Mental health awareness is improved, more work to be done: Super industry roundtable
Greater awareness and action towards mental wellbeing is saving lives, experts say, but workplaces in particular need to lift their game.
Climate the ‘single biggest development’: UniSuper’s Pearce
It’s the opportunities created by the climate change trend that John Pearce is perhaps more keenly focused on than the exclusions, particularly as capital starts to ebb and flow on the back of broader market movements, Matthew Smith writes.
Bill ushers in new regulator watchdog plan
Politicians just don’t have the expertise to assess the effectiveness of ASIC and APRA, the bill explains. As per Hayne’s recommendation, the new Financial Regulator Assessment Authority will be tasked with doing the job properly.
Funds build brands while facing a new world of consumer choices
Super funds may have underestimated the importance of their consumer brands and member-centric operating models amid changes which will make passive fund acquisition more difficult.
Too many funds, too much under performance, fees still too high: Rowell
While the ‘numbers’ in the super industry are broadly positive APRA’s outgoing deputy chair Helen Rowell said some of them are still working against the best interests of members.
Getting to grips with greenwashing
The United States Securities and Exchange Commission has taken up the baton on exposing and punishing greenwashing by Asset Managers. Alex Wise explores how the U.S. regulator is tackling greenwashing and how this might impact superannuation funds in Australia.
Inside Aware’s next five-year investment strategy plan
Aware engaged consulting firm McKinsey to conduct a process which included discussions and comparisons with pension and sovereign funds around the world as part of constructing its five-year strategy which it delivered to its board in March.
Sue Brake on the Future Fund’s new set of assumptions
An increase in cash holdings from 9 to 18 per cent will give the $226 billion sovereign wealth fund flexibility to start deploying capital in line with a new set of assumptions, Sue Brake explains.
Performance test misses key investment-risk component
YFYS will change the super industry beyond recognition and there has been extensive discussion on the test’s design flaws, namely, its limited benchmark indices. In addition, the test’s exclusion of investment risk from the calculation is concerning according to Mercer’s Barlow
EP6: Trustees and the age of accountability
UNSW governance and litigation expert Scott Donald and former risk officer advising trustee boards Damian Murphy talk to Matthew Smith about accountability of trustee directors and the impact new rules and recent regulatory actions will have on the structure of profit-for-member funds.
Super’s purpose still ill-defined
Treasurer Frydenberg has delayed outlining the government’s intensions relating to the superannuation system by not defining its purpose during his budget speech and papers on Tuesday night.
Leading from 35,000 feet – treat your board as your best advisers: Alan Joyce
Qantas CEO Alan Joyce stressed the key to leading during times of crisis is seeing the big picture and tapping the experience of your own top table.
