Updated prudential guidance has put super funds on notice that they need to measure and report how retirement income strategies are delivering results to members, and how they can be improved over time. As the annual Conexus Retirement Conference kicks off in Canberra on Wednesday, UniSuper’s Peter Chun explains how the fund has developed measurement metrics, and what they really mean for members.
Barrister Bernard Quinn KC says section 99FA of the SIS Act as amended by the government in its Delivering Better Financial Outcomes bill just pays lip service to the recommendations of the Quality of Advice Review, and super funds may still take a “conservative” approach by checking every statement of advice before allowing fee deductions.
As potential future leaders of the Australian superannuation industry, COOs are another outworking of the increased competitive and regulatory pressures. They are now stepping into a leading executive role as agents for growth, resilience, and innovation.
It seems nearly every iron ore-related project in the world – including those in Australia currently seeking tens of billions of dollars in investment capital – now claims some sort of green credentials. This is problematic for asset owners, as there are no agreed definitions for “green iron ore”, “green iron” or “green steel”.
The role of chief operating officer is assuming greater significance across the industry as major super funds grow and become increasingly complex financial services businesses. Aware Super’s recently appointed COO Sally Collins oversees the agile work practices and human-centred design she says will be critical to better results for members.
A joint initiative between the SMC and ASFA, alongside not-for-profit Women in Super, has called on the federal government to introduce reforms that stop family violence perpetrators from receiving their victim’s death benefit payment, in a bid to give trustees more legal power to fend off claims from abusers.
Iress has appointed Sam Wall as CEO of its superannuation business.
REST has named Catherine Bolger as a new employee-nominated board director, replacing Julia Fox who retired in May 2024.
Green data centres are hot assets in an even hotter sector, as investors get to grips with the existential need to make these power gobblers energy-efficient. But a real estate ESG expert says the exact meaning of the word “green” is hard to define in this context.
The peak body for retail funds and asset managers, the Financial Services Council, has argued the Your Future Your Super performance test should stick to monitoring simpler financial products, like MySuper and basic Choice. The FSC believes the performance test is best applied to set and forget products, rather than via channels that cater to personalised and advised channels.
Cbus Super has appointed former Victorian Funds Management Corporation chief investment officer Justin Pascoe as head of portfolio construction.
The ideological war against the compulsory superannuation system by the two national newspapers risks destroying the principle of preservation and a retirement savings system that – while imperfect – is the envy of the world. Leadership change in the Nine organisation hopefully brings more objectivity and fairness to an age-old dispute.
The investment intelligence behind Australia’s largest asset owners and their teams
In-depth interviews with leaders, experts and visionaries in the institutional investment community
Updates on the latest industry policy developments and regulation
The challenges and innovations of custody, technology and operational due diligence
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.
