Profile of Anne-Marie Corboy: Leaving on a high

Since inception, HESTA has returned more than 1 per cent above its benchmark: 8.86 per cent versus 7.1 per cent and Anne-Marie Corboy cites such strong long-term returns to members as one of her greatest achievements. She’s also proud of a somewhat unique default insurance that the fund was able to maintain throughout the MySuper … Read more

AIST viewpoint: $77bn still paying commission

The long-awaited release of MySuper data by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority has revealed some interesting numbers that must not be ignored. The data – contained in the first of an ongoing quarterly APRA report on the MySuper landscape – includes a range of new information on the 116 MySuper products. The report provides an … Read more

Funds paying too many TPD claims, says Maurice Blackburn lawyer

Superannuation funds have accepted far too many TPD claims without sufficient scrutiny over the last five years, delegates were told at the AIST Insurance Symposium in Sydney. Prominent personal injury lawyer, John Berrill, a principal at Maurice Blackburn Lawyers, spoke in a heated panel discussion, in which he defended the role of lawyers in TPD … Read more

Peter Baker to lead Mercer’s custodian and manager due diligence team

Mercer has appointed Peter Baker, formerly managing director of BNP Paribas Securities and Services in Australia, as the head of its Sentinel team in the Pacific market. In this role he will advise institutional investors on their custodians and give general advice on the custodial services they use. He will also lead the team carrying … Read more

Mercer to launch pooled self-annuitisation product

Mercer is to launch a group self-annuitisation product into the Australian market next week. The full details have not yet been disclosed, but those close to its inception have described it as a game-changing product with two prominent funds linked to it. What is known is that Mercer will pool retirees in an investment strategy … Read more

Retail fund directors scrutinised over commissions

The revelation that as much as seven per cent of money in APRA-approved default funds will pay out commissions to advisers until 2017 has led to hard questions on the role of independent directors in retail funds. Speaking at the AIST governance symposium in Melbourne, several speakers expressed surprise that such a large proportion of … Read more

Future Fund co-invests to eke out extra return

The Future Fund is accelerating its program of co-investments as a means of improving its margin of return. Its investment team broadly agrees with the recent International Monetary Fund assessment of the world now entering a five year period of low growth. So while the fund achieved returns of 14 per cent in the year … Read more

Profile: Michael Strachan, CIO, Equip

Michael Stachan, chief investment officer, Equipsuper refers to his team as investment managers and risk managers, whose job is to preserve its $6.5 billion fund as much as add value. “One thing about running money is that you are scenario testing all the time, you are implicitly managing risk. It is hard enough making money … Read more

Australia moves to second place on global pension index

The ranking of Australia’s superannuation system has moved from third to second best system in the world largely due to the recent increase in superannuation guarantee payments to 9.5 per cent. The shift in the Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index puts Australia ahead of Netherlands for the first time in five years, but falls short … Read more

AustralianSuper questions MySuper debate

AustralianSuper has broken a long silence on the MySuper debate by defending itself from criticism that it has not innovated. Alistair Barker, investment manager at AustralianSuper, speaking ahead of a presentation he is to make at the Fiduciary Investors Symposium on November 19, says the fund did its greatest thinking on its default fund just … Read more

ETF use to grow rapidly amongst all types of investors

The ownership of exchange traded funds (ETFs) by investors is growing at three times the speed of superannuation assets, according to provider State Street Global Advisors. The amount invested in ETFs registered in Australia will grow from $12 billion currently to $25 billion over several years, while a far greater figure is already invested by … Read more

BT creates world first with personalised videos

BT Super for Life has sent out the world’s first personalised annual statements on video to nearly 100,000 members. Vicki Doyle, head of retail and corporate super at BT Super, has described the videos as a “critical turning point” in engaging the public on superannuation. Research carried out on behalf of the fund prior to … Read more