Tom Garcia: disclose and deliver

Tom Garcia has big shoes to fill. His predecessor, Fiona Reynolds, had the rare combination of qualities that made her very influential, persuasive, knowledgeable and liked. As the new, and only second, chief executive of the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees, Garcia has the challenge of continuing the good work of its old head and … Read more

Maverick Series video – Gonski part VI

If the average length of stay by shareholders in the top 200 US companies is 20 minutes, what is the impact of that on long-term investing? Watch David Gonski, chairman of the Future Fund, share his views on high-frequency trading and the economics of investment.

HESTA: Industry still has to achieve adequacy

Chief executive of HESTA, Anne-Marie Corboy, says industry has not looked appropriately at adequacy in the accumulation phase when considering the post-retirement landscape. Speaking at a CMSF session on adequacy and “getting to the finish line”, Corboy was critical of the view that it’s all “done and dusted” and the focus should now simply be appropriate … Read more

Age and tax restrictions inevitable for Super

Restriction of tax cuts to superannuation contributions and the raising of the age at which funds can be accessed to 67 are inevitable regardless of which political party is in power, says Nick Sherry. Speaking at the CMSF conference in Brisbane, the former superannuation minister said the pressure for restrictions will grow as individual retirement … Read more

Geldof stirs industry to action

Sir Bob Geldof closed off proceedings at CMSF 2013 with a plea to Australia’s superannuation industry to invest in the developing world, particularly Africa. The activist also urged industry to increase engagement with its members to impact policy. “One of the things you should be doing [is] going to the developing countries. You should be … Read more

Shorten shares delegates outrage at independents

The attempt to force industry funds to have independent trustees is a “frustrated-student political resolutions masquerading as long-term policy”, Minister Bill Shorten told delegates at CMSF. Veering from his speech in praise of Labor’s record of creating and maintaining superannuation to answer a question from a delegate, the minister for financial services and superannuation told … Read more

Super fraud on the rise

Payment interception by male internal staff in non-management positions represents the biggest risk of fraud for superannuation funds, KPMG’s biennial fraud survey has revealed. The profile was created from a survey of 281 financial services organisations who had detected $372.7m worth of fraud in the last two years. Three quarters of this fraud was committed … Read more

Tax-managed equity index investing

Active tax management can be used to enhance after-tax returns of indexed Australian and international equity portfolios for superannuation funds. The systematic and prudent implementation of tactics such as capital-gains/loss management and holding-period management can add real after-tax value. Simulations and back tests carried out by Parametric consistently demonstrate added value in the range of … Read more

Early intervention key
to easing claims

There’s an endless tide of flow-on effects from the stark growth in the volume of claims across the life insurance sector. While it’s encouraging that more Australians are becoming aware of the availability of their life insurance benefits, the rise in disability claims in particular places enormous financial and societal pressure on funds, insurers, reinsurers, … Read more

Funds vow to fight SMSF exodus

Leading superannuation funds are preparing to strike back against the appeal of self-managed super funds (SMSFs) by offering inhouse self-managed options to members. In a panel session which revealed how SMSFs now represent 32 per cent of all superannuation funds, larger than any other sector, HOSTPLUS said it would be offering members a self-managed investment … Read more