David Hartley, chief investment officer of Sunsuper, talks about the exclusive unlisted asset deals his fund is entering into, as banks curb the amount they are lending. There is a view that a mid-sized fund has optimal economies of scale and stealth in manoeuvre and the ability of anything larger to outperform is dulled. But … Read more
The question of who makes the investment decisions needs to move to the top of superannuation fund agendas believes Fiona Trafford-Walker director of consulting for Frontier Advisors. “Expect internal governance to become the new black,” she told delegates at the Fiduciary Investors Symposium at Lilianfels, Blue Mountains. She identified the challenges for funds face as … Read more
Rigorous Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) management can deliver an extra 40 basis points per month according to Saker Nusseibeh, CEO and head of investment at Hermes Fund Managers. “Where it [ESG] really matters for performance is in consistently avoiding bad governance. You can add 40 basis points per month… Per month!” Nusseibeh told a … Read more
Don’t expect economic growth to translate into emerging market equity returns: that’s the warning from one of Australia’s investors as stock valuations begin to look more attractive. Joshua Bloom portfolio manager of Sunsuper described the five years up to 2003 as “quite special” and a boom that could not go on indefinitely into the future. … Read more
“Building on the move by the former Government to increase the pension age eligibility to 67 by 2023, this Government will gradually increase the age of eligibility to 70 by 2035. That is over two decades away.” Joe Hockey, the Treasurer of Australia. The eligibility for the age pension will rise to age 70 … Read more
Met Life has scaled back its variable business in Australia, ending its nascent deal with Local Government Super, but staying committed to its RetireSafe product with MTAA Super. A spokesperson for MetLife confirmed that its Max range of products, which include accumulation investments, transition to retirement products and a lifetime growth annuity were currently halted. … Read more
Restoring trust in the funds management industry, through improved personal integrity, is mutually beneficial to the end investor and to funds management firms, a panel of industry participants said at a CFA Society lunch yesterday, launching the “Putting the Investor First” week. http://www.cfainstitute.org/learning/future/getinvolved/Pages/community.aspx Investor First Week is part of CFA Institute’s global Future of Finance … Read more
AustralianSuper is seeing increasing member enquiries on how their super is invested, as funds generally report greater member engagement. Hilary Spear, head of corporate affairs, AustralianSuper revealed the heightened interest in environmental, social and corporate governance at the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees’ Employer Engagement Symposium, held in Melbourne last week. She said: “Shareholder activism … Read more
Cbus is conducting an investigation into allegations printed in the Australian Financial Review that member details were secretly passed to a union boss at CFMEU who used them in a dispute with building firm Lis-Con. The allegations state a source at Cbus passed on details of members who were working at Lis-Con – not all … Read more
Gallows humour, exasperation and despair are the natural demeanours of administrators facing SuperStream changes over the next year. Listening to executives in super funds and administrators on the topic of pass-throughs, gateways and error messages at the AIST Superannuation Administration Symposium in Melbourne last week, many used words of dread. The process was going to … Read more
Equip has replaced the role of chief financial officer with a chief risk officer to help meet Australian Prudential Regulatory Authority (APRA) guidelines for understanding all aspects of investment risk. John Rodd stepped down from his role as chief financial officer at the fund earlier this month. It is believed his future intention is to … Read more
NGS Super has delivered a tailored insurance offer to its members that keeps premium rises under control and offers a sustainable three year deal for members and the insurer. Cheaper more APRA compliant, more tailored for members, a three year agreement with the insurer and a better financial settlement for those who make a claim. … Read more
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Investment Magazine provides in-depth, monthly analysis of trends and developments for all the businesses in which superannuation funds engage‚ including asset allocation, investment manager selection, custody and fund accounting, member administration, group insurance and compliance.
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of this land upon which Conexus Financial sits, the Cadigal of the Eora Nation. We recognise their continuing connection and unique cultural and spiritual relationships to the land, waters and community. We pay our deepest respects to them and their culture, and to Elders both past and present.
