The war in Iran heralds a period of prolonged market and economic disruption rather than a “short, sharp shock”, according to BlackRock. But investors can’t afford to tear their eyes away from market shifts already underway before the war began.
The Super Members Council representing profit-to-member funds claims younger and lower-balance Australians are being transitioned by advisers to “risky” platforms and SMSFs, while the Financial Services Council has fired back with data suggesting it is mostly older, wealthier consumers being advised to switch their super. Aleks Vickovich writes the truth, as usual, is probably somewhere in between.
The outgoing chief investment officer of AustralianSuper Mark Delaney said one of the biggest regrets he will have as he leaves the $410 billion fund is not going overweight on the AI and digital thematic in public markets sooner, as the nation’s most powerful allocator reflects on the investment case of the technology sector in the superannuation summit in New York last week.
The roughly US$2 trillion ($2.8 trillion) sell-off in the global software sector since September 2025 is, while a painful drawdown for growth investors, also a timely reminder that asset owners should be more alert to stock-specific dispersion and hidden concentration risk inside portfolios, writes JANA head of research execution, Matthew Gadsden.
Insurance in superannuation is an ingenious and underrated plank of our social safety net. But the rising prevalence of mental health claims, compounded by problematic legal definitions around trauma and financial advice, threaten the sustainability of life insurance in Australia.
NGS Super is on a mission to reduce its member churn with a bid to lean into its “alternative scale” as a small player in a superannuation landscape dominated by increasingly mammoth funds. Chief executive Natalie Previtera says the transition to Grow – which she calls the Ferrari of admin systems – is one of the first crucial steps.
Australia faces similar demographic challenges to other developed economies in providing a high standard of living to retirees in an ageing population. But we have weakened our system through blocking access to financial advice and delaying reforms to reverse the roadblocks, superannuation industry leaders told the Retirement Policy Outlook 2026 roundtable, hosted by Investment Magazine sister publication Retirement Magazine in partnership with Acenda. The roundtable also featured insights from ASIC Commissioner Simone Constant; APRA deputy chair Margaret Cole; Resolution Life founder, chief executive and chair Sir Clive Cowdery; and Dr David Bell of The Conexus Institute.
The BPP and RRF created mixed reflections at The Conexus Institute. Expectations are clearer but it feels like a missed opportunity to create a strong industry nudge.
Research by the $37 billion profit-to-member fund Equip Super reveals the cohort of Australians least well prepared for retirement is those who are getting closest to it. Equip’s chief experience officer Carrie Norman tells Retirement Magazine that super funds need to design programs that feel timely and relevant to members to bridge the gap between knowing they need advice and actually seeking it.
While the US is becoming an increasingly chaotic force in geopolitics, and valuations around its technology companies are called into question, CFS Super chief executive Kelly Power said investors going against these forces would be fighting a losing battle. Listen to her conversation with Conexus Financial founder and managing director Colin Tate on the sidelines of the historic Australian Superannuation Investment Summit last week.
Aware Super has backed the call for a legislative change that will introduce mandatory human rights due diligence for large Australian companies, as head of responsible investment Liza McDonald said it’s a “reasonable request” which will help asset owners understand and manage the governance risks in their portfolios.
AustralianSuper’s chief liquidity officer Chandu Bhindi has publicly proposed the idea of allowing some super funds to directly use leverage, enabling them to better manage liquidity requirements in crisis situations rather than being forced to sell assets at stressed prices. While the idea has some merits, overall it is not necessary and could increase system risk.
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