Featured Image

Time for action on Member Outcomes

  • On 18/11/2019
APRA Deputy Chair Helen Rowell’s address to last week’s ASFA conference was one of the most eagerly awaited events at the conference.  In it, and in information papers subsequently released by APRA, APRA has outlined the measures that it will publish in its MySuper heatmap.  APRA also published a sample version of the heatmap and […]
Read More
Featured Image

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

  • On 01/11/2019
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 […]
Read More
Featured Image

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

  • On 17/10/2019
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 […]
Read More
Featured Image

Using the Future Fund for Superannuation?

  • On 03/10/2019
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 […]
Read More
Featured Image

Rise of the robots

  • On 24/09/2019
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 […]
Read More