Back in 2015, five big superannuation funds thought their administration nightmare was finally over. But it was only just beginning – and they still might not have reached the end.
Despite a prevailing belief to the contrary, super funds that have internalised investment management often terminate their own teams and strategies faster than they would an external manager, according to research house Chant West.
The “sound and fury” of the Trump Administration is colliding with the “hopes and dreams” that have animated equity markets for the better part of a decade. But Aware thinks its members – young and old – can still benefit from the chaos.
A case brought by ASIC against AustralianSuper sets out how and why profit-to-member fund trustees are treated differently from for-profit trustees when it comes to penalties imposed by the courts. But while ASIC has been accused of going soft on profit-to-member funds, it’s appropriate that when trustees misbehave it’s not fund members who are left to carry the can.
Donald Trump’s return to the White House has raised not only doubts around the future of clean energy in the world’s largest economy but also threatens to change the course of net zero movements around the world. The Investment Magazine Chair Forum heard that global investors’ ability to collaborate is “being challenged”, but this is not to say that investors are not making ground individually.
While much of the industry’s focus is on investment decisions, behavioural influences can have an even greater effect on consumer decisions around their retirement, especially as retirement brings extra dimensions of complexity. But there are ways super funds can understand and allow for a range of potential behavioural influences.
The merger of Mine Super and TWU Super to become Team Super will put it in what chief retirement officer Sarah Forman says is a sweet spot: big enough to be efficient and competitive, and small enough to develop deep relationships with members. She says when it comes to helping them navigate retirement, that’s critical.
When a small super fund can’t exploit economies of scale to the same extent as its larger counterparts, competitive advantages must be sought in other ways. For NGS Super chief investment officer Ben Squires, that means carefully questioning what the fund handles internally – and acting on the sometimes unexpected answers.
As the US investment landscape is dramatically reshaped by President Donald Trump’s worldview, asset owners need to revisit their approach to maximising returns. Perhaps they need to ensure their US portfolios have sufficient exposure to the rapidly emerging anti-ESG, anti-woke, anti-climate, anti-diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), pro-patriot and American-first investment themes. And they could also consider replicating the stock trading patterns of Republican — and Democrat — members of Congress who may have the ‘inside oil’ when it comes to company announcements.
The UK’s NEST made waves Down Under when it picked up a 10 per cent stake in the industry fund-owned IFM Investors. But that’s just the start of its ambition to grow its private market investments to 30 per cent of the portfolio.
The Albanese government has finalised key elements of the contentious second tranche of the Delivering Better Financial Outcomes legislation, including intra-fund advice charging mechanisms and nudges for super funds. But its expected release of draft legislation on Friday was delayed amid national preparation efforts for the tropical cyclone impacting Australia’s east coast.
legalsuper has announced the appointment of highly regarded investment professional Andrew Lill to the role of interim chief investment officer.
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