FS Super

Members' best financial interests

SIMON RUSSELL   Superannuation fund member engagement and, in particular, anything tagged as being well-being-related appears to be in the legislative headlights.

Where are all the women?

YOLANDA BEATTIE   In 2016 when Lady Quentin Bryce walked into the Fund Manager of the Year awards, she turned to a leading female portfolio manager and asked, "where are all the women?".

Dynamic asset allocation

DAMIEN HENNESSY   Multi-sector portfolio managers use a range of approaches and investment styles when managing and investing money and a portfolio's strategic asset allocation (SAA) is always a major focus.

Infrastructure debt: Ready to ride on the road to rising rates

CLAIRE SMITH   A common misconception is that infrastructure equity is better positioned than debt in an environment of rising rates, but research by Schroders shows this is not necessarily the case.

Bankruptcy, life insurance and super

ALEX KOODRIN   If your client base includes business owners, chances are you have turned your mind to what might happen to their superannuation and proceeds from life insurance policies should their circumstances drastically change, and they become bankrupt.

Insurance cover available through superannuation

AMY LEWIS   Superannuation funds typically offer three types of insurance to members.

Investment opportunities in the blockchain ecosystem

SHEHRIYAR ANTIA, TAIMUR HYAT, JAKOB WILHELMUS   Investment opportunities in the blockchain ecosystem. Yet cryptocurrency tagged as 'portfolio kryptonite'.

View from the outer: Green metal supercycle

TIM ROCKS, PETER DRAGICEVICH, MAX CASEY   The recent jump in a broad range of commodity prices raises the question of whether we have entered a new commodity supercycle.

Improving outcomes for 'middle Australia' under the Retirement Income Covenant

ANDREW BOAL, JIM HENNINGTON   This paper comprises excerpts from the Actuaries Institute paper: A Framework to 'Maximise' Retirement Income

Balancing retirement income risks

AARON MINNEY   Generating the income for retirement from accumulated savings is a challenge that comes with additional risks to the retiree.

Choosing an investment consultant

SARKIS TEPELI, MEIRINE GIGGINS   This paper outlines the key considerations and steps required in appointing a consultant with specific focus on the investment and servicing credentials of a consultant.

Am I liable for super for independent contractors?

CYNTHIA VOON   It is widely understood that the status of a worker as an employee or independent contractor is based on a range of common law tests. Generally, where a worker contracts to achieve a result the relationship between the parties will be one of principal and independent contractor. In contrast, a worker ...

2021 readability scorecard for Australian superannuation funds

ETHAN HOWARD   In Australia, superannuation is important and the decision to invest with the right fund is important.

Corporate greenwashing: The latest target for climate litigation

ANDREW KORBEL   As an oil and gas giant recently became the first corporate to be hit with Australian proceedings for alleged climate-related 'greenwashing', one thing is clear: companies need to be very careful when making claims about their climate-friendly credentials.

Critical infrastructure reforms: Ramifications for RSE licensees

PHIL TURNER, SIMON BURNS, LESLEY SUTTON   This paper considers the impact of the critical infrastructure reforms on registrable superannuation entity (RSE) licensees both as infrastructure investors and as owners, or operators, of critical superannuation assets.

Keeping up with superannuation changes effective 1 July 2022

IAN NEWBERT   Some important changes to the superannuation landscape come into effect from 1 July 2022, including a number of measures announced in last year's Budget and since legislated.

NFTs: Are SMSFs allowed to invest in them?

ANNIE DAWSON   At the end of 2021, the market for non-fungible tokens or NFTs was estimated to reach a staggering US$41 billion, and some say this amount is understated! It begs the questions, what exactly are NFTs and are SMSFs allowed to invest in them?

Planning the exit from an SMSF

DANIEL BUTLER, WILLIAM FETTES   This paper examines key considerations that arise for SMSF members seeking to formulate a robust succession plan in relation to their SMSF benefits.

No more hiding super assets in family law proceedings

MICHAEL TWOHILL   New measure to give rights to search superannuation entitlements of one's spouse.

Payment of death benefits when couples die simultaneously

GRAEME COLLEY   Many trustees and members of not only SMSFs, but also public offer superannuation funds, are interested in the payment of death benefits if they or their spouse were to die. This usually revolves around who is eligible to receive the death benefits, the effectiveness of reversionary pensions, non-reversionary ...

Age of activism

JAMES FERNYHOUGH   UniSuper chief investment officer John Pearce talks to FS Super associate editor James Fernyhough about Westfield, company engagement, and the role of members in investment strategy.

A career in retrospect

JAMES FERNYHOUGH   In September, HESTA chief executive Anne-Marie Corboy announced that she would be standing down after 16 years at the helm of one of Australia's largest super funds. James Fernyhough caught up with her to hear her thoughts on HESTA's evolution, the purpose of superannuation, and why the media ...