Should there be a savings cap on superannuation for individuals?

The perennial question of how much tax concessions high earners should receive for superannuation is to be addressed in the discussion paper  issued on Monday. One solution likely to be aired is the feasibility of a lifetime limit, such as $3 million, on superannuation balances. In its favour, a cap, a figure that would be … Read more

Small, medium-sized and large fund of the year shortlists announced

Shortlists for small, medium-sized and large funds of the year have been released. The top four large funds, top four medium-sized funds and the top four small funds in the past year have all been named in advance of the Conexus Financial Superannuation Awards at the Ivy Ballroom, Sydney on May 20. The shortlist for … Read more

The power of technology: forward looking risk tools

The finance industry is slow in its willingness to innovate around technology, and is behind other industries says Jessica Donohue executive vice president, chief innovation officer and head of advisory and information solutions at State Street. And the cost of that inability, or stubbornness, around technology innovation is not inconsequential. State Street recently released its … Read more

AustralianSuper adds Bareau to insurance team

Thierry Bareau is to join AustralianSuper in the new role of commercial manager, insurance on April 12. Bareau, who has held the role of head of insurance at RiceWarner, will work with insurers on renegotiating contracts, repricing and terms and conditions. A year ago Richard Weatherhead also left a consulting role at RiceWarner to join … Read more

Choosing the right CIO

If an applicant for a chief investment officer position is equipped with a temperament suited to leadership, trustees and chief executives should feel comfortable that the person in question need not necessarily be the smartest member of the investment team. This was one of the seeds of information planted in the minds of delegates at CMSF this month by former CIO Jack Gray, now an … Read more

AIST’s agenda 2015/16

Tom Garcia, chief executive of AIST talked to David Rowley, editor of Investment Magazine about tax, policy, education, campaigning and events. How is tax reform going to impact super? We are going to use the government’s tax white paper to think deeply about what ideas and solutions we can put forward, that delivers greater fairness, adequacy and sustainability. That means we are going to have … Read more

AIST viewpoint: Ensuring super is on the right track

One of the more sensible recommendations from David Murray’s Financial System Inquiry is to enshrine the purpose of superannuation in legislation. Despite our compulsory super system having been around for more than 20 years, there is still no clear consensus on the key objective of super. There is a broad understanding that super is about funding retirement, but to what extent is it meant … Read more

Superannuation Complaints Tribunal unable to perform key tasks without chair

The Superannuation Complaints Tribunal (SCT) is unable to perform key and fundamental functions as it has yet to fill the role of chairperson after the acting-person, Jocelyn Furlan, departed 21 days ago. The Superannuation (Resolution of Complaints) Act 1993 enshrines the role of the chair as a statutory position, conferring extensive powers and functions upon … Read more

Housing: super’s next frontier

Joe Hockey’s proposal on housing is politically popular and the industry shouldn’t “kid itself” about this warned Nick Sherry, senior advisor of superannuation and pensions at Citi and former superannuation minister. One of the few asset classes in Australia that has not been commoditised by the funds management industry is residential housing, and if funds … Read more

Hartley calls for fee clarity

David Hartley, chief investment officer of Sunsuper, has challenged the industry to publish for members the costs of running their fund alongside the cost of direct fund management fees and an estimate of trading fees. He believes not only do trustees have a fiduciary responsibility to disclose fund costs as a proportion of fees to … Read more

Default fund of the year shortlist announced

Shortlists for the Conexus Financial Superannuation Awards have been released. The funds recognised as having the best MySuper defaults, the best member engaged services, the best pension funds and those that have created the most far reaching innovation in the past year have all been named in advance of the awards ceremony at the Ivy … Read more