Are super funds’ investment menus appropriately designed for their members?

  • On November 1, 2019
Waves of investment menu reviews The Treasury Laws Amendment (Design and Distribution Obligations and Product Intervention Powers) Bill 2018 passed in April 2019 changes the game in product design and disclosure.  It requires many financial services organisations, including superannuation funds, to ensure that products are targeted and provided only to the customers for whom the […]

The ‘taper rate’ and retirement spending – what’s the connection?

  • On October 17, 2019
What is the ‘taper rate’ and when did it change? The taper rate is part of the assets test used to determine eligibility for the Age Pension.  Since 1 January 2017, a retiree’s annual pension is reduced by $78 for each $1,000 of assets above the relevant thresholds (before 2017, the taper rate was half […]

Using the Future Fund for Superannuation?

  • On October 3, 2019
Should we use the Future Fund as a national retirement scheme? Lately, there have been several calls to improve our maligned superannuation system by using the Future Fund as the vehicle for all investments, making it a nationalised fund manager.  Some have even suggested it be used to manage all superannuation on the grounds that […]

Rise of the robots

  • On September 24, 2019
Technology has long offered a pathway for companies to reduce cost.  In manufacturing, many jobs in developed countries were replaced long ago in developing nations.  Those factories that remained behind have had to automate the delivery of services to remain competitive.  This trend continues unabated; countries such as South Korea have some of the highest […]

Member Outcomes is shaping superannuation

  • On September 12, 2019
Changing the conversation The Productivity and Royal Commissions concluded that significant change was needed to make the superannuation industry more efficient.  One of the themes of both reviews was the deed to focus on improving member outcomes, which has been incorporated in new Prudential Requirements and amendments to the SIS Act.  These requirements have already […]
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