FS Super

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?". Five years ...

Engagement versus exclusion in public markets

VISHAL HINDOCHA   Sustainability in focus The focus on sustainability across both the investment industry and around the corporate world has intensified significantly in recent years. One thing ...

Five reasons investors should adopt an active versus passive ESG approach

JOEL CONNELL   The importance of integrating ESG related risks and opportunities into investment decisions has become undeniable. The ability for companies to generate superior shareholder returns ...

Pathways to gain bitcoin exposure

JEFF YEW   The growing popularity and adoption of bitcoin within daily financial infrastructure has sparked the curiosity of many individuals regarding the allocation of bitcoin within their ...

Insurance cover available through superannuation

AMY LEWIS   Superannuation funds typically offer three types of insurance to members. How age makes a difference to superannuation insurance If a member is over 25, most superannuation funds ...

Life insurance in superannuation: Improving member outcomes

AUSTRALIAN PRUDENTIAL REGULATION AUTHORITY   Life and disability insurance are important benefits offered by superannuation funds to Australians. Under the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (SIS Act), all members ...

Digital advice key to keeping members engaged

STEVEN DAVISON   Digital advice is set to play a vital role for superannuation funds wanting to engage their growing memberships and steer them toward better retirement outcomes, says Midwinter's ...

Striking the balance

DANIEL MCKEAN   As confirmed by the Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC), we now live in a world where cyber-related identity crime is "more common than robbery, motor vehicle theft, household ...

Navigating the Retirement Income Covenant

DANIELLE BOSE   On 27 September 2021, the federal government (government) released Exposure Draft legislation that will introduce a Retirement Income Covenant (RIC) for trustees of registrable ...

Managing systematic longevity risk

DOUG MCBIRNIE   The superannuation sector has been effective in helping millions of Australians build a nest egg to improve their standard of living in retirement. One of the biggest challenges ...

The future of fund administration

CALASTONE PTY LIMITED   Fund administration and the role of the transfer agent sits at the heart of today's mutual fund industry. The transfer agent's fundamental role is to administer the register that ...

An evolving administration environment

STEPHEN FREEBORN   Administration operations models in the Australian superannuation market are evolving. What funds want from their providers and what service providers can offer is changing. This ...

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 ...

The psychology of super fund member segmentation

SIMON RUSSELL   Superannuation fund members are not all the same; but neither are they all entirely different. The more a fund can understand about its members, the more it can personalise its ...

The super fund performance test has landed

ALEX DUNNIN   The Treasury Laws Amendment (Your Future, Your Super) Act 2021 (YFYS) that came into effect on 1 July 2021 requires the superannuation industry to improve its efficiency, transparency ...

Your Future is now: Superannuation reforms pass Parliament

NICK KILLALEA   The passage of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Your Future, Your Super) Bill 2021 (YFYS Bill) in Parliament during June, marked one of the largest shake-ups to Australia's superannuation ...

Cryptic with cryptocurrency

GRAEME COLLEY   Cryptocurrency is a virtual or digital currency which allows people to pay for goods and services directly through an online system. It has no legislated or intrinsic value and ...

Protecting SMSF assets: Key ways to secure the fund's assets during adverse events

GRAEME COLLEY   A trustee's responsibility extends beyond just the fund, they are also obliged to oversee all of the members' interests. Some of the advantages of having an SMSF are that ...

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 ...

Avoiding mistakes with superannuation nomination beneficiary forms

AIA TECHNICAL TEAM   It is generally well understood that an individual is unable to include directions in their Will in relation to the distribution of death benefits by a superannuation fund trustee.