Super funds at the forefront of Australian soft diplomacy

With super fund assets tipped to reach as much as $7 trillion by 2030, they’re now undoubtedly an integral component of Australian soft diplomacy. But the Investment Magazine Chair Forum heard that funds must remain first and foremost fiduciaries for their members, and they’re not there to pass political judgements on nations or individuals.

Rest CIO Michael Clancy at the Australian Superannuation Investment Summit 

Colin Tate AM, founder and managing director of Conexus Financial, publisher of Investment Magazine, speaks to Michael Clancy, chief investment officer of Rest Super, on the sidelines of the Australian Superannuation Investment Summit in Washington, DC. They discussed AI, geopolitics and the importance of in-person learning experiences for fiduciaries in an increasingly digital world.  Upcoming … Read more

AMP CIO Anna Shelley at the Australian Superannuation Investment Summit 

Colin Tate AM, founder and managing director of Conexus Financial, publisher of Investment Magazine, speaks to Anna Shelley, chief investment officer of AMP Super, on the sidelines of the Australian Superannuation Investment Summit in Washington, DC. They discussed AI, geopolitics and the importance of in-person learning experiences for fiduciaries in an increasingly digital world. Upcoming … Read more

Super sector’s ‘ringside seats’ to Trump, AI new world order

The first two days of the historic Australian Superannuation Investment Summit in the US have given super sector leaders unique insights into the seismic geopolitical and technological changes afoot in the world. On the sidelines of the summit, the CEO of Cbus and CIOs of AMP, MLC and Rest reflect on how they will act on the insights to help bolster investment returns and member experience in a volatile market environment.

Cbus CEO Kristian Fok at the Australian Superannuation Investment Summit 

Colin Tate AM, founder and managing director of Conexus Financial, publisher of Investment Magazine, speaks to Kristian Fok, chief executive of Cbus, on the sidelines of the Australian Superannuation Investment Summit in Washington, DC. They discussed AI, geopolitics and the importance of in-person learning experiences for fiduciaries in an increasingly digital world.  Upcoming Investment Magazine … Read more

Why pension capital matters even more in a complex world  

Australian pension fund capital is uniquely well-suited to backing long-term global investment trends, but it will work best when it builds partnerships with funds, governments and businesses from like-minded nations. A memorandum of understanding signed by Australian and Canadian pension funds will help set policy to improve investment opportunities.

Royal London Asset Management’s Australian expansion is leaning into its mutual DNA

After a decade of quiet groundwork in Australia, Royal London Asset Management has revamped its fund offerings and hired an experienced funds management leader to build its Australian office, betting that the philosophy that stems from its mutual ownership structure will resonate with member-centric super funds.

AustralianSuper pares back bonds in favour of growth assets

The $410 billion AustralianSuper has been dialling back its fixed income allocation in favour of growth assets as it positions for a “constructive” economic environment, but the asset class remains a critical portfolio stabiliser and an important tool in complementing the fund’s risk objectives. Head of fixed income and currency Katie Dean talks scale and internalisation advantages.

The evolving retirement ecosystem: What shape will it take?

After attending the Advice Policy Summit in February, hosted by Investment Magazine sister publication Professional Planner, executive director of the Conexus Institute David Bell reflects on the roles of super funds, financial advisers and the government in an evolving retirement landscape, and how these sectors failing to work together will result in an unstable and vulnerable ecosystem and eventually hurt retirees.

Iran, Trump and geopolitical risk in the AI age

Renowned geopolitics expert Stephen Kotkin says the Trump administration’s strikes on Iran are the latest chapter in a 47-year declared war — not its cause — but warns that destroying Iranian military capability without cultivating a credible political alternative risks prolonging, not ending, the conflict. Kotkin, a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford … Read more

Rest eyes changes to lift its investment team ‘from great to greater’

The $100 billion profit-to-member fund Rest Super is mulling an expansion and upgrade of its investment team as it seeks new ways to invest a growing pool of assets and continue to generate competitive performance for its 2.1 million members. The fund’s newly appointed chief investment officer Michael Clancy tells Investment Magazine that staying connected to the fund’s membership is an important part of the job.

Funds face new discretion under plan to block abusers from death benefits

The Albanese government is exploring legislative options to stop domestic violence abusers from gaining control of their victims’ superannuation through death benefits. While this could give trustees greater discretion in assessing a deceased member’s circumstances, complicated cases may add further strains to an already stressed payout process.