Asset owners spot key AI applications in portfolio management

AI can add value in almost every part of the investment process, providing support in information gathering and analysis, sometimes from non-traditional and hard-to-access data sources, for portfolio management purposes. A recent CFA Institute Research and Policy Center featured case studies from NSW government pension fund State Super and other global asset owners.

Trump, inflation and the challenges of the year ahead

As super fund CIOs return to work for 2025, all eyes are on two things: Donald Trump’s presidency, and inflation. But they’re not the only issues that will drive investment decisions and returns, and some of them may present an unfamiliar set of challenges for a cohort of investment professionals that has grown up experiencing a particular set of market and economic conditions.

Swiping left and right on dual-class shares and stockholder agreements

Some believe that dual-class share structures represent worst-in-class corporate governance practice, undermining the widely accepted principle of one share, one vote. Dual-class shares continue to be the subject of much debate, as they give some investors voting rights that are vastly disproportionate to their economic interests. But as Australian asset owners increasingly invest abroad, most already have investments in big dual-class stocks like Meta Platforms, Alphabet, Apple and Berkshire Hathaway.

How 2024 revealed the real challenges facing super funds

Australia’s super funds have emerged as truly global institutional asset owners, attracting the attention of peers and governments around the world. But Investment Magazine’s 2024 coverage detailed how the rapidly growing sector is also grappling with serving members in both accumulation and decumulation and expectations of world-class customer service.

Industry funds are already war-gaming a royal commission

If suggestions of a royal commission inquiry into profit-to-member super funds come to pass, the sector would be well-advised to embrace the scrutiny it brings with it and to avoid repeating the mistakes the Coalition and the banks made in trying to stave off the Hayne royal commission.

Funds plead for better member data access in retirement consultation

Across 91 submissions to Treasury’s consultation on the retirement phase of superannuation a common theme emerges: without better gathering, sharing, analysis and use of data, funds stand little chance of being able to tailor retirement solutions to the needs of members. Failing to do that could undermine the government’s efforts to expand the provision of retirement advice by super funds.