Industry

Ernst and Young (EY) has released a research publication titled the “Future of asset management.” As the title suggests, a transformation in the way asset managers are positioned, and their global outlook, is required, so that long-term value can be created for all stakeholders. EY says: “The industry needs to rethink its purpose and position…

Superannuation research house Chant West, part of the Zenith Investment Consulting group, this week published their quarterly performance update on the industry fund sector. Despite the volatility experienced in March, which spanned both bond and equity markets, returns continue to surprise on the upside in March. Chant West’s research seeks to differentiate between the, at…

As the industry fund sector embarks on what will be a busy and decade shaping year, Rainmaker’s recent release of its latest batch of AAA-rated super funds couldn’t be more timely. The research house seeks to assess the quality of 692 products issued by 178 superannuation funds, including both industry or so-called “not for profits”…

According to Chant West Research, the median ‘Balanced’ industry super fund delivered a return of 3.0% for the entirety of 2020; not a bad result but not shooting the lights out either. There is little doubt it was a very difficult year for investors and the world in general, faced with a health crisis that…

It was surprising to hear that one of the Platinum Asset Management’s top performing managers, Joseph Lai, Portfolio Manager of the Platinum Asia Fund, had left the firm over Christmas. The fund had performed exceptionally well in 2020 and was a highlight of an otherwise difficult year for the ‘value’ shop which saw the trend…

Embracing technology to improve profitability Net Wealth released their latest Adviser Tech white paper, once again exposing the slow adoption of technology in by financial advisers around the country. The report details the many new outsourcing and digital applications available to make advisers jobs easier, yet the industry remains hamstrung by the requirements of other…

The $85 billion industry fund for the higher education and research sector has finally filled the position of chief risk officer with the appointment of Andrew Raftis after Ruby Yadav resigned in December 2019. Raftis has over 20 years in compliance roles internationally including chief risk officer at AXA Asia Pacific, chief internal auditor of…

Australian Super has appointed former Coles executive Sarah Adams as group executive, strategy, brand and reputation. She joins from Bushfire Recovery Victoria where she was executive director of communications and stakeholder relations. Prior to that, she was general manager of corporate affairs at Coles and held senior leadership positions within the Federal Government. First Sentier…

The Grattan Institute has released its submission to the government’s retirement incomes review, a review called in anticipation of five annual increases in compulsory superannuation contributions, scheduled to begin in July 2021.

The government’s retirement income review is being told our current tax and benefit treatment of retirement incomes is a mess.

What’s the purpose of a business? For a long time, the textbook answer to that question has been purely “to make as much money as possible for its shareholders”. But business leaders – who often themselves get huge payouts from this model – are beginning to challenge this orthodoxy.