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The growing influence of ETFs

  • On 24/11/2016
Large APRA regulated superannuation funds have a particularly strong motivation for including Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) in their member-direct investment options. Member direct options are largely intended to stem the flow of members with big balances to self-managed superannuation funds, the earliest and strongest supporters of Australian listed ETFs. In short, no investment option designed […]
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Voluntary Insurance – Are More Risk Controls Needed?

  • On 09/11/2016
With group insurance claims experience being higher than had been expected over recent years, superannuation fund trustees have been reconsidering benefit designs and policy terms in order to ensure sustainability of the fund’s insurance arrangements. One of the key insurance risks is the risk of anti-selection by a small number of members which results in […]
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Can we improve the delivery of group income-protection insurance?

  • On 02/11/2016
Superannuation funds face the risk of providing a second-class product in their efforts to offer income-protection insurance for as many members as possible. Rice Warner* believes that critical tests of whether a fund’s insurance is efficient is whether the cover is “adequate” and provided at a “reasonable” cost. A number of funds may fall short […]
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The evolution of financial advice

  • On 28/10/2016
The last decade has seen a number of scandals where people have been given poor advice (or no advice at all, according to ASIC’s report yesterday – Financial advice: fees for no service). When this happens with other professionals like accountants and lawyers, the problem is quarantined to the wrong-doer. However, the adverse publicity around […]
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How to measure the efficiency of retirement products

  • On 19/10/2016
Retirement is the most important aspect of superannuation but measurement of the efficiency of superannuation retirement products is complex and difficult. It is critical that a satisfactory way is developed to assess the efficiency of retirement products in meeting the varied needs of retirees in the different phases of their retirement.  This is a pressing […]
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