union Co-operative Retirement Fund (LUCRF). Such lack of accurate insight into funds’ exposures has led him to introduce a risk assessment tool, MSCI’s Barra One, which is also being […]
Kate HageJuly 14, 2014
Investment Strategy

Independents “inevitable” – what about diversity?

The compulsory appointment of independent directors to superannuation fund boards is “inevitable within 18 months” believes Deloitte superannuation partner, Russell Mason, who sees it is an opportunity to address lack of diversity. Mason is urging funds to stop seeing the move as a threat, and instead to embrace it as an opportunity to build their […]
Kate HageJuly 9, 2014
CIO profiles

Profile: Dr Susan Gosling, head of investments, MLC

Susan Gosling and her team of five asset allocation specialists quantify risk in terms of how much their funds and end investors could lose if any one of 55 possible economic scenarios occurs. Funds are then stress tested under those scenarios and their asset allocation is modelled around it. It’s a point of differentiation as […]
Kate HageJuly 9, 2014
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