FAAA appoints marketing & communications manager

The Financial Advice Association has appointed Ben Rutherford as marketing and communications manager. Rutherford will be responsible for FAAA marketing and communications activity and promoting awareness and understanding of the value of financial advice amongst consumers and adjacent professions. He will also build awareness of the Certified Financial Planner designation among the financial planning community … Read more

Trustees ‘can’t ignore’ insurance claims handling: Chant West

Just one in two superannuation trustees have modernised their group insurance claims handling processes, actuary Ian Fryer of Chant West estimates. The lag puts them at risk of falling short of the Albanese government and corporate regulator’s expectations on member engagement.

AustralianSuper pinches Paula Benson from IFM

AustralianSuper has appointed Paula Benson as chief officer of strategy and corporate affairs. She has worked in funds management, banking, resources, healthcare and infrastructure, and is as a senior corporate affairs executive and non-executive director.  Benson was recently the global head of marketing, brand, and communications at IFM Investors. Prior to this, she was the … Read more

Ignition nabs Mason Stevens CTO

Ignition Advice has appointed Masons Stevens chief technology officer Enda Mahoney to lead the digital advice firm’s platform and product division. In addition to his previous role at Mason Stevens, he has held senior leadership positions in fintech and institutional firms, including SS&C, Bravura, Blackrock Solutions, Macquarie Bank, Colonial First State, and BT Financial Group. … Read more

The buy-now, pay-later member conundrum that super funds will struggle to solve

Consolidation today to boost member numbers and drive down costs in accumulation phase could be setting up funds for a big problem tomorrow when those same members move into retirement or need services from their fund.

Bentham appoints to wholesale distribution manager

Investment manager Bentham Asset Management has promoted Larry Francis to wholesale distribution manager for NSW and Queensland. Francis has more than seven years of experience across sales and distribution roles, and has a strong background in the credit asset management sector. Before joining Bentham’s distribution team over three years ago, he worked at Clime Asset … Read more

Valuation frequency must be weighed carefully: Frontier

Investment consultancy Frontier Advisors is working with Australian asset owners to hold fund managers accountable for appropriate valuation of unlisted assets. Frontier said in a media release on Wednesday that embedding a continuous increase in valuation frequency comes at a cost that must be weighed up carefully, because members ultimately wear it. At a time … Read more