Group Insurance Summit 2014 – Wrap Up

Superfunds and consultants call for hybrid TPD/IP insurance cover Funds, insurers and consultants are calling for the creation of an insurance product that sits half way between TPD and income protection. Read more… Funds can make impact in cutting chronic diseases Australia has reached a tipping point in obesity which compels change. Read more… Bernie Ripoll and … Read more

George Boubouras leaves Equity Trustees

Equity Trustees has prioritised its new relationship with ANZ by calling a halt to the expansion of its funds management business. The decision has led to the exit of George Boubouras, who served as chief investment officer of Equity Trustees for 18 months. In April, Equity Trustees acquired ANZ’s trustee services business bringing its total … Read more

Why does Sunsuper invest in hedge funds?

Sunsuper’s hedge fund program has comfortably beaten global equity returns after fees since 2007. To Bruce Tomlinson, portfolio manager for Sunsuper’s $1.6 billion hedge fund program, this is all the justification he needs for a 16 manager hedge fund program, but who in the industry is paying attention? Anecdotes of hedge funds that did not … Read more

The Great Fee Debate – resetting manager and investor expectations

The recent push by the SEC in the US and ASIC in Australia for greater transparency on fees has reignited the debate about what is fair and reasonable when it comes to asset management fees. The two main sides to the debate predictably defend their respective positions with managers cast as greedy and investors portrayed … Read more

AIST view: product disclosure is not working

One of the key themes to emerge from the Financial System Inquiry interim report is that product disclosure – both in banking and superannuation – isn’t working. Few in the superannuation industry would disagree. All of us are acutely aware that very few super fund members read the fine print and – frankly – who … Read more

Investigating long-term mandates

The PRI is investigating the experiences of asset owners that have engaged service providers in long-term mandates, and conducting a literature review on long-termism, in a bid to develop a reference guide on how to implement a long-term mandate and drive long-term behaviour. Managing director of PRI, Fiona Reynolds, says the starting point, and initial … Read more

Funds face legal threat for ignoring member requests on carbon assets

An Australian superannuation fund is being singled out for possible legal action over a failure to engage with its members on the risks of sudden carbon price movements within its portfolio. The Asset Owners Disclosure Project (AODP) has sought legal advice from law firm Baker & McKenzie on how superannuation funds might be breaching their … Read more

FEAL members offered personal development

The Fund Executives Association (FEAL), in conjunction with T Rowe Price, has launched a resilience partnership with strategic leadership development firm, Rezilium, to enable super fund executives and their teams to access resilience coaching. Joanna Davison, chief executive of FEAL, said the partnership was recognition that executives often struggle to cope with the conflicting imposts … Read more

The ASFA Retirement Standard: its not boring!

Its influence is growing. The government cites it. AustralianSuper uses it in its Super To Income Converter web calculator. Financial advisors find it a more tangible way of explaining retirement goals than replacement rates of income. It is used in the metrics of the QSuper cohort funds, so that whenever it shifts in value the investments … Read more

Six ideas for sustainable group insurance

On August 20, those responsible for providing group insurance through superannuation will meet in Sydney to discuss ways of making it more sustainable. Here are some of the ideas that will be aired. 1 The industry must work together to find answers The survival of group insurance depends on funds, trustees, regulators and insurers working … Read more

Profile: Russell Clarke, CIO listed assets, Mercer Superannuation

Other than Cochlear and CSL there are not too many world beating companies from Australia, but one billion dollar globally successful idea that might be overlooked is Mercer Superannuation. Launched from Melbourne in 1996 by Bruce Cook, it has turned into a business that looks after US$50 billion in North America, US$25 billion in Europe … Read more

Leeanne Turner is FEAL Fund Executive of the Year

Leeanne Turner, chief executive officer of the Motor Trades Association of Australia Superannuation Fund (MTAA Super), has been named the fund executive of the year by FEAL. This is the second award won by MTAA Super in 2014 after the chair of its board, John Brumby, was named trustee of the year by the Australian … Read more